The Watchers

“A captivating YA fantasy with great character development and strong series potential... Who are the Watchers and the Listeners? Why is everyone so terrified of the Knowers? The Watchers is an attention-grabbing YA novel starring a young female protagonist with a deadly, mysterious power who must play heroine for her people... The most intriguing aspect of The Watchers has got to be this mystery surrounding the Knowers. Merely speaking about them is taboo...

“Alesea’s inner strength reminds readers of their own power. Whenever we’re driven into a corner or going through difficult times, our power unfolds. We discover we can do things we never thought we could do before. The Hunger Games’ Katniss emits courageous energy when she is merely a background character until she bravely volunteers to take her sister’s place. Sometimes society wants to remind women they have to do nothing more but to stay quiet and be pretty. Women are way beyond those expectations. Alesea transcends beyond the shy island girl who likes to play her lele by the sea.

“YA fantasy fans are going to love The Watchers. This book has adventure, fascinating lore, colorful characters, and a smidge of slow burn romance. Only Book One of ‘The Trekana’ series, The Watchers is a wonderful intro to what could turn out to be a delightful series. Readers should anticipate even more development from Alesea and the hidden legends of the Knowers in the coming books.”

“The “young hero from humble origins who turns out to possess miraculous abilities” is a staple of fantasy literature, but Sisk-Purvis provides Alesea with an intriguing twist. As a believer in the A’lodi, a religion based in compassion and peace that sprang up in the wake of the catastrophic Great War, Alesea is a strict pacifist. How Alesea grapples with her nonviolent convictions while attempting to defeat her enemies and rescue her people is a compelling moral dilemma that sets THE WATCHERS apart from the typical fantasy adventure. The novel’s world-building is stellar; Sisk-Purvis renders the complex history and culture of Alesea’s world with rich, evocative detail—the island setting is so vivid and full of life that it’s a little disappointing to leave it—and ladles out the backstory and lore without bringing the story to a halt. And Alesea is an engaging protagonist whose thoughtful, sensitive nature and sharply observant mind are sure to charm readers. While the flow of the novel occasionally dawdles, especially in its opening chapters, Alesea and her journey are engrossing enough to keep the reader invested in the story.

“With its deft storytelling, colorful and polished writing, and immensely likable central character, THE WATCHERS by Jo Sisk-Purvis is a captivating opening chapter of a promising new fantasy adventure series.”

“Jo Sisk-Purvis weaves a fascinating journey into the fantasy world of The Watchers. As the series opener, it does what it should do; it leaves readers thirsting for more, wanting to know what comes next. I particularly appreciated the moral quandaries the protagonist faced; how to lead a revolution against the evil Paav when your life is dedicated to love, peace, and peaceful cooperation? I thoroughly enjoyed her constant internal conflict, balancing the powers she possesses with the ultimate desire never to harm anyone. Alesea is an appealing character. As a young woman, she not only has to deal with knowledge previously withheld from her but also the first bloom of love and competition for her attention from two men she cares about deeply. The world Sisk-Purvis has created contains many interesting facets, especially the history of the races, and I hope to learn more as the series continues. When I finish a book and instantly want to start the next in the series, I know the author has succeeded; this author has, and I can highly recommend The Watchers.”

“The Watchers by Jo Sisk-Purvis is a young adult adventure full of danger and intrigue. I shivered with apprehension multiple times throughout the narrative as it seemed Alesea and Roni were sure to be caught by the cruel Paav. Along the journey, I enjoyed learning about Alesea’s parentage and read eagerly to see where her destiny would take her. It was intriguing to see the A’lodi in action, which seemed something like the principles of love. It could even be used to reform and defeat an enemy in a timely fashion! I was excited by the romance between Alesea and one of the crew and felt it was poetic for her first love to end in tears. I was also curious whether the prophecy of the Trekana would influence Alesea’s behavior. I can recommend The Watchers by Jo Sisk-Purvis to lovers of series fantasy.”

“I found The Watchers by Jo Sisk-Purvis to be an engaging novel. The characters were interesting and it was difficult to predict how the plot would develop. I would have preferred it if the idea of watchers, listeners, doubles, and their origin could have been explained much earlier in the novel, perhaps in some sort of prologue. I enjoyed the plot, the pacing, and the struggles of the characters, from Alesea having to learn how to trust someone she perceived as a traitor to a watcher having to deal with being surrounded by people who were different from him. It’s nice to see smaller plots woven into the bigger picture—it gives the whole story more substance and makes you curious about the outcome.”

“The novel is engaging from the start... This theme of love and compassion is central to the story, and Sisk-Purvis expertly weaves it among other narratives that will undoubtedly shape the latter books in the series. Overall, the plot and pace of the text make this book an easy read and one that gets more exciting with each turn of the page. The subplots and likable characters also contribute to the appealing nature of the story. Jo Sisk-Purvis has created something with The Watchers (The Trekana - Book 1), which should only get better with the future release of additional books in the series.”