Elizabeth Foster (6)
Author of Esme's Wish
For other authors named Elizabeth Foster, see the disambiguation page.
Series
Works by Elizabeth Foster
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Gender
- female
- Nationality
- Australia
- Places of residence
- Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Associated Place (for map)
- New South Wales, Australia
Members
Reviews
Esme returns to her home to find her father almost broken thanks to her mother's and her own latest dissappearances, but instead of finding hope of rebuilding what was lost, she faces even more dismal circumstances. Her step-mother is in control and is using her father much more than Esme first suspected. But when Esme approaches her father, he refuses to listen to her and wants her hauled off to the psychiatrist like her mother was. Esme escapes and is forced to try to figure out how to show more wake her mother from the coma on her own. But time is ticking and Esme hasn't even started to dig into the world of magic which awaits her.
This is such a well-written book! I did read the first one in the series and was looking forward to continuing the adventure. There's more character depth and a smoother, more enticing tension in these pages than there was even in the last book. Esme has grown, but still has a lot to learn. She's down-to-earth and although some decisions are a bit risky, it's understandable why she does what she does. It's hard not to get lost in this book as she battles not only to discover a way to help her mother but find the path to discovering herself.
From the first chapter, I was hooked. The opening scenes with her return home and meeting with her father pull at the heart strings, while adding the disturbing sense that evil lurks nearby. It's hard not to feel her desperation, hope and doubt as she comes up against all sorts of unexpected hurdles. It's nice that she doesn't have to tackle everything alone but has golden friends. And it's this ray of light which makes the darker moments so much fun to read. I can't wait to dive into the next book and see what Esme is up against next show less
This is such a well-written book! I did read the first one in the series and was looking forward to continuing the adventure. There's more character depth and a smoother, more enticing tension in these pages than there was even in the last book. Esme has grown, but still has a lot to learn. She's down-to-earth and although some decisions are a bit risky, it's understandable why she does what she does. It's hard not to get lost in this book as she battles not only to discover a way to help her mother but find the path to discovering herself.
From the first chapter, I was hooked. The opening scenes with her return home and meeting with her father pull at the heart strings, while adding the disturbing sense that evil lurks nearby. It's hard not to feel her desperation, hope and doubt as she comes up against all sorts of unexpected hurdles. It's nice that she doesn't have to tackle everything alone but has golden friends. And it's this ray of light which makes the darker moments so much fun to read. I can't wait to dive into the next book and see what Esme is up against next show less
If I can see anything good coming out of this crazy time for me personally, it is doing things I don't normally do, and that includes reading books that are outside my comfort zone, and being pleasantly surprised, and thoroughly entertained, with my picks. One of these outside-my-norm reads that captured my heart and imagination is Esme's Wish by Elizabeth Foster.
Esme is a fifteen-year-old adolescent who has lost her mother to the sea, though no one is sure if she is truly dead or just show more missing. When her father remarries it lights a fire in Esme's heart to fight to find the truth, despite everyone else giving up and accepting that she is dead and gone. It is this curiosity and thirst for the truth that sets Esmy on an unbelievable adventure in a world that she has always thought was the stuff of bedtime stories, and nothing more.
I am not one for stories of other worlds, or fantasies in general, but the world of Esperance, and its inhabitants enraptured me. Esme, and the whole cast of characters, were so fleshed out and lovable, it is impossible to not be bewitched with this majestic adventure.
The creativity of the author is astounding, and when you think about this being her first novel, it makes it all the more impressive! I loved how the story was wrapped up and yet left several questions unanswered, leaving you hungering to find out the outcome, which I am now impatiently waiting for, since it's going to be awhile before I can get to the next book in the series.
Esme's Wish was the perfect escape during these uncertain times, and gave me a great taste of another genre that I wouldn't normally give a second glance. Despite being geared towards middle grade/YA, I think this is the perfect read for all ages and highly recommend!
*I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author and/or publisher through JustRead Tours. All views and opinions are completely honest, and my own. show less
Esme is a fifteen-year-old adolescent who has lost her mother to the sea, though no one is sure if she is truly dead or just show more missing. When her father remarries it lights a fire in Esme's heart to fight to find the truth, despite everyone else giving up and accepting that she is dead and gone. It is this curiosity and thirst for the truth that sets Esmy on an unbelievable adventure in a world that she has always thought was the stuff of bedtime stories, and nothing more.
