The Valley Chronicles -       Covers   by  Jenette Harris

A kids/YA trilogy set in the (presumably fictional) world of the Valley. The Valley Chronicles explores the concepts of good and evil through the lens of a familiar story-- two kids, lost in a world of magic and danger, trying to help their new friends. Except things are never that simple. And they're going to find that out the hard way.*
  • Book One
  • Book Two
  • Book Three
  • Extras
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The Valley Chronicles

Available now from Amazon, B&N.com, and more!

Two years ago, John and Violet Jenson found themselves in the Valley, a magical world where animals and humans lived together in peace.  Now, they have returned, only to find that everything has changed.
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​Their worst enemies, the Soldiers of Sorrow, have returned from the dead, shattering the Valley itself into two warring factions. As John and Violet find themselves on opposing sides of the burgeoning conflict, they are forced to face forgotten truths about themselves and the ones they trust in this utterly unique tale of family, friendship, and warring ideologies.

Reviews

Kirkus Review
"In this YA debut, siblings return to a fantasy realm to find fresh conflict brewing.

...Selbrede merges idyllic fantasy trappings, such as the deer chief Boulder’s cave garden, and elements similar to those in comic books like Fables. He splits the chapters between John’s and Violet’s viewpoints, and within these chapters, he offers many glimpses into the siblings’ first visit to the Valley. The prose revels in teenage snarkiness and humor, as when John thinks, “I had been told about avoiding strangers, especially ones climbing trees in bathrobes.” As the narrative progresses, magical artifacts come into play, including the Ivory-Bound Book, which can reveal “the darkest secrets about oneself.” Tension comes from not knowing which human or animal characters might be possessed by the Soldiers of Sorrow, who embody traits such as jealousy, hate, and despair.
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A lengthy first installment that sets up darker perils to come."
Kimberly Vanderbloom; March 2016
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It was an a tale of John and Violet Jenson. It has magic, villains, and hope. I liked the way it flowed and how it was written. I was shocked when I found out it was written by a high schooler. I look forward to watching their writing grow. I would recommend this to any of my YA fantasy loving fans.
Amazon Customer; August 2016
​I thought the plot was very compelling and detailed and I liked the character twist a lot! There were lots of subtle hints without giving anything away too much. I also liked reading the story from two different perspectives and all the flashbacks. I cant wait to read the next books in the series!

The Valley Chronicles: Quest

AVAILABLE NOW FROM AMAZON, B&N.COM, AND MORE!

​The battle has been won, but the war rages on-- and in order to find the secret to defeating the Soldiers of Sorrow once and for all, it's up to John and Violet to journey beyond the Mountains of Mystery for the first time in thousands of years. (Well, there was that one expedition but they all died horribly so it really doesn't count.)
 
John and Violet, joined by a host of allies and enemies old and new, will find themselves tested as never before in this strange and wild beyond. But with John high on a power which he doesn't understand, one which seemingly brought him back from death, and Violet crippled by a loss of faith, it may be up to some new heroes to take center stage in this thrilling tale of change, self-discovery, and truth.

Reviews

Kirkus Review
"In this sequel to The Valley Chronicles (2017), Selbrede’s heroes risk a prophesized death in order to procure a weapon that can end all war.


...For this second volume in his series, Selbrede doubles down on the quirkiness and fantasy tropes, which include an apocalyptic prophecy that the world will end if anyone from the Valley passes the Mountains. Pushing against the fourth wall, Violet thinks, “that was exactly what our fantasy adventure needed—a vague and unhelpful set of deadlines and rules.” Chapters told from Hodgey’s viewpoint are intriguing, as well, particularly when the other animals see him as one their own. Frequently, however, characters who aren’t from Earth often use the colloquial, sarcastic language of the protagonists; for instance, clever Princess Sapphire says things such as “I don't think brute force is going to cut it.” Luckily, Selbrede’s gifted plotting still takes things in numerous, satisfying directions. A devastating epilogue will make the next volume a must for fans.


An epic fantasy notable for its deceptions, elaborate traps, and worldbuilding."

The Valley Chronicles: Tempest

AVAILABLE NOW on Lulu.com!

Coming 2019... the final battle has arrived for the Valley and its heroes, as Tempest descends, Pandora's Box opens, and the walls between worlds break apart.

Twiggy: Flying Lessons

Available exclusively from Cosmic Comix & Toys!

In this charming minicomic from C.M. Selbrede and talented artist Gaby Stratmann, Twiggy goes out of his comfort zone in a very literal way!
*I mean, would there be an easy way to find that out? I don't really think so, but I guess if there was the book would be like... twenty five pages which is why I didn't go that direction.