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Formats
Paperback Details
  • 09/2015
  • 978-1502768711
  • 320 pages
  • $12.99
Audio Details
  • 11/2015
  • 330 pages
  • $24.99
Ebook Details
  • 09/2015
  • 1502768712 B0116AMNMA
  • 330 pages
  • $2.99
Jonathan Fore
Author
Lexicon Chase and the Scrolls of the Harlequin

Children/Young Adult; Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror; (Market)

Lexicon Chase has never worn makeup or beautiful gowns, known the elegance of a gala, swung a sword, or even rallied an army. Lexicon only knows the infamy of living on the wrong end of an obscure town, with hand-me-downs and a life split between her grandmother’s bungalow and her mother’s trailer. Her sweet sixteen came and went with a whimper, until her grandmother changed everything with a single gift: the key to the magical kingdom called Everhope. She discovers a realm of friends, pageantry, and nobility that all exists just for her, but can she find the courage and the strength to keep her new kingdom from ruin?
Reviews
Kids Book Buzz

Lexicon Chase: Scrolls of the Harlequin is a great book. It’s about a 15-year-old girl named Lexicon Chase. She is often bullied at school. Lexi always rides the school bus with her friend, Thug. After school, she always goes to her grandmother’s house until her mom comes home. One day, her grandmother showed Lexi a magic rose that could take her to a magical world called Everhope. She explained about a magical kingdom. She also told Lexi that she used to be queen of Everhope! Lexi’s grandmother told Lexi that SHE is the new ruler of Everhope for she can no longer be queen. Of course, Lexi didn’t believe a word her grandmother was saying, that is, until she held the rose. Soon enough, she found herself in Everhope.

The first person — or rather — creature that she met, was a Fae. Faes have the body of a butterfly and the face of a human child (which is very creepy, in my opinion). The Fae alerted everyone of Lexi’s arrival in Everhope. Soon enough, she was crowned princess of Everhope. Lexi met lots of people, like Maybell, Chef Cornelius, and Chief Byron. Maybell gave Lexi the grand tour of the castle. Lexi learned that there are lots of words and phrases that Everhopians don’t know like tacos and pizza. There are also lots of things that Everhopians use that Lexi doesn’t know.

Lexi found out the hard way that if she fell asleep in Everhope, she would be transported back home. Since she found that out, she went back and forth all the time. Lexi did lots of crazy things. She even became a soldier!

“By the Gods’ blighted butts.”

When Lexi went back home one time, her grandmother was not feeling well. Lexi begged and pleaded for her grandmother to tell her what was wrong. Her grandmother explained about a curse from Everhope that was killing her. Lexi wanted to learn more about the curse, so she decided to find the lost library to find out more. She, and a few others, faced a lot of danger. Meanwhile, Lexi developed a strong friendship with a girl named Milk. Lexi eventually found the library in an unexpected place and went back to the castle. At the end, Lexi decides to do something special for Milk.

Lexicon Chase: Scrolls of the Harlequin is a great book for kids who like fantasy, magical places and adventures. It is very weird and funny . Some parts of this book are just unexplainable! I really like this book because it is magical. My favorite part of the book is when Maybell says “By the god’s blighted butts (which I put as a quote)!” If you are reading this right now, buy this book! You will never regret it!  I give this book 5 stars.

Lilac Reviews

First off, I have to give a nod to the letter this father wrote to his daughter, it was precious.  He’s quoted in an interview to say:

“This story, and the ones that follow and make up the entire Lexicon Chase series was written for her, and that magical twinkle of wonder she holds in her eyes.”

This work is really well written and entertaining.  The author also educates and gives resources about the issues of bullying at his website. In the introductory chapters, I can see the realism in how Lexi feels she should just keep a low profile and that asking an authority figure could just make things worse. Then the adventure begins when she finds herself in Everhope. This is a wonderful story about how a young girl feels about herself, her world and how people should be treated. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to others and look forward to more in the series.

Readers' Favorite

Oh my goodness! I just finished reading a book that I simply will not be able to stop raving about! Lexicon Chase: Scrolls of the Harlequin by debut novelist Jonathan Fore is simply a masterful read in the genre of fantasy for young adults, introducing readers to our protagonist, Lexicon Chase, a young woman trying to figure out life. And what she's figured out so far is that she's not too crazy about her particular life. She doesn't have the best clothes, she doesn't wear make up, she has no cellphone and no boyfriend. But when her grandmother gives her a special gift, a family heirloom, her life definitely starts to change. When the gift magically transports Lexicon to Everhope, a fantastical kingdom, she realizes that there's much more to her life, and her family, than she ever thought. Lexicon is destined to be a queen, and living the life of a princess has her quite enamored. But when she realizes that the only way she will reign is to summon a courage she isn't sure that she has to defeat those who seek to get rid of her, it's uncertain if her time in Everhope will truly last.

