Candlewax

With very 'real' characters, and a gripping storyline, "Candlewax" is a real page-turner that always leaves you wanting to know what will come next. --Michelle Duane, teacher/librarian, Australia

"A medieval fantasy brimming with action, adventure, and a host of colorful characters. Sims has created a world so complete, so fully imagined, that readers will relish the story, and root for the heroine along the way!"

-Kaley S.DeGoursey

Children's and YA Manager/Buyer/Events

RJ Julia Independent Booksellers

"A page turner filled with enchantment, mystery, betrayal, courage and true heroism."

-Christina Holmes

Middle School English

Chase Collegiate School

AWARD:

The Candlewax manuscript won Connecticut's Tassy Walden New Voices in Children's Literature Award, Young Adult category, sponsored by the Shoreline Arts Alliance.

"Candlewax by C. Bailey Sims is a beautiful exciting read that brings a breathe of fresh air to the Young Adult/ Fantasy genre. It's not often in todays time you find a YA/ Fantasy book that features anything more than vampires, werewolves, and fallen angels. So imagine my surprise when I discover the mythical creature is a giant cat (about the size of a horse) named Spelopokos. I honestly could not wrap my head around it! However, as I continued to read Candlewax I began to warm up to this idea and eventually fell completely in love with Spelopokos! Sims has created an exciting and adventurous story that I could not put down..." Michelle Keener, Escape in Words and Nocturn Reads. http://escapeinwords-michelle.blogspot.com/

"May I please move to Candlewax? The world-building in this book is incredible! From majestic castles to burning forests of Candlewax trees to the unforgiving land of Cinna, the fantasy world is breathtakingly beautiful and cold and evil at the same time.

Well-paced. I was sucked into the story right away and, for the most part, had a hard time putting it down. Sims provides plenty of conflict to keep the story moving; there were times when I wondered, "How on earth are they going to get out of this mess?"

Strong characters. Princess Catherine, Bessie, and Cyril are all likeable, brave, and clever. Readers will love to hate thoroughly evil characters such as Kallik, Warren, Julia, and Magnus.

When the book is published, I will definitely be getting a copy for my library. Great for middle schools!" Mrs. ReaderPants Blog http://readerpants.blogspot.com/

"I always love a novel with plenty of action and adventure and this was no exception. At first I wasn't sure how well this story would turn out. Catherine seemed a bit like a pampered princess with no idea of what life would be like outside the castle. However, as the novel went on I began to see Catherine as a strong heroine who willingly takes on adventure to help save her kingdom. The other characters in the novel on the "good" side were likeable as well and I thoroughly enjoyed their adventures with Catherine. I feel like the only characters I didn't get too much of a sense of were Catherine's parents. However, the world created was amazing and I liked the detail that was shared. I loved that this story went along at a great pace and kept me reading until I finished it. There was also a bit of romance but it didn't overshadow everything else that was going on in this book. This novel definitely pulled me into Catherine's story and I think that it came to an amazing end. I can't wait to read the next one in the series and see what happens next. I definitely recommend this to those who like young adult fantasy novels." Ny Romeo, http://msbookqueen.blogspot.com