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The Society of Imaginary Friends: An epic YA fantasy adventure with a lovable, powerful heroine (The Conjurors Series Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Kristen Pham (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 320 ratings
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Belief is a powerful magic.

Valerie Diaz has a power that she can't contain, and it's killing her. Bounced between foster homes and the streets, she only has time to concentrate on staying alive. But a visit from the imaginary friend of her childhood opens a world of possibilities, including a new life half a universe away on a planet that is bursting with magic.

The Society of Imaginary Friends follows Valerie on a journey that straddles two worlds. In order to survive, she must travel many light years away to a realm where anything is possible. On the Globe, imaginary friends come to life, the last of the unicorns rules the realm, and magic seeps from the pores of all the Conjurors who live there. But choosing to embrace her potential will set Valerie on a treacherous course – one filled with true love, adventure and perilous danger.

*Featured selection in Library Journal's curated SELF-e collections.*
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  1. Reading age
    9 - 16 years
  2. Book 1 of 4
    The Conjurors Series
  3. Print length
    346 pages
  4. Language
    English
  5. Grade level
    4 - 10
  6. Publication date
    March 11, 2011
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"I loved this book because of its amazing world building, and vibrant characters. I actually cared what the hell happened to this girl." - Glenn Conley (Glenn Hates Books)

"Society is a book filled with magic and wonder - and a lot of terror and madness as well." - Leiah Cooper (So, I Read This Book Today)

"If you like paranormal, fantasy or action series such as the Harry Potter series, Twilight, Hunger Games, Lord of the Rings...etc. give this a try." - Annie (Just Commonly)

About the Author

Kristen Pham is a YA science fiction and fantasy writer who lives for really great fudge, roller coasters, and exploring new worlds via fiction. She lives in San Jose, CA with her children and husband, where she eagerly waits for her kids to turn 11 and receive their invitations to Hogwarts.

If you would like to hear about Kristen's new releases and giveaways, sign up for her newsletter on her website (kristenpham.com). You can also reach her on Twitter (@KristenNPham) and Facebook.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B004RUXQGE
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ self published (March 11, 2011)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 11, 2011
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2413 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 346 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1493547836
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 320 ratings

About the author

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Kristen Pham

Kristen Pham

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Kristen Pham lives for really great fudge, rollercoasters, and exploring new worlds via fiction. She lives in San Diego, CA with her kids and husband, where she eagerly waits for a portal to open up in her bedroom that leads to a place with unicorns. Or really hot aliens. Or technology so advanced it feels like magic. In the meantime, she writes young adult science fiction and fantasy novels to pass the time until she’s called upon to save the world.

If you would like to hear about Kristen's new releases and giveaways, sign up for her newsletter on her website (kristenpham.com). You can also reach her on Twitter (@KristenNPham) and Facebook.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
320 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Disco
5.0 out of 5 stars A nice twist on a fantasy world
Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2023
Verified Purchase
This story is very consuming. Enjoyable characters with twist that will keep the imagination soaring. Can’t wait to be immersed in this story world again.
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T. Sae-Low
4.0 out of 5 stars Exciting and refreshing new read for the fantasy genre!
Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2013
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Into the Dark by Kristen Pham is a refreshing entry that stands out amongst the overly saturated genre of Young Adult Fantasy novels today. Her protagonist, Valerie Diaz, is an emotionally abused orphan who has already had her fair share of tribulations spanning her young 14 years of life. Where the cliche "unwanted hero saves the world" prototype could fall flat elsewhere, Pham expertly illustrates Valerie's motives and inner-struggles in a way that proves believable and honest. Valerie's time at the hospital beautifully portrays who Valerie is at her core, and sets the stage for her forthcoming globe/dimension trotting adventures. Accompanied by her once-imaginary friend Cyrus, bodyguard Thai, and wise-cracking-2pac loving Kanti, Valerie is whisked away to the magic-filled land of the Globe. When it comes to world-building, Pham is at her best, describing the colorful and distinct lands that exist within the Globe, including underwater cities, roaming temples, candy-filled dormitories, diverse peoples and creatures, and even unexpected means of transportation (roller-coasters and self-guided elevators) that children and adults will enjoy reading about.

On their journey to save Henry, a special child who unknowingly reaches out to Valerie for help, Valerie and gang encounter an assortment of monstrosities who stop at nothing to keep her from her goal. Even these villains prove to be more than simple run-of-the-mill ogres and what not, especially Sanguina, as she is cleverly crafted to make the reader both hate, yet wonder, where she's from and who she is.

The one area where Into the Dark does stumble slightly is in its pacing. As a fan of fast-paced adventure novels, I love it when an author can make me feel like I'm running out of breath, yet still manage to balance that between moments of self-reflection and doubt. Pham accomplishes this in most parts, but there were some scenes that felt a little rushed (the group seems to learn how to fight rather quickly). The story definitely builds up to an epic climax, but even still, it could've used a bit more developing in certain areas to have the payoff be even more rewarding. With that said, this is one minor flaw in an otherwise epic adventure.

