GYPSY PIE

Author:
Andre West

Gypsy Pie is an unusual fantasy with wonderful characters that take the reader on a remarkable journey. Mr. West has woven two young girls in a gripping tale into a universe that the reader can almost visualize. This creative story spins with events often horrifying but intermingle with all the elements to craft a read that keeps the reader turning the pages in this entertaining fantasy on a mind blowing quest with a surprising twist.

~ Linda

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Gypsy Pie is a term which means “a unique blend of characteristics that sets something or someone apart.”

Gypsy Pie lives up to its title in that it does have a unique blend of fact and fantasy that leaves the plot only partly predictable. The characters are interesting in that they are all unique in their own way. Still, they are ordinary mortals in that they can and do make some horrible mistakes.

~ Jo Rogers, MyShelf.Com

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In Gypsy Pie, Andre West takes the reader into a very diverse fantasy world where he brings to life the classic hero’s journey, but with a twist. The hero is not necessarily good. Chivalry is dead and Debbie and Rene will be too if they don’t get wise.

This is definitely a different approach to the usual fantasy served up to readers. Mr. West creatively mingles the world of Rhondil and its parallel, present day earth, to give us a very believable setting for this adventure.

Debbie and Rene are well fleshed out characters that reflect the diversity of their environment; this is also true of the secondary characters Liteur and Solaris.

Gypsy Pie gets off to a bit of a slow start, but it is well worth the read. For a first novel, I would say Mr. West has penned a winner.

Three out of five stars

~ Sterling Pearce, gspearce@charter.net

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Gypsy Pie is very different…but a good, unique different. Debbie, a savvy young black girl brought up in the mean streets of city life, is unexpectedly thrust together with Renee, a white girl from the ‘other side of the tracks’ who goes to the same school. Due to circumstances beyond their control, the two must join forces, put their differences aside and try to stop a thing from another dimension from wreaking havoc not only in his world, but Earth’s as well. The two girls suddenly find themselves in another world where knights and vampires are the norm…and where a wizard has brought them to fight a powerful vampire bent on control.

Though the story suffers a slow start, it quickly builds momentum after Renee and Debbie join forces. Debbie’s character is harsh and no-nonsense, though not unlikable, and Mr. West does a fine job illustrating the differences in the lifestyles and expectations of Debbie and Renee. Mr. West has brought to his novel a well-developed landscape of another world filled with colorful and fleshed out characters that experience broad spectrums of emotions. As an added bonus, there’s enough action to keep the reader on the edge of their seat throughout. Do you want to read something different and out of this world? Gypsy Pie is right up your alley.

~ Denise M. Clark, Denise's Pieces Book Reviews

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Rating 8/10

‘Vampires threaten our world from an alternative state of reality’

West’s style is conversational, light and punchy. His dialogues between the young women are true to their status and lifestyle in New York City and are very evocative. The description of the parallel universe, its inhabitants and the terrifying events in motion, is psychologically clever and littered with subtle allusions to other writers in the genre. His use of names known in various mythologies, in themselves add depth and a sub text to the plot. If you’re not familiar with these, it’s still a gripping story, if you are, you’ll also enjoy a wry smile now and then.

A welcome first novel, this reviewer will look forward to the next.

~ Dione Dover, www.bookpublicity.co.uk