“Finding Your Way” is a contemporary young adult novel set in Latvia in 2008.
Zanda is seventeen. She is Latvian. She wants three things in life: to stay in her home country, date her boyfriend, and have a career. There is a problem with each of these things, though. Zanda’s friends and even her family think that she should board a plane and depart to England the moment she graduates from school. Her boyfriend is intelligent and every mother’s dream, but he is Russian. She plans to study at the university but hates the thought of having to live on the ugly outskirts of the capital with her parents for four more years.
And then, there is Zanda’s love for the countryside. Witch’s Pond is a small, lovely town where her grandmother lives and where Zanda spends her summers.
Zanda feels torn between her equally ardent dreams about having a life in the capital and living in the countryside.
Meeting the infuriating and handsome nineteen-year-old Latvian guy Viestards, who like her has different views on how he should live his life, makes Zanda’s dilemmas even more complicated. However, Viestards’s dream to turn his land into a profitable venture is endangered. And it will take a lot of gumption to pursue this dream against all odds.
It is the summer of 2008, the last one before the global financial crisis. While for Latvia it promises to be a time of hardships and challenges, for Zanda’s family and for Viestards it might be a time of opportunities to change their lives.
There is a slight touch of magical realism in the book that conveys a deep connection many Latvians still have with ancient pagan roots and traditions.
Reviews:
“Finding Your Way does an excellent job of introducing the reader to Latvia. This is a delightful contemporary (set in 2008) YA/Coming-Of-Age story centering on seventeen-year-old Zanda. The topography, native language, and prevailing attitudes of Latvia are prominently featured in this tale. “Finding Your Way” took me on a delightful sojourn to a faraway land with endearing characters that I would love to visit with again!“
“Finding Your Way shares a summer of growing up, change, chance, and challenge. It is a wonderful journey with wonderful characters, and a sprinkling of magical realism. I enjoyed the Latvian language in this throughout. It added to the authenticity and education of the book. I also enjoyed the gentle focus on politics, trade, financial struggles, and culture of the country.“
“Drifting on the waves of the boiling Baltic sea full of first love challenging choices, future career perspectives, revealing true friendships aspects, and sneaking into the first sights of adult life, beautiful Zanda is trying to find her way. I could feel the drops of the sea salt water on my lips, enjoy a delicious pie on the occasion of the name day of the character, pick up the cucumbers in a cozy garden and say ‘hi’ to noisy seagulls flying around. Traveling around Latvia, peering into secluded and mystical places, made my imagination bloom to the full. This brilliant, thrilling, beautifully emotional young-adult novel warmed my heart, making me travel back in time when emotions ran high and everything seemed a bit more miraculous than in adulthood. It felt like I met an old friend, and she told me a chapter from her life. It seemed as if I had known Zanda for ages. I mean that the author succeeded in making the main character so real that I felt the connection from the first pages.”
“I like all the stories from this author, and this new novel pleasantly surprised me in many ways. This coming-of-age story about Zanda is very thought provoking. Growing up in Latvia in times of crisis (2008), she is trying to understand the nature of human happiness and success. Also, I found the setting very engaging. Old streets of Riga and the endless beaches of Jurmala created a special atmosphere that teleported me into this beautiful country. I recommend this story to the readers who like to explore unique places by reading and get inspired by mindful characters.”
“I have enjoyed Eve’s fantasy books immensely, and I have to say this was my very favorite because I loved the way the author brought the love and pride she has for her country into the book. I just really enjoyed this novel because I love books that immerse me in another culture and make me feel like I have taken a trip to somewhere I’ve never been. The descriptions and lovely setting were so well done and I’m really excited to see there will be another book!”
“Eve Koguce knows how to engage a reader and I appreciate her writing style. I look forward to reading her next book which will also be set in Latvia but with a different outlook and a male perspective according to the “About The Author” notes.”
“Finding Your Way is a novel about choices. It is a story about accepting the truth that we may be conflicted at the best of times, but as long as our heart is in the right place, and we are willing to work toward our goals, we will always find out way.
In Zanda, Author Eve Koguce has created a beautiful character. One so achingly real. Latvia and Zanda together with the rest of the characters are magical and will hold your attention and before you know it, dear reader you might end up giving them a piece of your heart.”