I am not one for stories of other worlds, or fantasies in general, but the world of Esperance, and its inhabitants enraptured me. Esme, and the whole cast of characters, were so fleshed out and lovable, it is impossible to not be bewitched with this majestic adventure.
The creativity of the author is astounding, and when you think about this being her first novel, it makes it all the more impressive! I loved how the story was wrapped up and yet left several questions unanswered, leaving you hungering to find out the outcome, which I am now impatiently waiting for, since it's going to be awhile before I can get to the next book in the series.
Esme's Wish was the perfect escape during these uncertain times, and gave me a great taste of another genre that I wouldn't normally give a second glance. Despite being geared towards middle grade/YA, I think this is the perfect read for all ages and highly recommend!
*I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author and/or publisher through JustRead Tours. All views and opinions are completely honest, and my own. show less
{Second in Esme trilogy; children's, fantasy, parallel world; LT Early Reviewers} (2019)
This was a LibraryThing Early Reviewers book from last year that I'm re-reading.
Esme is from Picton Island on our world but over the summer she has had adventures in the parallel world of Aeolia where she found her mum, who had been missing for seven years. But now her mum lies in a coma and in danger of fading away so Esme, together with her friends, is trying to wake her. When they learn of an obscure show more elixir they go on adventures (often adragonback) to try and obtain the exotic ingredients. In the meantime, Esme enrols in Pierpont School on Esperance, along with her friends Daniel and Lilian who are existing students, so she doesn't miss out on her education.
Pierpont is no Hogwarts since it has ordinary subjects like Maths and History but now that people's Gifts are starting to show, as a result of Esme's previous adventures, they do affect the classes, like Meera's Gift for portalling which ties in to her Art talent or Esme's own unreliable Gift for seeing the past which she uses to help her with her History homework and to search for the more unknown ingredients as well as to complete the decrepit recipe for the elixir.
Did you ever read books in your childhood where you really wanted to go and live in that world? This world does that for me, and it's been a while since that happened; I mean, if you could escape to a parallel world where you could breathe under water, the weather is always nice, people have magical gifts and you get to ride dragons wouldn‘t you want to live there? I really like the gentle ambiance that Foster creates with Aeolia and its capital island of Esperance; it has a warm, relaxed Mediterranean feel to me (though Esme's term is at the beginning of the school year and ends in winter, it doesn't get very cold) which stays with me even more than the adventures although those are fun and nicely told.
There is a very helpful map of the canal city of Esperance but it would have been nice to have a map of the whole of Aeolia as well, since Esme's adventures take her to many different parts of that world.
The third book of the trilogy is due out later this year (2021) which will hopefully satisfy my curiosity about some questions (though the story is not left on a cliffhanger). I hope Foster doesn't stop there but sets more stories in this charming world.
July 2021
4-4.5 stars show less
This was a LibraryThing Early Reviewers book from last year that I'm re-reading.
Esme is from Picton Island on our world but over the summer she has had adventures in the parallel world of Aeolia where she found her mum, who had been missing for seven years. But now her mum lies in a coma and in danger of fading away so Esme, together with her friends, is trying to wake her. When they learn of an obscure show more elixir they go on adventures (often adragonback) to try and obtain the exotic ingredients. In the meantime, Esme enrols in Pierpont School on Esperance, along with her friends Daniel and Lilian who are existing students, so she doesn't miss out on her education.
Pierpont is no Hogwarts since it has ordinary subjects like Maths and History but now that people's Gifts are starting to show, as a result of Esme's previous adventures, they do affect the classes, like Meera's Gift for portalling which ties in to her Art talent or Esme's own unreliable Gift for seeing the past which she uses to help her with her History homework and to search for the more unknown ingredients as well as to complete the decrepit recipe for the elixir.
When the subtle energies were at their height, Lillian’s unmade bed began to make itself. First, the sheets ironed themselves out and tucked themselves under the mattress. Then the purple bedspread smoothed itself over the top. Finally, the pillow gave a little shake, plumped itself up and settled into place.
Lillian kept singing, kept the spell going, just to prove that she could - and the wardrobe responded with a deep shudder. Its double doors flew open. The clothes on the floor rose up, then straggled like lost lambs into the wardrobe’s embrace.
When the song was over, Lillian stood there, very still, her face radiant. Somehow she seemed fuller, more complete, like a piece of the puzzle of who she was had slotted into place.
‘It’s really happened, hasn’t it?’ she murmured. ‘Oh, Mum!’
