Julie Elizabeth Powell'sBooks
All books to be bought via Amazon, Lulu or Audible
Here are a few...
Gone
Spellbinding!
Wow. This book was quite a step away from my usual read, dealing as it does with the gritty and often painful subjects of grief, trauma and suffering. Yet the author creates such a captivating image of the afterlife and "what comes next" and weaves in such rich characters and scenarios that these subjects, although dealt with extremely effectively, are made easier to cope with somehow, which can't be a bad thing, right?
Highly recommended!
Tom Simmons
​
......................................................................................................
​
​
A Fresh Perspective
Okay, this was hands down one of the most powerful stories I've ever read and that's saying a LOT. I've got to hand it to you, Julie, you brought out the emotion in this. To understand what's going on when you're reading "Gone", you must first slow down a little bit to help you absorb more of the storyline. I was so very impressed. There were a few places that I had to reread but frankly, I didn't mind it because it gave me the chance to better understand what it was I was reading.
"Gone" is the story of one woman's struggle to understand and learn what it is to forgive herself. She's bound and determined to be angry at herself and the world in general for something that's completely beyond anyone's control. This is understandable because it's easier to be angry than it is to forgive, even if it's a person's inner struggle. Charley struggles with blaming herself and having feelings that are perfectly natural. She's racked by guilt and doesn't want to be honest with herself or anyone else because she'd rather stuff her feelings inside and refuse to acknowledge them.
Then, she's catapulted to Avalon and has to confront herself and her past in order to face the future. This is where it gets a little crazy because she goes on a quest she doesn't understand and has no idea that ultimately, she's learning a lesson. To tell any more of this would require spoilers and that, my friends I won't do. Read "Gone" yourself to find out more.
This is the point where I get to give a star rating and even though I don't believe in star ratings, I'm happy to say that this is one of the few books I get to give a five star. Julie Elizabeth Powell has written with stunning aplomb and related Charley, the main character to anyone else in the world to a stunning degree. A person could just imagine themselves being exactly where Charley is, struggling with the same things Charley confronts in her journey and this is no mean feat. To pen a story with this much feeling, one must first have been in this kind of situation and I have to congratulate Julie Elizabeth Powell on a story well told and a job well done!
R. J. Palmer
​
************************************************************
A Truly Memorable and Beautiful Read
Every so often you come across a book that fills you with wonder and surprises you greatly. Gone by Julie Elizabeth Powell, was just such a book. Expecting an emotion ridden and angst filled story of a woman's struggle to cope with a severely brain damages child, instead I was treated to a kaleidoscopic journey through the author's imagination.
Gone, is one women's view of how the afterlife might look. It was the author's way of coping with the tragic circumstances in her own life, with her own daughter. Powell managed to transport me into a world of hope, of possibilities and most importantly a world where her daughter had the opportunity to grow up into a beautiful, young woman.
A bit of a cross between Alice in Wonderland and Charlie and the Chocolate factory, the author's descriptions of Avalon and all that happened in this afterlife were evocative, beautiful and touching.
With an immense imagination and a talented wordsmith, I am now a fan of Julie Elizabeth Powell.
If you want desperately to believe in something greater than what we have, I highly recommend you read, Gone. It really is a winner!
Rea
​
​
Misadventures Of Fatwoman
​
I found this book hilarious. If you are on the larger side(as I am) and have a sense of humour you can really relate to it. From struggling in shop changing rooms to low self esteem, cake and friends. Great book!
J. Cappellie
​
......................................................................................................
​
Comic and Entertaining with a Deeper Message
​
Powell dwells deeply into the psychological development and nature of the main character. I believe this is a fairly accurate representation of the mindset of many women, especially my mom, and the effect of the pressures of societies idea of the unrealistic ‘perfect woman.’ Not only is the protagonist insecure about her figure as a middle-aged woman, but this all started back as soon as she hit puberty around 14. Imagine the wasted repeated thought patterns that tormented her all throughout those years! And this is an accurate portrayal of all women… skinny, large, wide, etc. The main character is simply another victim to societies pressure to be and act a certain way, and comically the author delivers this firm message.
Imagine what women could do with their brain power, if they weren’t so distracted to look a certain way! How wonderful would it be to ban makeup in North America. Now that is food for thought. A wonderful entertaining read! You can finish this in the afternoon, and it will surely provide a few laughs and a positive boost of self-esteem.
