Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Aspen offers an unconventional fantasy story in The Dreamtidings of a Disgruntled Starbeing, which focuses on 13-year-old Klara Tippins who grapples with her troubled family life by channeling the lessons given to her by her celestial kin.
Prose: Aspen's prose is clear and propulsive, with sections devoted to Klara's interactions with her fellow star beings clearly differentiated in structure and tone.
Originality: From planetary beings to dysfunctional family dynamics, Aspen's novel stands out for its unique concept. The integration of metaphysical, spiritual, and philosophical ideas leads to an often enlightening and deeply intriguing reading experience.
Character/Execution: Aspen's novel is rich in ideas and allegorical in its approach. As such, however, the work is somewhat lacking in worldbuilding and characters are painted with rather broad strokes. Ultimately, despite the work's charms, readers may struggle to fully gain a footing in the storytelling.
Date Submitted: August 07, 2023
"Linn Aspen's The Dreamtidings of a Disgruntled Starbeing crafts an enthralling narrative that blends whimsical charm with profound introspection, inviting readers on an awe-inspiring journey of self-revelation.
" It follows the journey of 13-year-old Klara Tippins, a precocious starbeing who finds solace from her challenging life through vivid dreams and guidance from her celestial family. Little does she know, they are not merely dreams but a real connection to her home world, some 22,236 miles from Earth. Set in an eccentric upstate New York home, Klara discovers resilience and inner strength as she navigates three mystical belief systems—Quakerism, Q'ero Shamanism, and Hinduism—that help shape her worldview.
"In The Dreamtidings of a Disgruntled Starbeing, Linn Aspen's evocative prose adds emotional depth to Klara's experiences, delivering a poignant personal growth and healing tale. Though Klara faces struggles with mental illness in her family, the narrative shines with hope as she embarks on a transformative path toward embracing her true self. This isn't a conventional fantasy story—Aspen ingeniously weaves fantastical elements through feelings and metaphor. The result is a refreshingly unique coming-of-age journey that immerses readers in Klara's mind and spirit. Blending rich spirituality and self-discovery, The Dreamtidings of a Disgruntled Star stands apart with its creative flair and thoughtful themes. Aspen introduces compelling belief systems that elevate the narrative and provide profound wisdom. This imaginative ode to finding one's inner strength and purpose resonates deeply, remaining with readers long after the final page. For those seeking an emotionally stirring fantasy that defies conventions, Aspen delivers a magical tale of personal revelation."
"A highly original and often thought-provoking tale. Highly recommended!
"I must say, I very much enjoyed this highly original novel from the pen of Linn Aspen. It's the story of a 13 year old girl who is living in a family with A LOT of problems. But all is not lost; her 'other world' family is there to protect her and to help her to be all she can be.
"From the opening, captivating chapters, I was enchanted by the young Klara, her humour, and her way of looking at life. She's such a wonderful character and getting to know her was, for me, the most enjoyable aspect of the novel. Saying that, the author works hard to develop the secondary characters too - the mother, the father, and the psychopathic brother! In many ways, it is a tender story, focusing on Klara's self-discovery and her hunt for purpose and spirituality.
"Although I did find parts of Klara's story a tad slow going, I'm still very happy to recommend this thought-provoking and often charming novel to anybody interested in spiritual development. In many ways, this novel reminded me of the classic, Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Yes, there's the odd motorcycle in it, but it's much more than that; much bigger. And that's very much the case with this novel. Yes, it's about a girl growing up in a horrid family, but that's only the beginning...
"So, to sum up, GET THIS BOOK NOW! It'll get under your skin and, even better, get you thinking."
Though I was honored to get an award and be invited to Headline Book's booth at the American Libray Association's conference, I was anxious about going to Chicago and attending such a large event. Like most writers I'm in the habit of observing things, taking everything in, and it's a challenge not to get overwhelmed. That said, the people I met, both inside and outside the event, were most helpful and kind and I ended up having a wonderful time.
Klara (my protagonist) is in her first Brick-and-Mortar store!!!
The Galaxy Bookshop. A lovely welcoming store in the beautiful town of Hardwich, Vermont.
Thank you Andrea and Sandy for taking her in.
MY DEAR KLARA JUST WON HER SECOND AWARD! (Klara is the protagonist in my novel The Dreamtidings of a Disgruntled Starbeing.) The award is being a finalist in the Inspiration Fiction Category of the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. It's a great award as it has given me an invitation to do a book signing at the American Library Association's National Conference in Chicago. Go Klara! I'm so proud of her.
Klara (my protagonist) just received a third place award in the Literary Fiction, Coming of Age category! Yay!!
Another library has accepted my novel. I am so honored (and excited. I am also very, very excited.)
Libraries have always been my favorite place, so thank you, Jess Lobner, for believing in my book. Jess is the Library Director at the Levi E. Coe Library in Middlefield Connecticut and, not only asked for my book, but also invited me to do a book signing on May 4th.
Check out my interview with Brian Feinblum on BookMarketingBuzzBlog!
A huge Thank You to all you wonderful readers who's supported Klara and her message. She won another award!!! This time she's the winner of the 2023 PenCraft Seasonal Book Award Summer Competition (General Fiction). "The PenCraft Seasonal Book Awards recognizes books of remarkable literary quality, artistic excellence, and popularity with its readers." Readers like you.