I loved this book. Loved. It. First of all, let's talk about the author's choice of the main character's name. Lexicon Chase. I mean, really, is there a more perfect name than that for such a character? I think not. Lexicon Chase: Scrolls of the Harlequin is a book that grabbed me from the very first page and I simply could not put it down until the end. It was that great! Any reader who loves a great fantasy, young adult or not, should absolutely pick up this book and read it as soon as possible. I was thrilled to see that this book is the first in a planned series. I, for one, will be anxiously waiting for the next book in this series by author Jonathan Fore. If this promising new author continues to write with this level of passion and intensity, I think it likely that we'll be seeing his name on the bestseller's lists soon!

Readers' Favorite

Lexicon Chase: Scrolls of the Harlequin by Jonathan Fore is one of the fantasy books that will lead readers into a thrilling Narnia-like adventure. Lexicon Chase is just an ordinary girl with nothing special about her – one might even get the feeling that she doesn’t really fit with herself. But an heirloom from her grandma opens a portal into another world, another universe, and to her utter delight, she finds out that it is the kingdom she’s destined to rule. Although Lexicon loves everything about her new role in her new world, she also has enemies who’d do everything to see her fail and the question is: Can she find the courage and the strength to defend her new kingdom from destruction?

Lexicon Chase: Scrolls of the Harlequin is the kind of book that will immediately appeal to fans of the Chronicles of Narnia and of the fairy tales most readers are familiar with. Jonathan Fore has the gift of making readers forget the moment and travel to a world they only wish could exist. The way Lexicon Chase develops from an awkward, simple girl into a woman with a noble personality is very interesting. The author makes his story very accessible through the beauty of its language. The plot is fast-paced, the characters compelling, and the story itself is humorous without lacking in the values that make fairy tales the sunny country of commonsense. I loved this book and highly recommend it to everyone who loves reading fantasy. Jonathan Fore provides a beautiful escape from the monotony of life in the form of an exquisite read.

Readers' Favorite

Jonathan Fore’s Lexicon Chase and the Scrolls of the Harlequin is an engaging young adult, fantasy and adventure novel. As the story unravels, we get to know sixteen-year-old Lexicon Chase, an awkward young girl who is regularly bullied. From school, she regularly passes by her grandmother’s dilapidated small house on the way to a trailer that she and her mother call home. One day, her grandmother shows her a rose and tells her that at its heart can be found the kingdom of Everhope. Indeed, as Lexi blinks at the rose, she is transported to the kingdom where her grandmother is known as Queen Abigail and she is treated as a princess. Thus begins a charmed life where she gets to wear beautiful gowns, eat the best food, ride the best horses and command the kingdom’s soldiers herself. All is not well in Everhope, however, as Lexi discovers that a druid has put a curse on it. Determined to lift the curse on her doomed kingdom, Lexi will go on a dangerous quest. Will she find what she is looking for?

Lexicon Chase and the Scrolls of the Harlequin is Book One in a series and centers on the life and amazing adventures of Lexi Chase. Obviously, author Jonathan Fore’s imagination knows no bounds and his story is certainly entertaining. Imagine a poor awkward girl of sixteen being transformed into a princess in a wink - then it is just normal that she will get into a lot of trouble in her elegant new role. What makes Lexi’s character endearing is her transformation from a poor bullied kid to a benevolent princess. And while some of her subjects plot her downfall, Princess Lexi goes on a mission to save her kingdom. The characters in this story are well rounded and there is an effort to show something good in all of them, including the villains. And Everhope, Princess Lexi’s new home, is a kingdom populated by knights, druids, unicorns, ogres, fairies, talking butterflies, and ghostly men among others. After reading this book, it will not be surprising if Jonathan Fore’s readers will eagerly look forward to his next edition. I highly recommend this book!

Readers' Favorite

Lexicon Chase: Scrolls of the Harlequin by Jonathan Fore is the perfect fantasy book for young girls. Don’t get me wrong, boys will enjoy it too but certain girls will love it. I liked this series a lot and if it keeps up the fun and excitement in books to come we may have another Harry Potter on our hands. Lexicon Chase starts in a fashion similar to Harry Potter. We have a smart quiet person who is bullied and tormented. It’s impossible for Lexicon to know her worth in our world and one of the most powerful scenes in the story occurs a little after Lexicon’s abrupt arrival in Everhope. Maybell the chambermaid does her makeup and for the very first time in her young life the young Lexicon feels beautiful.

