Alora: The Wander-Jewel: The Alora Series, Volume 1
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Alora: The Wander-Jewel: The Alora Series, Volume 1 Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Tamie Dearen (Author, Publisher), David Penner (Narrator)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 202 ratings
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Unlike her friends, 15-year-old Alora has visions...only while in the shower. And only of one stranger: a handsome boy with long brown hair, intense green eyes, and the oddest clothes. A boy who vanishes whenever she opens her eyes. And then one day, he doesn't...Alora's safe world is soon turned upside down as she's thrust into another realm where her soulmate waits, magic abounds, and unfathomable evil seeks to claim her.

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  1. Listening Length
    9 hours and 40 minutes
  2. Author
    Tamie Dearen
  3. Narrator
    David Penner
  4. Audible release date
    December 17, 2015
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Tamie Dearen
  7. ASIN
    B019EJYGE8
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 9 hours and 40 minutes
Author Tamie Dearen
Narrator David Penner
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date December 17, 2015
Publisher Tamie Dearen
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B019EJYGE8
Best Sellers Rank #556,658 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#3,501 in Teen & Young Adult Art
#4,484 in Teen & Young Adult Survival Stories
#6,537 in Action & Adventure for Children

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
202 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

W. Stuart
5.0 out of 5 stars A jewel!!
Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2016
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After seeing lots of buzz on Twitter about this book, I decided to check it out for myself. Good call on my part!

Synopsis (from the author): Unlike her friends, fifteen-year-old Alora has visions. Only while in the shower. And only of one stranger: a handsome boy with long brown hair, intense green eyes, and the oddest clothes. A boy who vanishes whenever she opens her eyes. And then one day, he doesn't… Alora's safe world is soon turned upside-down as she's thrust into another realm where her soulmate waits, magic abounds, and unfathomable evil seeks to claim her.

What I liked: This is the first book by Tamie Dearen that I’ve read I liked the way she introduced her characters. Alora is a typical teen, seemingly awkward, with faults vs. perfection. Her friends, Beth and Wesley are similar in that regard, and Beth is quite the spunky fearless friend. Both Beth and Alora had dealt with loss and tragedy in their young lives, and that makes them more realistic. Alora’s interaction with her soulmate Kaevin, and their constant need to be together makes their situation perilous. Vindrake is sufficiently evil and rounds out the story nicely - especially when compared to Alora’s Uncle Charles, who is the quintessential good guy. All said, an excellent read.

What I didn’t like: I thought Vindrake was wooden and too easily manipulated in the story. The resistance of Kaevin's clan (and Uncle Charles) to accept the idea that he and Alora could be soulmates got a little repetitive, as did everyone’s disbelief in Alora’s abilities.

Overall impression: Love interests, teleporting between worlds, battles, intrigue, and the sacrifices made for loved ones, makes Alora: The Wander-Jewel an entertaining read. I would recommend it to YA fantasy and clean fantasy readers! Well Done Tamie Dearen!

My rating: 5 Stars
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ExtremelyPicky2
4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable, sweet adventure
Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2015
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I really liked this story but it did frustrate me. It had everything from a very sweet romance to portal travel to the confrontation with multiple bad guys. Alora and Kaeven are young but after figuring out they are soulmates and getting used to it they, Beth and Wesley were doing well with everything that had been thrown at them. Not to say there weren't problems but they worked together as a group to solve them. We can see glimpses of the kind of people they will become. Kaeven is already very protective of Alora. The adults/leaders spent too much time in the land of denial which at times frustrated me because they refused to listen. I understand her uncle but where Kaeven comes from in the story magic and soulmates were real. Just because there hadn't been a pair that young didn't make it impossible. I also though it was hypocritical of them to use Alora to transport men for them to the battle. She did offer but that was dangerous for her at her age too. But that was ok because of the upcoming battle? She could make multiple transports but she couldn't have a soulmate? I'm not saying they should get married because they are too young but the adults in the story should listen to them since it is their lives. Plus there has to be a reason they were made soulmates at a young age. I will read the next book since I did enjoy the story and the hints that some others may have some magic of their own.
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RachaelB
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and fast-paced
Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2016
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I really enjoyed reading this story today. I got a copy of the audiobook, thinking I would just lie in bed and listen to it (feeling sick today), but the story was very engaging. Out the window went my ideas of listening to a soothing voice and napping. I found myself a little impatient with the audiobook because I'm a very fast reader and can finish a novel much faster than the 9+ hours on the audio file, so I bought the kindle edition. I really wanted to make sure that I didn't miss any of the details.

The story isn't very long, a bit over two hundred pages, so I finished it a few hours after I started. It was a lot of fun. It had a light feeling, like you know everything will turn out okay but you still feel the suspense of finding out how it will all be okay. Although the characters go through some dark situations and confront evil, this book is not "gritty" and doesn't focus on gray areas of morality. The good guys are good and the bad guys are bad. So, if you are wanting a thought-provoking anti-hero story with lots of action and detailed descriptions of injuries and violence - this is NOT the book for you. But, if you want a clean, interesting, fast-paced, and fun story, consider this one. It doesn't end on a cliffhanger, but does leave things open for the story to continue. I already bought book two and look forward to reading it.
2 people found this helpful
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Scotty Shepherd
5.0 out of 5 stars I Have Read Alora Four Times
Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2014
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Yes, I have read Alora four times, and I will read it again! I consider myself a reader of fantasy; my shelves contain Tolkien, Lewis, LeGuin, McCaffrey, Martin, Jordan, and Sanderson, to name a finite few. So when I say, Alora is absolutely spot on fantasy, I hope you believe me.The world building is detailed and well planned. The magic system is meticulously thought out with natural limitations, keeping magic from becoming a deus ex machina. Being a portal fantasy, there is some great humor as people move from our world into another. Alora has everything I want in a fantasy: magic, high stakes, love and characters with whom I connect.