Fantasy Romance / Drama
There aren’t any magical elements or creatures in the Neglected Merge fantasy saga. No vampires, fairies, or mages. The Neglected Merge trilogy is about the ways the world we live in could evolve if it was almost shattered by an apocalyptic event. It is about the paths we take – as nations and as individuals. And the wings mark the differences between people that often separate them both physically and in their minds.
Join the two nations – the Wingless and the Winged Ones – on the road to finding common ground. Join the royalty of the Winged Ones in their journey of exploring the world of passions they have been taught to despise. Imagine the utopian lifestyle of the Wingless full of pleasure and easiness, designed to make everyone feel happy every minute of their lives. Meet those who have found themselves unsatisfied and restless while everyone around them seems to be accepting the general course as a gift. How long does it take to change the world? And in the end, who will be the victim and who will enjoy a happy ending?
The Chinese proverb says: “When the winds of change blow, some people build walls and others build windmills.”
What will the people of two worlds, so utterly different and at the same time so similar, choose?
Book One
“Neglected Merge” is an inspirational thought-provoking futuristic romance novel. The story of fated lovers developed against a backdrop of a new post-apocalyptic world painted in bright tones. A fortuitous meeting of Tauria, an independent woman living in one utopian-style world, and Doron from the high society of the other world, is destined to be the new beginning for both worlds.
Tauria, aged 32, lives in a society that seems to believe that happiness is a universal concept. People, who had survived the near-apocalyptic experience, have built a whole new world full of pleasure and easiness. It is designed to make everyone feel happy every minute of their lives. Work brings satisfaction, hobbies are encouraged, relationships are supposed to bring out only positive emotions. Does it matter that things that don’t fit into the general happy pattern get discarded and disappear? Things like friendship and commitment. Things like true love. It is supposed to be enough with lightness and never-ending joy.
But there are two worlds now. They are forced to exist side by side. Can they find a way to live together?
“Neglected Merge” has won several literary awards:
- Silver Medal in the 2021 Global Book Awards in the Science Fiction / Fantasy category;
- Finalist in the 2021 Readers’ Favorite International Book Award Contest in the Fantasy General category;
- Honorable Mention in the 2021 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards in the Science Fiction/Fantasy category
Reviews:
“The novel is much deeper than it may seem at first sight. In the background of the main beautifully written story, a reader can dive into wise and profound musings, challenging questions, and captivating theories of world development.”
“The storyline revolves around true romance, and the fiction sways with social issues, politics, and inequality.”
“This story is engaging and it soon gets the reader involved. In addition to this, the author created an amazing set of characters, very well-developed, put into an intricate narrative structure leading to an amazing story line.”
“From the excellent world-building and details of the ‘merge’, to the moving and heartfelt love story, this book takes the reader on a journey of discovery and emotion.”
“Koguce has a distinct writing voice, which I loved. The characters are well developed and relatable—and of course, the Romeo and Juliette type romance between Tauria and Doron is captivating.”
“Romance is central to the book, and it is exceptionally well-executed. There are unexpected liaisons, surprise relationships, and passionate encounters that fans of the genre will adore. On the dystopian fantasy side, along with the excellent world-building, the political intrigue, and negotiations that take place between different elements of society, are extremely compelling. It feels like one has a coveted, bird’s eye view, eavesdropping on high level diplomatic meetings at the modern-day United Nations.”
“I absolutely loved reading ‘Neglected Merge’. This is a slow-paced story that gave me the similar vibes as classic literature.“
Book Two
“Tangle of Choices” is a futuristic fantasy drama novel.
The two different worlds have made the first diplomatic steps towards each other, but at the same time, they keep aloof from closer emotional and personal involvement.
Tauria is the only person who is a part of both worlds now.
Harsh circumstances force Tauria to face difficult choices. They lead to personal drama which mercilessly pierces right through her established life. Tauria, guided by a sense of duty to people whose fate depends on her decision, risks her love and family life. Her husband Doron, despite being a person endowed with power as the future Ruler, cannot help his wife and share her burden.
Tauria, in pursuit of a noble purpose to keep their serene lifestyle intact, hurts those who are important to her, testing her friendships, marriage and own sanity to the very core.
