Imagen del autor

Michele Poague

Autor de Heir to Power: Book One

3 Obras 13 Miembros 5 Reseñas

Sobre El Autor

Créditos de la imagen: Photography by Mechelle Lassiter

Obras de Michele Poague

Etiquetado

Conocimiento común

Nombre canónico
Poague, Michele
Nombre legal
Poague, Michele R.
Fecha de nacimiento
1956-12
Género
female
Nacionalidad
USA
Lugar de nacimiento
Newman Grove, Nebraska, USA
Lugares de residencia
Aurora, Colorado, USA
Biografía breve
My parents lived in Denver in 1956 and often went home for the holidays. My uncle Jim was totally freaked out driving 800 miles, in the dead of winter, through Nebraska farm land, with a woman who could go into labor at any minute, so I was born Michele Rae Jeffryes in Newman Grove, Nebraska. I grew up in southwest Denver with 5 sisters and a brother. Of course in the 1960's, that meant somewhere near 1st and Federal. Now southwest Denver is closer to Chatfield Reservoir. I was fifteen when I was spirited away by my mother and stepfather to the strange land of Sioux Falls, SD, where I wrote my first short story. It was a paranormal romance about the ghost of a man's first wife trying to kill his second wife. Like so many things teenagers write, it was never meant for publication. After college, when I was twenty-one, I moved to Las Vegas for six years where I worked in the Bar & Night Club business, and then returned to Denver in 1984. I like the weather here.

I had read the Dragonriders of Pern, and Anne McCaffrey made writing look easy. It wasn't. In the 80's and 90's I didn't have the time to write because I had a house to remodel, a career I had to invent, and a world to change through politics. As a fundraising director I wrote and designed convention brochures, and while working for Shotgun Willies, I wrote training manuals and ad copy. I'm still employed with Shotgun Willies, but my work leans more toward management and accounting now.

Miembros

Reseñas

The first book in a trilogy or series is notorious for introducing us to the characters and general story, but not usually tackling anything rich and meaty. In this case however, we get many an introduction but also quite a bit of forward motion in the storyline. We glimpse the Healing family as well as the whole of the Survinee village in both childhood and present times. We come to understand ,at least to the level that they understand, the teachings of their people and the value of the crystal beyond that of riches. We see the struggles they face both now and ahead, especially with the interference provided by a recent influx of strangers. Tie all of this together with an unexpected find within their temples, technology they certainly don't understand and a desire to keep the peace that when put to the test could withstand the blows of a thousand swords, this is one novel that doesn't suffer from the "book one syndrome".


Survin is an idyllic setting for a story such as this. It's removed from the world as we know it allowing it to flourish and thrive for many many annums (years) without the forward motion of progress. Some would say they should be pitied for being left behind, but for these people it's just another day, not another dollar. Perhaps no society is truly perfect, but at the very least this one is pure in their intentions even if those that surround them are not always that way.


Character wise, we've a wide range even in this small culture. Kairma is a delight to see as next in line for the position of Miral. She's uncertain, a bit rough and tumble, different in many senses of the word....in short, not whom you'd expect for such a set group of people, which is exactly why I love the position she's in. It gives readers a chance to see that destiny does not always knock on the door of the most popular, the most beautiful, or the most cunning; sometimes it simply chooses us for who we are and let's the rest take care of itself. Her sister Kinter is one of those characters you want to throttle at times for their infantile behaviour while her brother Zedic is the epitomy of all a brother should be. Her mother Jettena is carrying more emotionally than first meets the eye while her grandmother, Miral Isontra steals the show in her quiet yet commanding ways.


Next we have the villagers with their many talents...and opinions. What? You didn't think everything the Healing family said was met without any disagreements now did you? Ha! Far from it. Though most are settled rather quickly, opposition does show its war face now and then especially with several of the elders and their stiff ideas of what should and shouldn't be done. Progress is the natural way of things...to a degree....even in this remote society. When change is introduced to their long held laws, they are not quick to welcome it; certainly adds for some lively discussions. Let's not forget about the city folk and the mysterious White Ones who round out the extensive cast. Rest assured there are many waiting to make your acquaintance in this book...


