Jennifer Sowle

For everyone who's ever thought to themselves, you know what my life really needs? More skunks.
This sweet little story fills a need that you probably didn't even know you had. In the Animal Guild Series we've learned about animals and humans, beetles and birds and even big-foots, but what was the one thing we didn't get enough of? Skunks!
Skunks rule the day here, lovable and vicious little balls of fluff with hair-trigger tempers and bottomless loyalty.
Young Kiah and Terelle, a bobcat and his skunk best friend, thought they would be together forever, but adult life interferes, as it inevitably does for all species everywhere. Kiah always dreamed of being an honorary skunk and accompanying Terelle into a lifetime of adventure when she is initiated into her new duties, but forces are aligned against them. Throw in an ill-advised trip into forbidden territory complete with clumsy mishap, the discovery of mysterious skunk secrets, a haphazard attack on the skunk Enclave, as well as more exposure to skunk spray than even Kiah ever wanted to experience, and we have a recipe for an enriching little journey that leads Kiah from utter despair to heartwarming triumph over the course of one long day.
In short, this is another exciting and satisfying side story to the main series.… (meer)

It's the eleventh hour for the Animal Guild stories: a multitude of plot lines and an even bigger multitude of characters have come together for an amazing showdown. But what's even more amazing to me is that the showdown comes with not only two brand new main characters, but a brand new species of animal!

In this installment, Corto is large and in charge once again, but he has changed from his early arrogant years: he's willing to receive help, even willing to *ask* for help. Which is certainly a good thing, as he needs it to survive this rollicking adventure!

Unknown to guilders, humans or beetles, a hidden enclave of legendary animals have existed in secrecy for centuries, and one troubled young female has come into an unwanted inheritance. Venturing unwillingly out into the world, she meets a guilder, a young beagle who is angry and alone, embittered by his life. These two new characters form an unexpected attachment, a delicate and fragile love opposed by seemingly insurmountable odds: they are separated by their backgrounds, their families, their very species. How can their love possibly bring together and solve all the scattered threads of animal, beetle and human conflict?

Mysticism and spirituality abound in this story as the beloved Sev from the very first book of the series oversees (and maybe engineers?) the conclusion. And as always when it comes to the animal guilders and their allies, love and loyalty rule (and perhaps even save) the day!

All-out war threatens, lives are in the balance, but the author delivers on every promise and the main story arcs of the series are neatly tied off with seamlessly interlocking events. And, best of all possible worlds, there's ample room for the further adventures of our favorite characters!

What a rewarding experience this series has turned out to be!… (meer)

The convergence of the animal and human worlds is heating up in the Animal Guild stories!

The Rogan and Bowers kids are going on a road trip to Nevada and who could have guessed that treasure, and even ghosts, would turn out to be the least of the kids’ problems?

Pepin, Mika and their friends are presented with magic and mayhem, spooky mines and haunted hotels, vicious bullies and unexpected friends, small town prejudice and long lost relatives. All the kids have going for them are their courage and their rock-solid loyalty to one another. Both are tested to the limit here, because the stakes are high and the danger is very real for our friends!

For me, I found the key word for this entry in the series to be anticipation: over the course of the book a dozen disparate characters converge on an isolated and seemingly inconsequential Nevada town, and the reader eagerly anticipates the meeting of all these strong willed personalities. Expectations are handsomely paid off with masterly crafted scenes mixing adventure, humor and heartfelt emotions—along with plenty of surprises and a slam-bang denouement!

Sowle juggles a large cast of characters with aplomb, sure-handedly introducing new members of a sprawling human family (and new bugs!) to the already well-defined animal and human characters. The stage is deftly set for the next installment in this wonderful series, and I for one can’t wait!… (meer)

I loved Randa's Day, although it made me cry! (In a good way!)

This is Randa's moment to shine and she sure does! How lovely it is to read about a character who stayed on the sidelines throughout most of The Animal Guild stories, and is now front and center for the first time. The story is filled with lots of good 'feels,' and lots of family and friend moments. Which perhaps is all the more poignant since the story is told from the point of view of a character who may never mate and have children of her own. I loved all the little guild management details and the subtle tells of who was in command in what situation, but how it didn't ultimately matter because the guilders were all working together towards the same end.

A very charming addition indeed to the expanded Animal Guild 'verse.… (meer)