A young girl, haunted by visions and strange phenomena, discovers her connection to a mystical tribe vanquished at the hands of the ruling technological race. The tribe may reemerge through her but she must navigate through their system of control and murder.
“All the body of creation is dismembered, confused, and rambling,” a spiritual leader tells Evah, and at times this also describes the story. Wolfe swoops Evah from world to world, explaining many generations’ worth of oppression and rebellion in lengthy expository sections. The many shifts in perspectives and timelines can be confusing. Shimmering illustrations with distinctive psychedelic, watercolor, and gothic influences provide much-needed cohesion and grounding when readers feel lost.
Readers may struggle with the moral ambiguity of the characters: some create oppressive regimes out of fear, and others seek violent revenge on those systems. While exploring questions of power, dominance, and how history influences the present, Wolfe leaves it up to Evah to reconcile the troubling actions of her ancestors with the harsh realities they experienced. Teens drawn in by the wish-fulfillment narrative of an oppressed girl’s hidden inner power and mystical lineage may find the story’s veiled moral challenges less appealing, but those who persevere will enjoy bold, curious Evah and her dreamlike tale.
Takeaway: Older teens and young adult readers who are seeking an immersive story with strong worldbuilding and moral nuance will find this novel worth exploring.
Great for fans of Tomi Adeyemi’s Children of Blood and Bone, Nnedi Okorafor’s Binti series, Lois Lowry’s The Giver.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: B+
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
Winner Literary Titan Award
Evah & the Unscrupulous Thwargg follows a young girl who must contend with bullies while being haunted by disturbing visions. She slowly uncovers a connection she has with an ancient tribe of people who were exterminated. She must find out why she’s been chosen, overcome the strange phenomena plaguing her life and take control of her destiny.
Longoria Wolfe has written a compelling science fiction story that is supported by a curious mystery which unravels through a thrilling adventure. When the book started I thought Evah was a fairly straightforward character, but I was pleasantly surprised when her character quickly gained complexity as her connection to the supernatural tribe was revealed and events are set in motion which provide compelling obstacles for her to overcome.
Evah & the Unscrupulous Thwargg is an immersive story that efficiently handles backstory so that we can focus on character development as well as the eerie mystery at the heart of this riveting novel. I admit that I had to stretch my imagination a bit because some of the things, and places, Evah encounters along the way superbly capture a fantastical surrealism that I wasn’t prepared for.
What I enjoyed the most was how everything is kept grounded by motivations I could understand. Even the strange aliens had desires I think readers can relate to, and with that I was reeled into a fast-paced story that I heartily enjoyed.
Exceptional storytelling elevates this odd story line into a novel that is unique and hard to put down. I hope there’s a sequel in the works as this story left me wanting more of this world. Longoria Wolfe is able to twist common story tropes and prose into something that strangely intriguing. This is a thrilling science fiction story that I would recommend to readers seeking an adventure unlike any other.
Winner of two Honorable Mention Purple Dragonfly Awards in the categories of New Author and Science Fiction Novel.
5 Stars.
Evah & the Unscrupulous Thwargg by Longoria Wolfe is a beautiful story that describes an imaginary world that readers will enjoy navigating. I particularly enjoyed the character development and how the author moves from capturing the interest of the reader with the unusual life of Evah to introducing a world with supernatural characters, like the Hypaths who are dreamers, the Thwargg who actuate dreams, and the Scabeeze who organize business. The Thwargg use sleep technology to monitor the minds of citizens. The descriptions are terrific, with a magical feel to them, like eyes that “glow like orange solar winds in the northern sky of Deiphera.” Longoria Wolfe has written a fascinating story and I loved the protagonist’s journey to self-discovery; she grows through each challenge. The descriptive nature of the prose and the gorgeous writing are some of the elements that fascinated me through the journey with Evah. Evah & the Unscrupulous Thwargg is gripping and fast-paced, and a narrative that feels so real, yet filled with unusual characters and phenomena.
5 stars.
Evah & the Unscrupulous Thwargg by Longoria Wolfe is a beautiful story for fans of young adult fantasy and science fiction that follows Evah Ahtochi, a girl who is bullied and lives in fear. Evah has a strong imagination that conjures up strange and frightening visions. But the most troubling thing is that some of the things she imagines become real. Then she discovers that she has ties to an ancient tribe with abilities that defy modern technological power, but that tribe has gone extinct, and Evah might be the only hope of reviving it. But she has a lot to handle, including the strange phenomena that assail her. Follow her journey as she unearths, layer after layer, her dark history, and the insurmountable challenges she must face fulfilling a destiny she never asked for. Evah & the Unscrupulous Thwargg by Longoria Wolfe is a fascinating story with a young female protagonist that I rooted for. The author has a unique skill for filling the writing with strong imagery. Even from the beginning, I knew I would enjoy this book from the vivid descriptions featured about the eight-eyed monster that the young girl imagines, and the monster with five arms and tongues flipping about from every palm. The emotional intensity of the story doesn’t slow at any moment, and the compelling characters, including the villains, add to the complexity of the plot. The world-building is impeccable and the reader finds themselves transported to different and exciting worlds. Longoria Wolfe is a great storyteller, an entertainer who has crafted a story with fictional characters that feel real and an imagined universe that is irresistible to explore.