Will her choice turn out to be the right one? Will the fact that the sacrifice is justified be sufficient consolation when the whole extent of the damage becomes evident? As part of her crusade against hostility aimed to destroy the carefree lifestyle of both worlds, Tauria is forced to cooperate with an aggressor. Tauria faces the unknown, and the discoveries she makes change her view of the world.
Reviews:
“”Tangle of Choices” should also go on to garner writing awards, as Koguce continues her outstanding work, creating highly believable and fascinating characters, crafting compelling stories full of emotion and heart, and spinning prose in an elegant and very unique style that I have come to adore. “Tangle of Choices” is beautifully written, full of heartfelt moments, temptation, passion, intrigue, unrequited love, and tension.”
“This was a beautiful and compelling story of love, duty, and sacrifice!”
“This is one of the most beautifully written fantasy novels I’ve recently read. The world-building is so cleverly thought that sometimes you can lose a sense of reality and believe that you are an honored member of the diplomatic mission of the Winged ones. The book is full of heartbreaking moments depicted so thoroughly that I needed a handkerchief to wipe tears. Many perilous episodes made my heart gallop and worry about the main characters.”
“I enjoyed the vivid, detailed setting, developed conflicts, and of course, realistic characters. I would recommend this story to readers who like exploring moral values and possible scenario of future for our civilization.”
“The author continues to write beautifully, creating a vivid image in readers minds and almost feeling the emotions of the characters. The moral undertones and ethical messages are thought provoking and enticing. Eve Koguce is powerful author who’s impact is great, yet feels so natural in the written form.
Fantasy isn’t my usual genre, only the best make my reading list. Eve Koguce is most definitely one of the best!”
Book Three
“Shifting Directions” is a final instalment of the Neglected Merge trilogy. It is a fantasy futuristic drama with thriller elements.
The Wingless and the Winged Ones make progress on their way to convergence. But the progress is slow. They seek common ground and find it, involving people from both sides of the border in political and everyday activities.
It is never easy to be growing up in times of big changes. “Shifting Directions” is a coming-of-age journey of one of the most likeable characters readers meet in the second book “Tangle of Choices”.
One person is trying to shake the foundations of equilibrium, having not found a way to enjoy the obvious benefits of society. He manages to attract attention. How far is he ready to go in his quest for the truth as he sees it? And who is he ready to hurt? Maybe this is just an innocent youthful protest out of hooligan motives. But maybe it will escalate into serious threats to innocent people’s life and health. Should someone interfere until it is too late?
The dilemma of resolving the situation so that no one gets hurt is often doomed to failure.
Who will be the victim and who will enjoy a happy ending?
Reviews:
“No one writes like Eve Koguce that I have ever read. Part lyrical, part philosophical, with a real appreciation for rich storytelling, reminsicent of a more classical style of writing, I have truly enjoyed Koguce’s lovely prose. This has been one of my favourite aspects of this incredible series. My least favourite aspect of this book, and this series is that, with “Shifting Directions”, it’s over! Another five-star triumph for the author in “Shifting Directions”, and I’m hoping to read a lot more of Eve Koguce in the future, because she is a rare talent in the romantic-fantasy sphere.”
“This is a beautifully told story of family dynamics, conflict, danger, friendships, challenges, dreams, choices, consequences and growing up and older.”
“All three books, and this one, in particular, are so gloriously written that I fell in love with them at once. The perfectly built fantasy world coexists with the real one like a needed puzzle. The novel is full of thriller elements that made my heart gallop and many touching scenes that made me cry with happiness for the main characters.”
“Written in an outstanding poetic language, the third part of a story was a pure pleasure to read. I loved the plot line and the way Koguce gave a well-deserved ending to all the characters who took a key part in this story. The ending pleasantly surprised me. I can’t wait to read more stories from this author!”
“I have enjoyed the Neglected Merge series from start to finish and SHIFTING DIRECTIONS was the perfect conclusion to the trilogy, giving me a chance to catch up with all my favorite characters and storylines. This series has been a delight and I will look forward to whatever author Eve Koguce writes next!”
“In the last book, I was interested in Sandra and Darragh to see if anything would come of their relationship because of the repercussions it would have. You’ll have to read the book to find out. The last book has so much more to offer than their relationship though. It explores coming-of-age, loss, and love as well as other things.”
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