In Thunderstone (Legacy in Legend Book 1), by Barbara Pietron, teenage Jeni goes to Lake Itasca, Minnesota with her extended family to release her grandfather’s ashes into the headwaters of the Mississippi river. She expects a quiet time of family bonding, but the only other relative close to her age is her annoying cousin Tyler.

When Jeni picks up a little souvenir of her trip, she chooses a strange cat-like statue. But Shattered Ice, a modern-day apprentice to the traditional Ojibwe medicine man, is also looking for the statue, which turns out to be less of a unique souvenir and more of a powerful artifact. One of Tyler’s stupid pranks accidentally activates some of the artifact’s legendary powers, dragging Jeni and Ice into a dangerous adventure.

Ice eventually explains that the statue isn’t an odd scaled cat, but an emblem of a mythical water monster (like the Friendly Ones in Greek myth, just saying the name can attract unwanted attention from a frightening creature). The story uses a lot of interesting Ojibwe legends and customs to create a magical adventure story. The modern-day dangers come directly from the old legends. Like Jeni, I was already interested in classical myth, and loved discovering other ancient stories.

Jeni is a fun protag for a YA adventure. She loves reading and old myths, and she’s also very brave. When she discovers her role in all the supernatural events, it goes against everything she knew about herself, and there's a coming-of-age element here too. She'll have to trust Ice, someone she barely knows, and even make an alliance with her annoying cousin, because she needs to protect modern-day people from the tricky mythical monster.

Without revealing too much of Jeni's discoveries. I can at least say that her role wasn't just a random encounter with a weird statue. there's a satisfying ending to their dangerous adventures in this novel, but their battle again supernatural enemies is far from over. Thunderstone is the first in the Legacy in Legend series, plus an additional prequel, Heart of Ice, about Ice's past before this novel opens.

***Copy provided from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review***

I jumped into this book and didn't put it down until I finished it last night! That being said I do wish it had been more detailed. I wanted to know more of the story, more about Jeni's family powers, more about the Manitou, more about Ice and Nik.

Jeni is 15yrs old and on a family vacation to spread her grandfather's ashes. She's stuck with her older, annoying cousin, Tyler. At at gas station she buys a figurine that turns out to be a Native American artifact. Ice, an apprenticing medicine man, was sent to buy the statue but Jeni gets to it first. You can see where this is going right? I was pleasantly surprised that this didn't turn into a instlove thing. In fact I wouldn't say there was a lot of romance at all. This book focuses mainly on the statue and powers. Yes, Jeni and Ice like each other but I like that it wasn't the main focus. Sometimes instead of enhancing a story it can take away from it. This book was also very clean and would be good for even the younger side of YA. Quick, good read, just wish it was more descriptive. ( )

***Copy provided from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review***

I jumped into this book and didn't put it down until I finished it last night! That being said I do wish it had been more detailed. I wanted to know more of the story, more about Jeni's family powers, more about the Manitou, more about Ice and Nik.

Jeni is 15yrs old and on a family vacation to spread her grandfather's ashes. She's stuck with her older, annoying cousin, Tyler. At at gas station she buys a figurine that turns out to be a Native American artifact. Ice, an apprenticing medicine man, was sent to buy the statue but Jeni gets to it first. You can see where this is going right? I was pleasantly surprised that this didn't turn into a instlove thing. In fact I wouldn't say there was a lot of romance at all. This book focuses mainly on the statue and powers. Yes, Jeni and Ice like each other but I like that it wasn't the main focus. Sometimes instead of enhancing a story it can take away from it. This book was also very clean and would be good for even the younger side of YA. Quick, good read, just wish it was more descriptive. ( )

I received a ARC from publisher via Netgallery.I really enjoyed the book and it reminded me of another author I like to read.(Rick Riordan)Would Highly recommend. ( )

Sissy: I found this YA storyline to be different and refreshing and happily much less angsty than all the paranormal YA stuff I've been reading lately.

Bubby: Yes, it does seem like we tend to get in a rut, eh Sissy? I think YA paranormal romance is like candy; really fun and delicious in small doses, but too much makes my tummy hurt. While Thunderstone is still technically in that genre, there are no fairies or witches or vampires. Just Native American legends come to life.

Sissy: I didn't think I would like Thunderstone. Bubby didn't think she'd like it either but we were both wrong.

Bubby: I am never wrong. I was simply too hasty in my judgemental process. Not wrong.

Sissy: You were too wrong, you nerf-herder! Get over it! As I said before, it was a really interesting and engaging story. The only problem I had with it is that Jeni is only 15 and to have a "great love" and such fortitude under duress is way more mature than most 15 year-olds actually are. When I was 15, I was a complete social bumbling idiot who would have run home and cowered under her mother's bed at the sight of a water monster or any sort of supernatural entity. My "great love" was a crush on the neighbor boy, and if he even looked in my direction I would run away and write about it in my journal. Something like "Oh Happiness--"D" looked at me! It must be true love! I can't wait until we get married!" P.S. "D" now looks like a hairy neanderthal and I'm so glad I didn't marry him.

Bubby: I totally agree. I like to pretend that the years between 11 and 19 just didn't exist. No way could I have dealt with any sort of mythical beastie and survived! Heck, I don't think I would survive a mythical beastie now! At any rate, the storyline of Thunderstone moves along at a swift and satisfying pace. I was never bored or felt like things were dragging.

Sissy: Ice, on the other hand, has a bit mroe reason to be mature for his age. He has experienced many tragical things in his life and has been given much responsibility. Plus he's a total teenage dreamboat hunk of burning love olive skinned chisel-cheeked Native American boy. Who can resist that?

Bubby: I am more partial to the Viking-warrior type myself, but I can certainly see the allure. I must say though that my favorite character was cousin Tyler. He and Jeni have a relationship more like siblings than cousins. I felt the need to smack him in the head repeatedly at the beginning of the story but he really turns into something quite wonderful by the end. Reminds me of my brothers, one in particular. Totally annoying and obnoxious during childhood but a pretty awesome human being as an adult.

Sissy: Thunderstone is full of action and adventure, and although there is a love story, you only get it in small bits. The Native American folklore is fascinating and Thunderstone makes me want to learn more about it. Read full review at www.bubblebathbooks.net