5 stars.
It is beautiful how immersive and interactive this story was. I was blown away with the number of details added to the story and how the author allowed the reader to get lost in the pages. As Evah & the Unscrupulous Thwargg continues, the reader is left confused between right and wrong, along with the characters. You will feel like a part of the story. I especially felt every step Evah took, I felt her confusion and her courage. Her background story is well-developed and enhanced to give readers what they need. I loved the beautiful drawings and pictures in the book; they added to the story and gave a context. Honestly, there is a lot that I loved about this novel. Longoria Wolfe takes the reader on a journey where they will want to get lost in Evah’s life and struggles.
5 stars.
Evah & the Unscrupulous Thwargg offers an experience similar to reading Ender’s Game & Dune: The plot, the characters, and the world-building make for a gripping and vivid story that keeps the spark of imagination long after closing the last page...
Five-stars
A fresh look and real imagination. Captivating.
5 stars.
Fun! Very creative and imaginative book for young readers.
5 stars.
Excellent read! This is a great sci-DI/fantasy read! The characters are well developed, and the pacing makes it hard to put down. I look forward to the next book!
5 Stars My book club loved this book!
This book has everything. It's beautiful looking and the story is great! It's fun and the end is very emotional. It gave my club lots to talk about.
5 stars.
Evah & the Unscrupulous Thwargg was an epic read which I recommend to all the scifi fans out there.
This book was masterfully written. The story centers on Evah Ahtochi, a girl that is mentally connected to a long ago extinguished mystical tribe. As the story unfolds you can see how big this adventure is going to be, and how much there is yet to discover.
It was a nice mixture of genres. Of course, scifi prevails, but there's a bit of a thriller and mystery here and there which works perfectly and blends with the mysticism this story has.
Credits to the author, Longoria Wolfe, who is a captivating storyteller and knew exactly how to create suspense and tension at the perfect time. World building was excellent as well as the characters, who were well built and coherent along the plot.
5 stars.
“Evah & the Unscrupulous Thwargg” is a brilliant immersion into a surreal and ethereal universe where we encounter fantastical landscapes. We are introduced to strange aliens whose supernatural powers bedazzle us, though their desires and motivations are uncomfortably familiar in their humanity. At the center of it all is Evah, an innocent girl with mysterious origins. As she embarks on a quest to discover her own identity, she is awakened to the existence of good and evil, kindness and greed. Ultimately, she is forced to confront the light and the darkness within. Hey very survival hangs in the balance.
Longoria Wolfe captivates us with vivid prose and characters entertwined by Shakespearean pathos. The last page leaves the reader with a satisfied sigh of relief that is quickly replaced by a yearning for more. One can only hope that a sequel is forthcoming!
5 stars.
If you love a good story then this book is for you. One could go on and on about characters , problems with their solutions, poetic phrasings, descriptions of nature wonders, but I can honestly say this writing made me feel both intellectually and emotionally happy. ENJOY1
5 stars.
Evah and the Unscrupulous Thwargg is a book any sci-fi/fantasy fan would appreciate for its profoundly complex characters, gripping plotline, and, of course - the magnificently built world of Spirea. I fell in love with Evah, Skenkin, and Felin from the start. Their stories are unexpected & immersive, but more than that, it’s L. Wolfe’s ability to draw the reader into what the characters experience, feel, and think that did not let me put this book down for hours at a time. The interchanging POV’s pave an exciting yet smooth way towards empathizing with and rooting for our main characters, even those that seem to have questionable motives.Exploring the lines between right and wrong, the question of power and the implications of its possession, the willingness to sacrifice oneself for a greater good… Evah & the Unscrupulous Thwargg has it all. Be advised, this is definitely not a light read, but one that you will carry in your thoughts for quite a while. Yet aren’t those the kind of books we hope to stumble upon every once in a while?
Five-stars. A beautifully written story.
"Evah & the Unscrupulous Thwargg" is a brilliant immersion into a surreal and ethereal universe where we encounter fantastical landscapes. We are introduced to strange aliens whose supernatural powers bedazzle us, though their desires and motivations are uncomfortably familiar in their humanity. At the center of it all is Evah, an innocent girl with mysterious origins. As she embarks on a quest to discover her own identity, she is awakened to the existence of good and evil, kindness and greed. Ultimately, she is forced to confront the light and the darkness within. Hey very survival hangs in the balance.
Longoria Wolfe captivates us with vivid prose and characters intertwined by Shakespearean pathos. The last page leaves the reader with a satisfied sigh of relief that is quickly replaced by a yearning for more. One can only hope that a sequel is forthcoming!
The Literary Titan Book Awards are awarded to books that have astounded and amazed us with unique writing styles, vivid worlds, complex characters, and original ideas. These books deserve extraordinary praise and we are proud to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and imagination of these talented authors.