Lexicon is now a princess. Instead of being bullied and teased, now everyone respects or even fears her. It is a big adjustment but Lexicon jumps into her new life of magic, assassins, and a lost library as if she has been given a new lease on life. She dives into her new life and her new kingdom and we get to watch her grow and mature. She has always been a good person, even a great person, but she just couldn’t bloom in our modern, mundane world. The writing is excellent. The morals and lessons are relevant to kids and teenagers everywhere. Jonathan Fore has a sure winner here and I won’t be surprised to see Lexicon on the big screen one day.

Readers' Favorite

Lexicon Chase: Scrolls of the Harlequin by Jonathan Fore is the story of Lexicon Chase, also called Lexi. Or Princess. In the beginning, she is nothing but an unpopular girl who gets bullied every day - so much so that one day she can hardly bear it any longer. That is the day when her grandmother shows her how to travel to a different world - a world in which the women of her line are queens and princesses. Lexi feels wonderful in this world; she can finally be who she wants to be without being bullied. However, there are also those who do not want outsiders to be the rulers of the land. There also is a curse and Lexi wants to break it. But for that, she has to find a missing library and she cannot trust everybody.

I enjoyed Lexicon Chase: Scrolls of the Harlequin by Jonathan Fore so much that I finished the book in two sittings. I would recommend the book to people who like stories along the lines of unpopular, unhappy, almost suicidal girl finds a way to a magical world and discovers that there is more to her than she ever expected. Yes, there are many stories like that, but Lexicon Chase stands out because the characters are very well developed, and the world is described wonderfully. The author clearly knows how to use adjectives to his advantage, but without using too many of them, or using boring old cliches to describe people and objects. It is just perfect for a reader's imagination. I like the idea that Lexicon went out to look for a lost library. Kind of fits her name, too. She is a rather likeable character, and I am sure that many readers will fall in love with her.

San Francisco Book Review

Lexi Chase’s life drastically changes on the 25th of September when her grandmother’s magical rose transports Lexi to a medieval castle in the Kingdom of Everhope. Used to being the butt of ridicule at her high school, the fifteen-year-old enjoys her new princess role until she learns the horrible truth of a curse that not only affects Everhope, but also the life of her beloved grandmother. Although she is determined to find the hidden tome that will break the curse, Lexi is unaware there is an even greater diabolical plot in the works. 

Jonathan Fore’s 6th novel, and the first book of the Lexicon Chase and the Kingdom of Everhope series, takes readers on a fantastical C.S. Lewis-like journey. Laced with a good-versus-evil theme, Fore’s third person narrative features an under-dog whose self worth is directly proportional to her impoverished and dismal life. Indeed, the last thing Lexi expects is a sudden shift to royalty (a definite Narnia feel). Aided by a colorful benevolent and miscreant cast, the coming-of-age development of Fore’s principal character is also surrounded by a host of mythological and mystical beings. Fore includes an interesting mix of faes (fairy-like creatures), elves, ghosts, gibberings, gnolls, as well as a friendly ogre and a unicorn amid an all-things-apothecary-and-magical setting. 

While Fore doesn’t incorporate talking beasts, and there is no religious allegory attached to his plot, the mere fact he mixes a present-day youth with her ties to an otherworldly past, and then combines that with all the above-mentioned elements, is enough to give his novel a reminiscent warm-and-fuzzy feel of Narnia. Yet Fore’s writing style is quite unlike Lewis’s old-British vernacular, consistent throughout the Narnia novels. Lexi (who is learning how to be a proper princess), for example, takes her 21st century lingo and actions with her to Everhope, which makes for an interesting, and sometimes hilarious, contrast to language and practices of an archaic society. 

Alternating between various unexpected character scenes of both the present and the past, Lexicon Chase and the Scrolls of Harlequin undoubtedly closes with a light cli hanger in preparation for part two of this exciting new series—Lexicon Chase and the Riddle Song—coming in 2016!

Formats
Paperback Details
  • 09/2015
  • 978-1502768711
  • 320 pages
  • $12.99
Audio Details
  • 11/2015
  • 330 pages
  • $24.99
Ebook Details
  • 09/2015
  • 1502768712 B0116AMNMA
  • 330 pages
  • $2.99
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