Pham triumphs in her debut novel, invoking the grandiose worlds, mythological elements, and strange creatures that all lovers of the Fantasy genre will love and seamlessly combines them with the modern day. Teenagers will find themselves right at home with all the pop culture references and familiar struggles that only a teenager could truly empathize with. Readers of all ages will find themselves immersed in Valerie's mission of discovery through epic battles and subtle indications that point to something more sinister on the horizon. The first book in the Conjurors series is a wonderfully engaging read. Book two can't get here soon enough!
One person found this helpful
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Avid Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars A Really Scary Ride
Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2016
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Valerie is dying all alone. She is an orphan and living in foster care. She's lucky to not live on the streets, but her foster home isn't much better. She was trying to protect one of the younger kids from being hurt by the teenage son of the foster mother. She got so mad that when she hit him in his chest, she made him go several feet from where he was standing. Getting mad like that completely drained her energy. She fainted and was taken to the hospital. Her imaginary friend told her she would die if she stayed on Earth. He told her he could get her to his planet if she was willing. She agreed and her adventure began. To find out what happens next, you'll need to read the rest of this book. Enjoy!
One person found this helpful
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Brekke S. Ferguson
3.0 out of 5 stars Oy, the Book...
Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2014
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The idea of this series is great and there was a lot of potential for it to be amazing. I enjoyed large parts of it so long as I read just as entertainment and not as something to fully engage with. There were too many aspects that pulled me out of the story from some of the unoriginal names of places (the Globe, really?), the overall too-perfect status of the main character (is she really a super hero in EVERYTHING?), and just some of the generalized plot points. There were places the book read oddly, as though there were pieces missing or as though certain spots didn't fit where they were placed.

There really is so much potential for this story and I love the concept. I'm curious about where some of the character's tales are headed, but I'm not so curious that I'm willing to pay for it yet. I was frustrated by some of the lack of cohesion and I don't know that I want to spend a piece of my small book budget for a book in a series that has so many glaring issues. I want to see the concept developed further before investing more in the series.

The biggest issue I had was that the main character basically is a god-moded character who has everything she needs every time she needs it. There were a couple of points that she failed, but those times really never had real consequences. They were blips on the radar between moments of things going exactly as she needed or her having exactly the tools she needed. That kind of perfection is frustrating and irritating. The next big issue I had was with Cyrus's family and the whole concept of the island that they live on. Has no one heard of moderation? I mean, seriously?! Science and magic can work together and that would also be amazing, but instead, there's this totalitarian anti-magic location and it just doesn't work for me.

I cared enough to finish the book, but I pretty much always do that, even when I hate a story. It drives me crazy not to finish a book even when I get irritated by crazy things like I did in this story. I just don't care enough yet to pay the price of the next book in the series. Hopefully with some more development, this series could become something amazing, but right now, it lacks too many things for me to keep going.
6 people found this helpful
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Kathy Schmidt
5.0 out of 5 stars Young adult fantasy fun!
Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2013
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This is most definitely an author to put on your "budding superstar young adult fantasy" watch list.

Pham has put together an intriguing tale of a young woman's passage into a world of unknown rules, rites, and alliances. The author endows her main character with intelligence, emotional vulnerability, and courage as she winds her way from the hospital room that has become like a home to the young mental illness patient to a world where the origins and meanings of her childhood "invisible friends" are finally understood and embraced.

This novel will be enjoyed by both adults and adolescents alike, which is a huge nudge in the direction of J. K. Rowling, Madeleine L'Engle and others. In the words of C. S. Lewis, "A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest."

Can't wait for the sequel!
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Top reviews from other countries

DC Davis
5.0 out of 5 stars A great imaginitive read
Reviewed in Canada on August 2, 2017
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Lots of creative imagination, here ! This is a series that empowers young people in general, and young women, in particular.
A great read. Highly recommended, especially for the teen audience, but also for all of us
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Sligo writer
5.0 out of 5 stars The globe
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 25, 2018
Verified Purchase
There aren't many ways that you can change the world of magic.

Or so I thought.

Kristen threw what I knew about magic on its head. I was so chuffed with the idea of it.
The globe!!!!
Unicorns!!!!!
And my personal favourite? Kanti. That girl is so surprising and break danced her way into my heart.

I can't wait to read the rest of the series
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Jackie Forster
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 13, 2017
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An amazing story with so many twists and lovable characters. So good I'm off to start the next one right now!
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Tanyawriter
5.0 out of 5 stars New world
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 4, 2018
Verified Purchase
She has a power which she cannot control and she is bounced from foster homes and the streets. She needs to control it so when she finds another world where she begins to understand her life. What will she need to do? Follow her and see see how she gets on

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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Jim Doyle
1.0 out of 5 stars Childish, not YA, and badly written
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 24, 2018
Verified Purchase
It is impossible to suspend disbelief reading this. I love fantasy, including well written YA fantasy, but this was totally childish. The characters, both human and magical, lack any depth.
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