RAE’S READS

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This year (2025) finds me with 53 years of teaching “under my belt.” I have taught all levels from pre-K “(library lady” or “book lady”–volunteer) to juniors, seniors, and graduate students enrolled in my Advanced Writing class at the university where I have just completed 34 years. My first paying teaching job was junior high, and I spent 13 years with ages 12-13, the “difficult years.” I had some of the “funnest” experiences with this age group. When I was no longer the “young, fun teacher,” I taught in an elementary school setting before sixth graders went on to junior high, teaching language arts blocs, an assignment that was a “dream-fit” for me. After completing graduate school in my 40s, I went on to community college, then university teaching. This past fall I accepted a part-time teaching job at Apogee Gulf Coast Schools in its first year at the Alvin campus. After my Better Half died n 2022, I achieved a lifelong dream: opening a bookstore of my own, Rae’s Reads. A year later, I sold the house we had lived in for 47 years and moved into the bookstore. My goal is to circulate and repurpose books. Just as teaching is “in my blood,” so is a passion for reading, writing, libraries, and everything bookish. This blog will be open to anyone who loves books, promotes literacy and wants to “come out and play.”

MANTIVORE DREAMS by S.J. Higbee: A Review

Mantivore Dreams by blogging friend S.J. Higbee is an exciting novel aimed at YA target readers. This far from YA reader, LOL, enjoyed it immensely.

If the cover is intriguing, wait until you begin to read!

After having read the Sunblind trilogy by this friend, my appetite was whetted for more, and this new series, The Arcadian Chronicles really delivers.

Kyrilla, a teenage heroine lives in a Cinderella world, a slave to her hateful mother and her disabled uncle. Her inner Mantivore, Vrox, often directs her thoughts and actions as she lives out her miserable live on a strange planet.

The book is full of young love and young like, as well as family secrets and mysteries that affect Kyrilla and the entire planet. Higbee’s writing style is engaging, and her word choices are original and spot-on. Reading this book was a pleasure, even though sci fi, specifically space operas and life on other planets is a tad distant from my standard reading tastes. This book, however, is extremely readable as any good novel, full of plot twists and turns and strong on character development, things I specifically enjoy.

I fully intend to read the other books in the series and know I will enjoy what I have come to expect from this author–a darned good read!

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8 responses to “MANTIVORE DREAMS by S.J. Higbee: A Review”

  1. James J. Cudney IV (Jay) Avatar
    James J. Cudney IV (Jay)

    I’ve read it too. Great review!!!

    Liked by 1 person

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  2. sjhigbee Avatar
    sjhigbee

    Thank you so much for the lovely review, Rae. I’m delighted that you enjoyed the book so much – and very pleased you’ve taken the time and trouble to write your thoughts about it:)).

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  3. Sunday Post – 1st November, 2020 #Brainfluffbookblog #SundayPost | Brainfluff Avatar
    Sunday Post – 1st November, 2020 #Brainfluffbookblog #SundayPost | Brainfluff

    […] lovely reading memories in this stormingly good list…MANTIVORE DREAMS by S.J. Higbee: a review https://powerfulwomenreaders.wordpress.com/2020/10/29/mantivore-dreams-by-s-j-higbee-a-review/ I had a lovely surprise when I came across Rae’s review of the first book in my Arcadian […]

    Liked by 1 person

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  4. Deb Nance at Readerbuzz Avatar
    Deb Nance at Readerbuzz

    I’m happy to see that you enjoyed this story so much. Wonderful.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  5. Carla Avatar
    Carla

    So, having read the Sunblinded Trilogy and this first book in The Arcadian Chronicles, would you suggest I read Sunblinded first or can I jump in with this one? I want to start one for Science Fiction month and have both on my kindle already.

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Rae Longest Avatar
      Rae Longest

      They are totally unrelated. Start either series; they both are good. The Sunblind series is more life on a spaceship and becoming the leader of the fleet eventually, where Arcadian Chronicles is life on another planet. Both have strong female protagonists. But the two series are distant cousins…no characters that appear in both or anything like that. Each has three books–a nice number for a series.

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      1. Carla Avatar
        Carla

        Perfect, thanks Rae. I think I will start with Sunblind then.

        Liked by 2 people

  6. Rae Longest Avatar
    Rae Longest

    You will love the spunky protagonist.

    Liked by 1 person

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