Chronicles of Tenek lua Ben

Terror and Wave Book 1

by P. J. Leigh

Life’s greatest challenges are easier met with a friend beside you.

An outcast from birth, Tamarin hides in the trees or works quietly in her father’s infirmary to avoid the prying eyes of her village. But when her father leaves a willful boy with a bleeding head in her care, she finds more than a patient. She finds a friend. Lost in a sea of siblings, Adden is drawn to the brilliant, golden-eyed girl of his village. His plan to impress her by riding a wild sea creature goes terribly wrong, but having her as his caretaker is a stroke of luck—and the perfect opportunity to get to know her. The two form a friendship that deepens as they explore the wonders of their island home–from ancient trees and hidden caves to strange and colorful creatures.

But growing up comes with its own hardships, and the absence of Tamarin’s mother has left a void that even their friendship can’t fill. With her mother’s origins shrouded in secrecy, and her father refusing to share them, Tamarin feels stuck between a world that doesn’t want her and a world she’ll never know.

When foreigners arrive on the shores of their island, everything changes, and the secrets locked away in the past resurface—revealing an outside world full of danger, dark forces, and a being powerful enough to destroy everything.

5 out of 5 fairies

Although geared for middle schoolers, older readers are sure to also enjoy this story of hope, friendship, and the pain war can bring. The story is captivating from the start, and Leigh draws you in with vivid imagery and high tension. My heart really went out to Tamarin, it’s never easy being an outsider or different, especially as a kid. Adden is a great contrast to Tamarin, more accepted, although perhaps not quite as smart. We get to learn about the history of the village fairly early on, but it’s done in such a way that it feels like a natural part of the story, and not an information dump. The story itself has excellent pacing and keeps you engaged from start to finish. I’m looking forward to reading future books in this series.

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P. J. Leigh is an avid booklover and fervent writer. Her biggest motivations for writing are the two beautiful girls she has at home, which is why her writing showcases female characters of color. She enjoys writing narratives with strong characterization that encourage curiosity, exploration, audacity, and empathy. Her stories can often be enjoyed by both kids and adults (as she has a voracious young reader at home who demands to read everything she writes).​​​​​​​Awards include 1st place in the WCPL Short Story Contest for “Take Me Away,” 1st place in the Prose monthly challenge for “The Earth Sighed Seven Times,” and 6th place in the Writer’s Digest Short Story Competition for “The Shifter.” Her debut novel, “Olawu,” earned a spot as a Quarter Finalist in the 2023 BookLife Prize for Fiction sponsored by Publishers Weekly.​​​​​​​If she’s not plotting and scheming, she’s typically reading, crying over K-dramas, or, inevitably, doing laundry. Learn more about her projects and where to connect with her on her website at pjleigh.com.

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