Jen L
The Star Realm (#1 Avalon Trilogy
​
Fabulous Fantasy
Julie Elizabeth Powell again transports her readers to the world created in her novel "Gone". This is Avalon and the Star Realm is just a small part of this wonderful place. Sadly, this world is under threat. As greed and selfish materialism infiltrate the good in our human world, the balance in Avalon is being upset as evil forces work to overthrow order. What is required, in Ezrin the Timekeeper's opinion, is the intervention of humankind. He chooses five children - Davie, Ben, Billy, Chrissie and Anne. Their tasks will be to find the vital Elements that must be restored to their rightful place with the king and also to find the kidnapped princess.
"The Star Realm" is an epic tale, full of adventure, suspense and courage. The children meet some amazing characters - some scary, others amusing - as they race against time to fulfil their quest.
This is a magical book. The author is so adept at creating wonderful pictures in the mind; I love her descriptions of the places the children visited. I liked the development of the children's characters as they faced and dealt with the situations in which they found themselves. I also felt that Julie Elizabeth Powell strongly promoted the importance of truth, wisdom and courage in the pages of her novel, as well as showing her readers just how much can be achieved by working in unity, as a team.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy. Although aimed at older children, I think this will appeal to many lovers of fantasy, whatever their age.
A. E. Thomas
Changing Angels
​
Intriguing Romantic Fantasy
'Changing Angels' by Julie Elizabeth Powell is a delightful romantic fantasy story, told from Faith & Jake's point of view.
When Faith's father passes away & her mum remarries she is persistently plagued and brutalised by a 'monster'. - Sorely testing her faith in guardian angels.
Jake, meanwhile, is skeptical that angels even exist. - But has to admit to himself that he has an uncanny knack, or sixth-sense, of being in the right place at the right time, without really knowing why.
Highly recommended reading for fans of romance, fantasy & intriguing fictional stories.
Bookaholic
​
​
Maisie
​
A beautifully woven story!
Facing up to bullies is never easy. It is even harder when you cannot see your tormentor, but at least Maisie can escape in her dreams...Except that her dreams are more like real life. And then as she is plunged into one fantastical adventure, she realises that her dreams are actually her life. A life where there are halflings and heroes, tests and trials, and battles to be fought and won. But at least she is not alone in her quest.
I loved this book and have already sat and read it to my 9yr old niece, who shivered in places and cheered in others. A great read for anyone who loves a fantastical adventure!
1D82 Many
Knowing Jack
​
Brilliant! Exciting Tale Set in the Lake District
​
I loved this book so much I read it in one sitting! A fast-paced adventure told through the eyes of Jack, a twelve year old with a special gift - he can predict events happening. Unfortunately these events are always bad and he has little or no control over them. So, when his parents decide to spend Christmas in a remote cottage in the beautiful Lake District he is distraught - not only does he have one of his 'feelings' but his annoying younger cousin, Rosie will also be there! What follows is a fight for survival with Jack and Rosie forced to hide out in the Arctic temperatures to stay alive. Great storytelling!
Randombadger
Dirty Business
​
Another winner from this author!
Different from anything else I've read, the action-packed plot and seedy undertones give nothing away until almost at the end. Loved the idea of the online magazine and all the secrets surrounding its employees. The descriptions are expertly done, especially those set in the cellar where the kidnap victim is awaiting her fate. Chilling to say the least!
Highly recommend if you like a fast paced thriller with lots of interesting characters and twists all over the place!
1D82 Many
13
​
The Dark Side
​
There are writers and then there are artists who express themselves through writing. I would say Julie falls into the second category. I always enjoy her books, and 13 was no exception. The thing I love about her writing is that it is so engaging that you must read on. Her characters are so real, and they grab your attention and take you away to a different world where often it is unclear what is happening, but the journey is always well worth it.
With '13' Julie Elizabeth Powell brings us a horror, in the true sense of the word and genre. What would you do if you suddenly found yourself in a situation where the only way you could survive was to kill off the competition? This imaginative tale is a reflection of the darker side of the world we live in, where selfishness and brutality are highlighted, where people take actions without considering the consequences or the effects.
