YA Review – The Whisperer’s Wish – young adult fantasy

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Whisperer’s Wish by Janilise Lloyd, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The Whisperer’s Wish
Author: Janilise Lloyd
Publisher: Expanse Books (Imprint of Scrivenings Press)
Release Date: March 21, 2023
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

For sixteen years, Laurelin Moore has been keeping a secret. She is a whisperer, and she knows that to reveal her gift now is a dangerous risk. Past whisperers have been exploited for their power. But Ausland’s queen is dead and acknowledging her magic is her only chance at becoming a Rook in the Pentax—a competition that will decide the kingdom’s next ruler.

Laurelin isn’t in it for the crown, though. She’s after the wish that will be granted to the victor. A wish that would save her dying brother, Pippin. But there are dangerous undercurrents to the competition, and Laurelin finds herself at the center of it. She begins to search for answers and discovers a secret with the potential to shatter the entire kingdom.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound | BookBub

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My Review

Lloyd, Janilise. The Whisperer’s Wish: A crown. A conspirator. A race for the cure. Morrilton, AR: Expanse Books, 2023.

It is rare that a book grabs me in the first couple of pages. It often takes a chapter or more for me to feel like I’m into the book. The Whisperer’s Wish was an exception. I think I was investing in the story within the first 2-3 pages. I found Janilise Lloyd to be an excellent author who knows how to draw in an audience quickly. 

The Whisperer’s Wish would be an excellent “read-alike” for fans of The Hunger Games. Hunger Games fans will immediately see the similarities between the two books. If you had concerns about the violence in The Hunger Games there is considerably less of that kind of action in The Whisperer’s Wish.

Laurelin lives in a land where everyone has a magic power. Her’s is talking to the pygsmy birds. These birds have an elixir that has healing properties. Laurelin is also a commoner. The country is holding a competition to find the next ruler. One person from each region will be competing. The winner of the competition will be named king/queen and given a wish by the matrons. Laurelin really doesn’t want to be queen but she wants to ask the matrons to heal her brother who is dying of cancer. 

Lloyd includes many twists and turns to keep the story moving forward. Readers will feel the joy at the achievements and the disappointments at the apparent failures. 

I loved The Whisperer’s Wish  and look forward to reading more by Lloyd.

The Whisperer’s Wish would make a great addition to the fantasy section of a K-12 Christian school library. It is appropriate for older elementary and up. 

I received a complimentary copy of The Whisperer’s Wish. This is my honest review.

About the Author – Janilise Lloyd

Janilise Lloyd is a former junior high school teacher who lives in Northern Utah with her husband and toddler. She balances a love for running with a love for all things dessert. Her family likes to be on the go, so you will often catch them at the zoo, the park, or skipping rocks by the river. Janilise is the coordinator for the ScrivKids writing community for student writers and is a member of the Storymakers Guild. You can find her on Instagram or Facebook @janiliselloyd or on her website, janiliselloyd.com.

Connect with Janilise by visiting janiliselloyd.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card, a signed copy of the paperback (ebook if outside US), and character art print.

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight March 14, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 21, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only for print copy & art print. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

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