Black Bead: Book One of the Black Bead Chronicles

Some novels where the main characters are children have them acting like they are adults.In Black Bead the children try hard to be like adults but ultimately they are children.An exciting, mysterious and very intelligent story.

I read this odd little book in one sitting. It drew me in, enveloped me, confused me and compelled me. It was odd. It follows a six year old girl, Cheobawn, who chose wrongly at her Choosing Day ceremony and is given a black bead to wear around her neck for life, a symbol of her lack of psychic powers. Lakey crafts an innovative, peculiar world; humans live in Domes and outside is the wilderness. Only packs may venture outside and each pack must contain an Ear, a woman with psychic skills who can sense danger and see into the future.Cheobawn has highly attuned senses, but because of her bead and her age no pack will take her. Tam is a slightly older youth, perhaps eight, who agrees to take her on because her friend Megan, a charming girl with strong powers, won't leave Cheobawn behind. Under Cheobawn's guidance, they venture out of the dome and into danger. Can she manipulate the threads of the future to bring them safely home?I felt like I was missing something when I read this. Is this a novella set in an already established world? There's terminology thrown left and right that I didn't understand (until I finished the book and saw the glossary in the back) and it's confusing. But the story is odd and compelling (indeed, oddly compelling) and Cheobawn is a great narrator considering my hesitancy to read from the perspective of a six-year-old. This book is original and dynamic and unlike anything I have ever read.

I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.Although this is written for teenagers and not a teenager myself this was a thoroughly entertaining story.Enjoyable for teenagers and adults.

This is a book that will appeal to a lot of YA fans; a group of children needing to prove themselves in a confusing world full of danger. Cheobawn is a young girl that is deemed to be unlucky by the adults in her group. She has strong psi abilities and she is chosen by 3 boys and her friend Megan to form a pack. I found the world the writer has created at times bewildering as the social structures and the creatures in this world are so unfamiliar. I would advise to just go with the flow and not focus too hard on having to figure it all out. What you are left with is a thrilling adventure story that moves at a fast pace. You hold your breath as the children race against time to make it back to their home dome. This is part one of a series and I’m sure the complex social set up of this world will be further explained. This is a riveting start to a sci-fi series that will no doubt appeal to a lot of youngsters and adults. Looking forwards to the next instalment.