The Return of The Truemore is YA magical realism featuring an advanced society that can communicate with animals. Arno Steele and his school friends battle to save their animal-friendly world from those determined to destroy it. Jungles, beaches, wild animals, dinosaurs, and a mysterious school with equally odd teachers come together in this young adult fantasy of 104,000 words. Twelve years to adult.
"In the exotic, modern country of ANIMAIA, Arno Steele and his school friends battle to save their animal-friendly world from those determined to destroy it. Jungles, beaches, wild animals, dinosaurs, and a very mysterious school with equally odd teachers come together in this young adult fantasy of 104,000 words. Mild sci-fi and paranormal elements, and some challenging themes. Suitable for 12 years to adult. This story is complete and stands alone.Arno Steele can communicate with animals – and he’s very, very good – as his dad discovers when Arno is four. A young Arno is infatuated with the legend of The Truemore, an historical saviour who will one day return to protect his mystical and animal-friendly world, Animaia (anim-eye-a), from destruction. The modern country of Animaia arose from The Great Conflict of decades ago and remains under constant threat of returning to the “old ways". An elite few have inherited an ancient ability to talk to animals telepathically and they are called “Anima.” The Anima are trained as the protectors and administrators of human-animal integration in the society. At thirteen, Arno is to be packed off to an elite school for young Anima. As events unfold, a reluctant Arno is perceived by some as the new saviour. Too bad: Arno would rather stay at home and hang out at the beach with his school friends, Leroy, Ashley and Charlotte, and his lifelong buddy Arkie the raven. What’s a boy with such exceptional ability and a possible foretold destiny to do? But now dark forces are gathering once more, and they are organised like never before under the influence of a leader who believes it is his divine destiny to destroy the free-living Animaian state and create a realm of unbridled animal exploitation and destruction. Animaia fears "the return of the fleshers." Arno is under personal threat, and he and his friends find themselves at the centre of this threatening storm at their Anima school, wondering if they can unleash the mystical Truemore -- the human form of the spirit of life itself -- to help in the battle for their homeland, or if The Truemore is nothing more than legend and folk-lore. At the start of school, the four friends visit the Crater Nebula where surviving dinosaurs still exist. The airship crashes and the four friends are under threat but survive. The head of school is the mysterious Sybylla Dolotty, who has an historical connection to the history of Animaia. She participates in 'The Gathering', a school function that reveals hidden questions about the country and its origins - and with hints of Artificial Intelligence (AI).Ultimately, Arno must face the leader of the fleshers when a school camp in the jungle goes wrong and he finds himself fighting for his life. Further intrigue emanates from the Crystal Cave and in the final chapter, the identity of The Truemore is revealed, to everyone's shock and surprise.
Reviews of Animaia
Here (below) are a few genuine reviews of the first book in the series from test readers on Goodreads just after completion a few years ago . I hope to find a traditional publisher for the next and final book called The Return of the Truemore (thetruemoretales.com). Contact author if necessary: Paul Rogers at paulr99@gmail.com. (ANIMAIA was an introductory tale, a prequel, and the new book finishes it off. Yet you do not have to read ANIMAIA to get the gist of the main story.)
