Amazon Shannon's Heart Category:  Fantasy Publisher: PublishAmerica ISBN-10:  1424102774 Pages: 82 Copyright: Jan 2006 Picture a planet of creatures only found in myth and legend.... Shannon has kept a secret from a friend and now that she's been injured in a sudden attack, he learns the truth. Can she handle the repercussions of her actions and still save her planet? Shannon must come to terms with herself before it's too late. Her long golden hair hung well past her shoulders as she walked down the streets. People smiled and nodded as she made her way to the local clinic where she worked. She could see what the years had done to change her world. Each person that lived there looked different. But, she was the most different of them all; her silver wings seemed to set her apart from all the others that walked around her. She had never seen a human before, but once they had come to her planet she learned that they looked very much like she did only without wings. But the humans seemed to not understand why her people looked different, at least not at first. “Shannon what brings you here so early?” her friend asked. “I have to work,” Shannon said. She looked at her friend Leo, a name given to him by the humans that had now come to live on their planet. Given to him for the fact that he looked like a lion, his head and most of his body looked like that of what humans referred to as a lion. “You weren’t supposed to work till this evening.” “Chip called and said he couldn’t make it, he had a tooth ache.” “If he’d stop listening to the humans he wouldn’t.” Leo said of their friend. “Yes Leo, I know this but he doesn’t. Of course we are still the ones that seem to be the freaks yet this is our world.” “Well, I am just glad that the humans settled down more and stopped looking at us strangely. Mrs. White will be in this evening for her usual check up.” “How is she doing? I sure hope her arthritis hasn’t been acting up, she’s getting up there in years.” “She’s doing better. Doctor Masters has had her on a special diet and has been having her exercise every day.” “That doesn’t count, if she’s giving the Simmons kids a ride.” “Well, she’s exercising isn’t she?” Leo said, referring to the older woman that was what humans referred to as a centaur. “I am seeing Nash tonight. He’s got some books from Mrs. Browning about the human myths and legends. Now, we can finally figure out why they find us such strange people.” “I find nothing strange about us, but then again, I’ve lived here all my life. They’ve only just been arriving here over the last ten years.” “Wish they hadn’t found us,” Shannon said. Leo nodded. He had to agree they were happier before the humans had arrived. He knew that he couldn’t say they weren’t human themselves, but being different was all they could say about the earthlings. Ever since the earthlings had arrived on their planet it seemed that everything that Castians had come to know as normal became the opposite of that and it was as if things turned around. The Earthlings didn’t want to fight but they did need a new place to live, many had spoke of their home planet being near destruction because of wars that had plagued the planet for many years. Castians had opened their world and arms to the new comers and welcomed them into their homes, but it was different for the earthlings, seeing things differently seeing creatures that had thought to be nothing more than myth and legend. Excerpt " Be aware young Shannon, that if you chose the wrong destiny you will doom our world to darkness forever." He said as he left the room unnoticed.

Review of Shannon's Heart
Shannon's Heart: A Fallen Angel

By LV Dutton

"Shannon's Heart: A Fallen Angel" by LV Dutton is a fantasy Sci-Fi tale that takes us to a new world beyond our imagination.

Shannon lives in a world where everyday people are different in species and shape. After many years she has hidden the fact that she is an angel from a nearby island and has made a lion humanoid her best friend and companion.

After their planet welcomes with open arms, the humans from Earth, many negative changes begin to take place. Soon a war breaks out and Shannon must return home to her island revealing her true identity to everyone around her. Discovering her purpose, destiny, and the truth about her twin brothers, along with the truth about her parents, Shannon must make a choice to save the people of her planet letting the humans from Earth be destroyed or risking it all and continuing to fight in the battle against evil.

LV Dutton has created a world with original fantasy characters and ideas. Her imagination is creative and exciting. I would love to see more details and scenes in the future from a reader's point of view that shows a picture of this creative imagination that flows within one's mind.

Reviewed by: Christina Smith Belcher

Author of "Amirae's Moon Spirit"


Review of Shannon's Heart
Review: Shannon’s Heart: Fallen Angel

Author: L.V. Dutton

ISBN: 1-4241-0277-4



This is a fantasy novelette that takes place on another planet. Except for a couple of words, the author could sell in the YA market, giving her a wider possible audience. All of this is my opinion only of course, but this is something she might consider in future editions so younger people can buy and enjoy it. It is clearly a prequel too so there may be more reason to go ahead and change a couple of words for other words and still capture the scene.



Ms. Dutton writes of a heroine who is a woman-like creature with wings. There are secrets. There are other creatures. There is some violence. There are humans who have lived on the planet only a few generations. The conflict develops early but not everything—all the details—are given away too early which is good. There are some good visuals one can draw from the work and so it was fun to picture the scenes.



Ms. Dutton writes this book as a minimalist and in her brevity manages to write the essential elements of a story, a story with a solid twist toward the end and an ending that begs for a sequel. “Shannon’s Heart: Fallen Angel” can be a fast read. It is one that moves and has just the right amount of action and reaction to wonder where it’s going next.



Andrew Huddleston