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  • The Return of Innocence: YA Fantasy

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Duane Simolke
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The Return of Innocence: YA Fantasy Kindle Edition

by Duane Simolke (Author), Toni Davis (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars (7)
Sometimes, going home is the most dangerous adventure of all!

At sixteen, Sasha left her island home to buy seeds in Jaan. She stumbled into a series of misadventures that ended with the death of an evil sorcerer and made Sasha a legend, known as “Innocence.” Accounts of the story barely resembled the truth.

When Sasha returned for more seeds, the people of Jaan expected her to defeat a much more ruthless and powerful sorcerer.

This novel blends humor and romance with exciting fantasy action.

Revised eBook, published 2018.
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  1. Print length
    191 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    February 13, 2014
  5. Reading age
    13 - 18 years
  6. File size
    1.7 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0012XZ9Z0
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 13, 2014
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.7 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 191 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 13 - 18 years
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars (7)

About the author

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Duane Simolke

Duane Simolke

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Duane Simolke (pronounced "Dwain Smoky"). Education: Belmont University (B.A., '89, Nashville, TN), Hardin-Simmons University (M.A., '91, Abilene, TX), and Texas Tech University (Ph.D., '96, Lubbock, TX), all with a major in English.

Writing published in nightFire, Mesquite, Caprock Sun, Midwest Poetry Review, International Journal on World Peace, and many other publications. Author or co-author of the following books. The Acorn Stories. Stein, Gender, Isolation, and Industrialism: New Readings of Winesburg, Ohio. Holding Me Together. Degranon: A Science Fiction Adventure. The Acorn Gathering: Writers Uniting Against Cancer. The Return of Innocence: A Fantasy Adventure.

Winner, Allbooks Reviewers Choice Award and four StoneWall Society Pride in the Arts Awards.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
7 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

  • Shawn C. Sproatt
    4.0 out of 5 stars Terrific Read
    Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2011
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This was a really fun fantasy book. I loved the world Simolke created, because it has the traditional "medieval" sort of feel what with how it took place in villages where people bartered and traded, but it had many modern elements that I appreciated. In my opinion, I'm sick of fantasy books with sexist mindsets where women are regarded as second class citizens, who literally have to fight for their right to be warriors, and the men are the ones who get to go out and have fun adventures. So "The Return of Innocence" was very refreshing to read. Even if the main character hadn't been female, but everything else stayed the same I still would have really enjoyed it. I recommend it to anyone who is sick of reading books in the "Game of Thrones" fashion, but still want a great story to read
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Coincidence?
    Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Coincidence and talk takes make for self fulfilling prophecies. Legends, abet with some reluctance, come to heroic life. Excellent worldbuilding
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  • Kayla's Reads and Reviews
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good, short, fantasy story
    Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2019
    Format: Kindle
    For 2018, one of my main goals was to read my backlog of review books. While I didn't manage to read all of them, I made a nice dent in my pile. The last one I read in 2018 was The Return of Innocence. I had owned this book for a while, and kept putting it off for some reason. I'm not sure why I did. After finally reading it, I really enjoyed the book.

    I really loved the world that Duane Simolke created in The Return of Innocence. He weaved a setting that was complex and intricate, yet easy to understand and for the reader to immerse themselves into. The plot was action packed, although a bit predictable at times. I will admit, the predictability did take me out of the world at times. However, a few pages later, something would happen that would suck me right back into the story line. I especially loved the scene with Sasha being in the throne room with the king the first time. It cracked me up.

    I also loved all of the characters in The Return of Innocence. There wasn't a single one that I disliked. Even Taylii, the main antagonist, had some qualities that I found to be entertaining. I loved Sasha. She was a fierce woman who took no crap from anyone and knew what she wanted. She wouldn't let anyone stop her, or get in her way. I think YA fantasy needs more heroines like her. I also loved all of the side characters. I almost wish the author would write more books about them, especially with the LGBTQ+ relationship that happens in the end. I would love a book about just those two characters.

    Other than being a little predictable, I absolutely loved The Return of Innocence. I thought it was one of the better short YA fantasy books that I had read in a while. I will definitely be reading more of Duane Simolke's books. I can't wait to see what other type of fantasy worlds he creates.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Anna Creech
    3.0 out of 5 stars Book-on-demand with potential ISO editor for some red pen action or more.
    Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2006
    Format: Paperback
    It took author Duane Simolke over twenty years to turn his short story idea into a novel. Let us hope that it does not take that long for it to evolve into a good novel. The Return of Innocence is desperately in need of an editor.

    The story told in the book is fairly simple and has all the elements of a decent fantasy novel. Sasha Varov and her family are exiled from their home country of Jaan because her father tried to stop an evil wizard from doing what evil wizards do. Several years later, Sasha sneaks into Jaan on a simple mission of buying seeds. While there, she winds up killing the evil wizard and then returning home.

    Unbeknownst to her, that act has made her a hero among the general populace of Jaan, although it opened the way for the evil wizard's even more evil brother to step in and take his place. One year later, Sasha must return to Jaan for more seeds, but on the way her plans are altered and instead she decides to assist a group of rebels seeking to rid Jaan of the wizard.

    There are dragons, demons, and plenty of sword fights to make a fantasy reader happy, but in the end it's still too much work to get past the stilted writing and abrupt scene changes. In addition, the author's attempts at humor are incongruous and uncomfortable.

    The author is too busy throwing in a dash of mysticism here and a smattering of romance there to really develop anything fully, or even explain what is there. When it is apparent that a scene was added in order to flesh out the story into a book, one almost wishes that it had been left as it was because all it does is detract from what could be an engaging story.

    The author frequently has the character tell the reader what the character is thinking or feeling, rather than giving that role to a non-entity narrator. It is usually jarring and throws off the flow of the prose. This is yet another element of the book that could be improved with editing and refinement.

    The ending of the book is anti-climactic and contrived. All along the reader can anticipate the eventual outcome, and the tools for that outcome appear six scenes prior. Despite all that, certain plot points are never fully explained. The whole thing is wrapped up with a little too much "and they lived happily ever after."

    The Return of Innocence might be worth reading once it has been put through the ministrations of a reputable editor and publisher, but until then it is best left on the shelf, unless the reader is a masochist.
    3 people found this helpful
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