Miranda wiped away a tear. ‘I never thought I’d see the day you tidied your room without being asked!’
Did you ever read books in your childhood where you really wanted to go and live in that world? This world does that for me, and it's been a while since that happened; I mean, if you could escape to a parallel world where you could breathe under water, the weather is always nice, people have magical gifts and you get to ride dragons wouldn‘t you want to live there? I really like the gentle ambiance that Foster creates with Aeolia and its capital island of Esperance; it has a warm, relaxed Mediterranean feel to me (though Esme's term is at the beginning of the school year and ends in winter, it doesn't get very cold) which stays with me even more than the adventures although those are fun and nicely told.
There is a very helpful map of the canal city of Esperance but it would have been nice to have a map of the whole of Aeolia as well, since Esme's adventures take her to many different parts of that world.
The third book of the trilogy is due out later this year (2021) which will hopefully satisfy my curiosity about some questions (though the story is not left on a cliffhanger). I hope Foster doesn't stop there but sets more stories in this charming world.
July 2021
4-4.5 stars show less
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
Magic, adventure, and beautiful writing make this a book to sink into and never leave.
Esme is anything but thrilled by her father's choice as he remarries, especially since the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of her mother a few years before are still unclear. Well, at least in her mind. Everyone else wants her to let go, but she can't. When she sneaks away from the ever tightening choke hold her new life has placed on her and ventures to the vacation cabin her mother loved to show more visit, she ends up following a strange behaving bird down to the beach. One slip and she finds herself tugged underwater into the strange world her mother told her about, but Esme was convinced existed only as fantasy. And now, her adventure really begins.
The first pages dive head first into Esme's unfortunate situation. It takes a second to settle into what's going on, but the story takes off from there. The author does a fantastic job at building subtle tension and mystery. It quickly becomes clear that something isn't right and that Esme's unwillingness to let go of her mother's memory probably isn't due to stubbornness. But the reasons behind this as well as the clear recognition are left in a mysterious haze, creating the perfect tension and opening up to the upcoming adventure.
Fantasy and imagination take flight in these pages—something I adore in middle grade novels. The descriptions are vivid yet never overwhelm. There's a great balance of familiarity and fantasy, which allows the reader to feel right at home while confronting wondrous creatures such as dragons. Esme's determined and kind, yet a little unsure. She fits the age group well and is easy to relate to. Those around her have distinct personalities and the relationships (good and bad) are fun to root for. Add the exciting world, dabs at Greek mythology and an adventure to keep the reader on the edge of the seat, and it's simply a wonderful read.
The ending rounds things off nicely while still allowing a few open doors to the rest of the series—ones that promise more adventure and fun. show less
Esme is anything but thrilled by her father's choice as he remarries, especially since the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of her mother a few years before are still unclear. Well, at least in her mind. Everyone else wants her to let go, but she can't. When she sneaks away from the ever tightening choke hold her new life has placed on her and ventures to the vacation cabin her mother loved to show more visit, she ends up following a strange behaving bird down to the beach. One slip and she finds herself tugged underwater into the strange world her mother told her about, but Esme was convinced existed only as fantasy. And now, her adventure really begins.
The first pages dive head first into Esme's unfortunate situation. It takes a second to settle into what's going on, but the story takes off from there. The author does a fantastic job at building subtle tension and mystery. It quickly becomes clear that something isn't right and that Esme's unwillingness to let go of her mother's memory probably isn't due to stubbornness. But the reasons behind this as well as the clear recognition are left in a mysterious haze, creating the perfect tension and opening up to the upcoming adventure.
Fantasy and imagination take flight in these pages—something I adore in middle grade novels. The descriptions are vivid yet never overwhelm. There's a great balance of familiarity and fantasy, which allows the reader to feel right at home while confronting wondrous creatures such as dragons. Esme's determined and kind, yet a little unsure. She fits the age group well and is easy to relate to. Those around her have distinct personalities and the relationships (good and bad) are fun to root for. Add the exciting world, dabs at Greek mythology and an adventure to keep the reader on the edge of the seat, and it's simply a wonderful read.
The ending rounds things off nicely while still allowing a few open doors to the rest of the series—ones that promise more adventure and fun. show less
Statistics
- Works
- 2
- Members
- 124
- Popularity
- #161,164
- Rating
- 4.2
- Reviews
- 72
- ISBNs
- 18
- Favorited
- 2