Moving on to two things we didn't see (and I know the author was simply holding out on us here)... first, the explanation of what they uncovered out at the God Stones. I don't want to spoil it for anyone so I'll keep the details under wraps but it makes me curious about those that left it behind. Are we talking future civilization or a past ahead of itself? Only time will tell I'm afraid as the trilogy progresses. Second on the list of things not seen....Kairma's Seridar. It's sort of a coming of age party and her formal introduction as Vice Miral (or village healer)....as well as the time when the new Comad will be chosen, who just so happens to be her mating partner (aka husband). Grant it, that's not the entire point of the story (the love interest portion at least) but it does provide for a rather interesting quandary as it flusters the characters involved, pushing them to sort out their feelings and stake their claim as it were before its too late.

All in all, an enjoyable read through and through. You get adventure, a taste of history, a smidge of romance, and danger all in one package making it easy for everyone to find some aspect they'd enjoy. It's a book about the journey and time passing, not about a quick and tidy ending for a fast entertainment fix. Best set some time aside when you start this one...as the people of Survin will invite you in with open arms so you'll never want to leave...even if you could.


Recommended for teen readers through adults as the intimate scenes are demure and violence is sparse on details.
… (más)
 
Denunciada
GRgenius | 4 reseñas más. | Sep 15, 2019 |
I have to say I really enjoyed reading Heir to Power by Michele Poague. The beginning seemed a little slow with trying to figure out who these very tall people were--Gentle giants, one might call them, the Survinees of the colony of Survin--and in what time frame they were living, and with sorting through the various characters with names I had a hard time pronouncing in my head, like Isontra, Jettina, Kairma, and Naturi. Then I found a Q&A on the author’s website that provided the phonetic spellings. Great touch, Michele.

Several chapters into the story the author dropped a hint and it suddenly dawned on me where it was going and why she refrained from providing details in the beginning. She wanted it to unfold slowly, give the reader time to digest and assimilate the setting and relationships, and that she did very well. Once I picked up where it was heading, or thought I did, I was both content to wait and anxious to find out how these wonderful people became who they were.
What was going to entice them to venture from their mountain?

What was going to entice them to venture from their mountain, and once they did, would they ever be the same? How much of their innocence would be lost? Would the sacrifices be worth the gains in unknown, to them, technologies or would they be invaded by greedy entrepreneurs? I wasn’t sad when it ended because I already knew there was a second book, Fall of Eden. I have been captivated by these gentle people in what seems like a very gentle time, quite foreign to what we know today. I can’t wait to read Fall of Eden.
… (más)
 
Denunciada
JamesPaddock | 4 reseñas más. | Dec 4, 2016 |
First of I want to say I love the cover of the book and in a bookstore it would definitely draw me to the book. The book is about a place called Survin and centres on the Healing Family. Isontra is the head healer and Miral and then after her both jobs should pass to her daughter Jettena, but in a break with tradition the job of Miral will pass to Kairma who is Jettena's eldest daughter. The community head is always a woman, and her mate is chosen by a contest of sorts. The one that becomes her mate takes the title of Comad. Kairma almost died and her younger sister Kinter would have taken the title as Miral so Kinter is somewhat jealous of Kairma and Kinter also loved Naturi the male most likely to be kairma's mate and become Comad. Zedec is Kairma's brother and he has a best friend named Collin. Collin secretly falls in love with Kairma. Personally I think Collin would be the better match and mate for Kairma, but I am sure you will all have your own favourites when you read the book.
One of the problems of the community is keeping the Healing Crystal safe, so strangers are not welcome, but then comes a quandry as the population falls people are becoming more closely related to each other, so new blood is really needed in Survin for their population to survive.
Of course like all suggested changes to the old ways Isontra and Kairma come up against opposition, some of wich is quite verbal. Kairma is not totally accepted by the community and some of them are even physically abusive towards her.
I seriously do not want to spoil the book so will not give spoilers. I will say I would definitely recommend this book. I would compare it to Bithmarked and Prized by Caragh O'Brien, or Outside by Shalini Boland, it also has a little Forest Of Hands And Teeth by Carrie Ryan thrown in too. It does have a dystopian feel to it, which I loved. I enjoyed reading about the different characters in the book and how they change as different events happen. I reeeally reeeally want to read book 2 as I think it will be as good if not even better. The description is so well done in the book that you can see the places described and actually imagine what they look like. The book ended with so many questions as to what would happen next! What will happen with Kairma, Naturi and Collin? What will happen in Survin? Will there be more strangers? Will the society of Survin progress more?
… (más)
 