1. “It was a really good story especially if you are an animal lover. I really loved the story line and the 4 main characters are also amusing and lovable. The pacing and the writing itself was also very good. However, it seems to be a similar to Harry Potter, only animal style. DIPI sounds like Hogwarts. Arno is like Harry, Leroy is Ron. A lot of potential for this series. I’m excited to read the next one. (4 stars)”
2 “Nice young adult story about a 13 year old boy named Arno Steele who has to face a family past that he was not aware off. Going to the prestigious DIPD academy where he is to learn how to hone his skills at “speaking” psychically with animals. Most people can speak to one or two species but Arno seems top be able to speak to all. Decent story seemed long on explanation but little action until you get towards the end. But as a first in the series it is a good start. Nice way to spend an afternoon in the sun. (3.5 stars)”
3. “A very entertaining read! I could compare this book to having a similar feel to either the Harry Potter or Percy Jackson books, but I believe this book is more enjoyable for me as it has an inspiring message with it in regards to ecology and animal rights. By the end of the book, I found myself wanting to re-read the story and also anticipating the follow-up book. (4 stars)”
4. “Although aimed towards younger teens, this novel can be quite entertaining for an older audience. Arno and his friends’ escapades as well as Charlotte’s sharp tongue will be sure to put a smile on the reader’s face. In a world with refreshing concepts and practices, the heroes have depths that are only partly explored, while the villains are most definitely evil and quite gruesome. I am looking forward to the sequel and hope to learn more about Arno’s mysterious teachers and the legend of the Truemore. A fun read! (4 stars)”
5. “This book contains a very new concept for a story: certain people talk with animals by means of special telekinesis powers. This power sets them apart from the majority of the citizens who don’t have this power. As always, the different guy becomes the heart or the hero of the story and in this case so it is with Arno. Not everyone in his birthplace can talk to animals and of those who do, most can only talk to one type of animal, maybe two, but in this story Arno, talks to many animals.That is unheard of, and Arno doesn’t want anyone to know that he can. Yet the cat comes out of the bag when he saves his best friend from being eaten by a giant boa. Some bystanders use their phones to pass videos of the miraculous event along. Now things are changing in his life, even the head of the elite training school takes a personal interest in him. What is going to happen with his friends and football when he enters the prestigious academy? This doesn’t matter to his parents who both want him in that school. He, however, isn’t quite sure he wants to pursue this gift.Arnos soon finds out that school isn’t as bad as he thought; he even gets to have his friends there. All is peachy until he discovers that there is a mysterious plot brewing on his world, and this can mean only one thing—problems between human and animals.Animaia is a great read, although it feels a bit slow at times. More dialogue would resolve that problem. It is interesting. I found no editing problems in it. It could be very well received by teen of all ages and adults alike. (4 stars)”
6. “A very entertaining book for the animal lover in us all. The concept of being able to “sync” with the animals is one I would have always wanted to be able to do. Great story. (3.5 stars )” “My first thought about this book and how to describe it is “Harry Potter meets Dr. Doolittle”. I absolutely loved this book. There are plenty of good guys and baddies. I can’t wait for more from this author.”7. “Animaia is about a world where through evolution, people who were once thought to be witches were actually “gifted” individuals who could psychically link their thoughts with animals, reptiles and birds. Because of this ability, through revolution, a country became Animaia where all people are vegans… no fleshers, skinners or others, even if you are not an anima and “gifted” to be able to sync with the animal kingdom. 8. Animaia is about Arno Steele, a truly gifted anima who can converse/link with multiple animal groups (a rarity)and his friends as they go off for their first year of school to learn how to control and use their gifts. There are lurking threats from a neighboring country of fleshers (meat eaters) & skinners as well as the question of the crater and the grommets. Shades of Harry Potter, but with a completely different appeal.Very enjoyable!”
7. Animaia is about a world where through evolution, people who were once thought to be witches were actually “gifted” individuals who could psychically link their thoughts with animals, reptiles and birds. Because of this ability, through revolution, a country became Animaia where all people are vegans… no fleshers, skinners or others, even if you are not an anima and “gifted” to be able to sync with the animal kingdom.
8. Animaia is about Arno Steele, a truly gifted anima who can converse/link with multiple animal groups (a rarity)and his friends as they go off for their first year of school to learn how to control and use their gifts. There are lurking threats from a neighboring country of fleshers (meat eaters) & skinners as well as the question of the crater and the grommets. Shades of Harry Potter, but with a completely different appeal.
Very enjoyable!”
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Explore what critics are saying about The Return of The Truemore. See why readers and reviewers alike are captivated by this powerful and evocative storytelling.
JAKE RANDELL,
Literary Gazette