Each chapter brings us a short snippet introducing the characters. When I read the first few chapters I admit to being confused and wondering whether this was just a collection of very short and confusing short stories. It is only after all the characters are introduced that the book really begins to become clearer. I would say that as there are so many characters, it may sometimes be confusing to the reader as to who is who, especially as in the final part of the book they are all just known as a number, rather than their name. But this turns out to be a minor point because what is more important is the characters' motivations. I think this is the sort of book that will become even more enjoyable on each subsequent reading as you begin to remember who each of the characters is and how they fit in to this complex tale.
This is a wonderful idea, which is expertly crafted. It must have been very difficult to write, but yet is a quick and satisfying read. The last line gave me goosebumps. I would definitely recommend this book, but be prepared for some shocking stories... this is horror, after all.
Maria Savva
Weird: A Henry Ian Darling Oddity: Missive One
​
This is a strangely engaging story that introduces us to JE Powell’s weird Henry of the title. The imaginative nature of Powell’s writing makes him an oddity that is easy to love. Told from a narrative point of view, I wanted to read more about the character’s and will look forward to the next in the series. This really raises the quality bar on short stories and proves that it is a genre to be reckoned with.
Billy
Slings & Arrows
​
A Story That Took a Lot of Guts to Tell
Julie Elizabeth Powell, courageously and honestly bares her soul so the reader can feel the anguish she feels at her daughter’s harrowing journey through life. This would not have been an easy thing to do and I applaud her courage and the love she had, and still has, for her daughter Samantha who was born with a heart defect and after major heart surgery began a life of hell on earth.
I can understand when Julie is torn between her daughter remaining alive in such a painful existence as our society demands; or assigning her to the peace of death, which surely the child herself must have yearned for even in her vegetative state. To have seen Samantha, in the first two years of her life, discovering the wonders of life, only to be terminated by one of life’s perverse turns of fate must have been beyond torment.
All this borne together with the travails of life, and Julie and her husband certainly experienced more than their fair share of these. Her husband is unemployed, they live in a dangerous crime riddled area, her parents leave to live in Cyprus and then Florida. Doggedly they pressed on until Richard finally found work, which improved their financial status and at least restored in some measure, their sense of dignity.
But there was to be no dignity for their daughter Samantha. Far from it. Thank God for the Home they did find for her where she was loved and looked after by caring staff.
It would have been so easy under these circumstances to fall into the depths of despair and depression and remain there, yet Julie pushed out, educated herself to University level and launched her dream of teaching and helping others in their writing endeavors.
I feel her anguish, as my second son came dangerously close to the same fate as Samantha’s, but we were spared.
I could not put the book down until I finished it. Julie is a talented writer, who has told this heart wrenching story with such simplicity of style that the reader is saved from being dragged down into a morbid tale of tragedy. I found it so magical that my next step will be to buy her fantasy novel GONE, which evolved from this journey she has been on.
Yvonne Crowe
Lost Shadows
​
I’ve been a fan of Julie Elizabeth Powell for quite a long time now, and every new book of hers that I pick up only makes me fall in love with her writing even more. They’re all incredibly well-written, and it’s a pleasure to read them just because of the beautiful language used. The subject of each book - it’s always something deeply philosophical with elements of mysticism - makes you reflect on certain aspects of life, and the unique manner in which such topics are presented make Ms. Powell’s works even more fascinating.
In this particular story, we meet Adam, a young boy who lost his parents in a tragic accident. Only, he doesn’t seem to remember anything at all, not even his own name, and soon becomes a riddle that a psychologist, who works with police, will do anything to solve.
I really enjoyed the intricate mosaic of seemingly unrelated people, whose fates get interconnected in the most interesting way, thus making the story impossible to put down. And the final few chapters were simply outstanding, resolving the story’s riddle in a most unexpected manner. Another great story from the author whose works I always find fascinating. Five stars.
Amazon Customer
Of Sound Mind
​
Of Sound Mind is an original, thought-provoking story. The book follows Jorja's life through a rainbow of emotions. Along the way the reader is drawn into a web of mystery and suspense. What is real, what is fantasy? The author poses some intriguing questions and it is fun trying to come up with the answers. Do we truly know our own minds? Do we know the minds of others? The novel calls to mind Joseph Conrad's quote, "One writes only half the story, the other half is with the reader." That is true of Of Sound Mind, in a good way. An excellent fantasy.
Fifty Sheds of Books