Denunciada
Sanz71 | 4 reseñas más. | Dec 2, 2011 |
The first book in a trilogy or series is notorious for introducing us to the characters and general story, but not usually tackling anything rich and meaty. In this case however, we get many an introduction but also quite a bit of forward motion in the storyline. We glimpse the Healing family as well as the whole of the Survinee village in both childhood and present times. We come to understand ,at least to the level that they understand, the teachings of their people and the value of the crystal beyond that of riches. We see the struggles they face both now and ahead, especially with the interference provided by a recent influx of strangers. Tie all of this together with an unexpected find within their temples, technology they certainly don't understand and a desire to keep the peace that when put to the test could withstand the blows of a thousand swords, this is one novel that doesn't suffer from the "book one syndrome".

Survin is an idyllic setting for a story such as this. It's removed from the world as we know it allowing it to flourish and thrive for many many annums (years) without the forward motion of progress. Some would say they should be pitied for being left behind, but for these people it's just another day, not another dollar. Perhaps no society is truly perfect, but at the very least this one is pure in their intentions even if those that surround them are not always that way.

Character wise, we've a wide range even in this small culture. Kairma is a delight to see as next in line for the position of Miral. She's uncertain, a bit rough and tumble, different in many senses of the word....in short, not whom you'd expect for such a set group of people, which is exactly why I love the position she's in. It gives readers a chance to see that destiny does not always knock on the door of the most popular, the most beautiful, or the most cunning; sometimes it simply chooses us for who we are and let's the rest take care of itself. Her sister Kinter is one of those characters you want to throttle at times for their infantile behaviour while her brother Zedic is the epitomy of all a brother should be. Her mother Jettena is carrying more emotionally than first meets the eye while her grandmother, Miral Isontra steals the show in her quiet yet commanding ways.

Next we have the villagers with their many talents...and opinions. What? You didn't think everything the Healing family said was met without any disagreements now did you? Ha! Far from it. Though most are settled rather quickly, opposition does show its war face now and then especially with several of the elders and their stiff ideas of what should and shouldn't be done. Progress is the natural way of things...to a degree....even in this remote society. When change is introduced to their long held laws, they are not quick to welcome it; certainly adds for some lively discussions. Let's not forget about the city folk and the mysterious White Ones who round out the extensive cast. Rest assured there are many waiting to make your acquaintance in this book...

Moving on to two things we didn't see (and I know the author was simply holding out on us here)... first, the explanation of what they uncovered out at the God Stones. I don't want to spoil it for anyone so I'll keep the details under wraps but it makes me curious about those that left it behind. Are we talking future civilization or a past ahead of itself? Only time will tell I'm afraid as the trilogy progresses. Second on the list of things not seen....Kairma's Seridar. It's sort of a coming of age party and her formal introduction as Vice Miral (or village healer)....as well as the time when the new Comad will be chosen, who just so happens to be her mating partner (aka husband). Grant it, that's not the entire point of the story (the love interest portion at least) but it does provide for a rather interesting quandary as it flusters the characters involved, pushing them to sort out their feelings and stake their claim as it were before its too late.

All in all, an enjoyable read through and through. You get adventure, a taste of history, a smidge of romance, and danger all in one package making it easy for everyone to find some aspect they'd enjoy. It's a book about the journey and time passing, not about a quick and tidy ending for a fast entertainment fix. Best set some time aside when you start this one...as the people of Survin will invite you in with open arms so you'll never want to leave...even if you could.

Recommended for teen readers through adults as the intimate scenes are demure and violence is sparse on details.
… (más)
 
Denunciada
GRgenius | 4 reseñas más. | Sep 4, 2011 |

Estadísticas

Obras
3
Miembros
13
Popularidad
#774,335
Valoración
½ 4.7
Reseñas
5
ISBNs
4