This is an amazing story of a girl that learns to be a woman, a true bildungsroman. Alora follows many of the standard steps of the Heroine's Journey that are outlined by Valerie Estelle Frankel, in response to Joseph Campbell's decidedly masculine Hero's Journey. Alora must let go of her rather simple understanding of life, as she discovers a world outside of anything she has ever known.

Beyond the incredible world and story, real people are within these pages. They are artistically written to the point of reality. It is impossible for me to not care about what happens to Alora and Kaevin. I fear for them when they are in danger. I laugh when life will not seem to give them a rest. I cry when they feel loss. I long for the destruction of their enemies.

Alora is an incredible fantasy that has captured my imagination. I eagerly await the next volume.
6 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Dennis Cardiff
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Author
Reviewed in Canada on February 21, 2015
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Tamie Dearen is a fantastic author whose words speak to my heart. Alora: The Wander-Jewel is a thrilling paranormal adventure that takes place in parallel realms. I grew to love some of the characters as friends and to despise the malevolent villains. Especially engaging is the dialog, developing the characters through their fears, their ambitions and their loves. This is truly a remarkable book, the first of many that I will be reading by Tamie Dearden.
One person found this helpful
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Harmony Kent
5.0 out of 5 stars A thoroughly entertaining YA Fantasy Fiction Novel
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 7, 2014
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Review edited following reading of a revised book.

This is an entertaining YA Fictional read. It is clean, lighthearted, and fun. The main characters range in age between 15 and 17.

Alora is a normal fifteen-year-old-girl, who lives with her uncle in rural Montana. Normal, that is, until she sees a vision of a long-haired boy while taking a shower one day. All of a sudden, it seems that anytime she is in water, she sees him. Is he real? Is she seeing things? And why is he dressed so strangely? When she finally confides in her uncle, he only deepens the mystery by revealing the strange events that led to her living with him and her aunt. Nothing is as she thought it was.

The plot, pacing, character development, and world-building are all done well. The proofreading has been done to a high standard, and the narrative is nice and tight. I found ALORA to be a gripping read and thoroughly entertaining. I would highly recommend this book to all lovers of YA Fantasy Fiction.
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Jennifer Redmile
5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly enjoyed this! Well written, great concept, awesome read!
Reviewed in Australia on September 15, 2015
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This is a brilliantly written Young Adult read that I thoroughly enjoyed. The characters are engaging and memorable, and the storyline is refreshingly new. I would recommend this book for both the young, and young-at-heart reader. I found myself chuckling at the clever interactions between the characters, and the exasperation of the younger generation trying to educate the older one. I bought Book 2 the minute I finished it!
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Halibut Queen
4.0 out of 5 stars A great YA read
Reviewed in Canada on February 27, 2015
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Alora by Tamie Dearen is a book that is both well written and captivating. There is some great world building in this book and some strong character development. There is much about the story and world-building that is unique. The book showcased strong loving relationships between family and friends, not including Alora’s dad who is determined to kill her if he can’t control her.

I really loved the fantasy elements of the book. I was not so taken with the romance elements, but that is partly because I am not typically a reader of romance. From my perspective there was far too much kissing going on. However, I think this book will really appeal to female YA readers, especially those who like their fantasy missed together with romance.
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Jan Hawke
4.0 out of 5 stars A good old wander
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 30, 2014
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I was hovering between 3 and 4 stars here and came down on the high side because I know I'm sometimes a little intolerant of YA titles involving older teens - this book did keep my attention for mostly the right reasons, so deserves the better score.
Fantasy IS my preferred genre however and, by and large, Alora hits the buttons pretty much square on for a cracking, well-paced read about people with extraordinary 'gifts' fighting a terrifying enemy who happens to be closely related to the eponymous heroine. This contention works well with the antagonist growing in perfidy and malice right up to the end of what is the first episode of this mystic world series.
Which is where I hit another caveat, because connecting worlds - in this case Montana, and an Otherworld realm don't always work too well and there are some jarring notes cropping up, especially culturally and with language (where the Otherworlders can speak reasonably good English), and seem to grasp anomalies of the technological kinds very quickly and skillfully. I can't help feeling that some opportunities for humour or misunderstandings to occur were missed or glossed over. The US parent figures too, seem incredibly eager to accept their children's off-world adventures after initial (and fully understandable) scepticism, although Alora's guardian does know that she's got exceptional gifts and that her mother definitely wasn't a US citizen.
However, such points don't get in the way of the storyline, following Alora and her soulmate Kaevin through increasingly hazardous adventures as they explore the challenges of their own relationship (which compromises their physical health and potentially their lives if they're separated) and Alora's growing mastery of her gifts as the bearer of a very powerful wander-jewel, which takes them into even greater perils as they clash with Vindrake, Alora's murderous father. He has great powers himself and at first seeks to reconcile with his long lost daughter only to find that she becomes doubly lost to him as she rejects his violence and evil ways and joins Kaevin's people, the Stone Clan, in opposing Vindrake's aggressive bid for overlordship of Kaevin's homeland.

This is a book that would most definitely appeal to YA's still at school, but may not be 'edgy' enough for older readers, as other reviewers have noted, with the tendency for the younger characters to start pairing up creeping in a little too easily. It's certainly got a lot of thrills and spills to keep us interested and rooting for the attractive and likeable young heroes and was an enjoyable, if not totally original story for this 'grumpy old lady' reader.
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