Glimmer Odyssey (eBook)

Catherine Stewart (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2025 | 1. Auflage
308 Seiten
Bookbaby (Verlag)
9798317809775 (ISBN)

Infos

When Olivia Taylor sets out for a routine hike, she never expects her steps to lead her far beyond the boundaries of her world. After discovering a mysterious key hidden in the pocket of an old jacket, Olivia is transported to Elysian-a realm suspended between Earth and Heaven. There, she encounters celestial beings with secrets of their own and a mission that ties her fate to an angel trapped on Earth. Uplifting, heartfelt, and filled with suspense, 'The Glimmer Odyssey' is a young adult Christian novel about the courage to trust, the strength of faith, the power of love, and the journey that begins when you believe everything happens for a reason.

Catherine Stewart is a writer who believes that with heart and determination, anything is possible. She sees each day as the beginning of a new adventure-an outlook that helped inspire this story. Her first novel captures her passion for storytelling and the meaningful insights passed down through generations. Currently, she lives in a small town in Northwest Georgia with her husband and a lively crew of four dogs and two cats. When she's not writing, Catherine enjoys playing guitar, crafting, and getting lost in her favorite music.

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Olivia Taylor thought she was going for a normal walk in the woods near her home-a peaceful escape into nature, nothing more. Her everyday, ordinary life takes a dramatic turn when she discovers a beautiful antique key tucked inside the pocket of an old jacket. With a single motion, she's swept into the mysterious world of Elysian, a breathtaking realm caught between Heaven and Earth. In Elysian, Olivia must navigate a place full of awe-inspiring beauty and celestial beings, some eager to help and others bound by secrets. She learns the key she holds belongs to Matthew, an angel trapped on Earth who cannot return to Heaven without it. Tasked with a divine mission, another angel descends from Heaven to guide Olivia home and find a way to help Matthew return to Heaven. If either soul remains where they do not belong for too long, the delicate balance between Heaven and Earth could begin to unravel. As Olivia journeys through Elysian, she faces challenges that test her courage and resilience. The path ahead is unclear, and her decisions could change more than just her future. Along the way, she begins to understand that her journey is no accident it's part of a greater plan. "e;The Glimmer Odyssey"e; is a young adult Christian novel that blends adventure, fantasy, and faith into a powerful tale of love, purpose, and the discovery that some keys open more than doors they unlock destinies. With heartfelt emotion and suspenseful twists, this debut novel reminds readers that every step we take can lead to something extraordinary. It is perfect for fans of uplifting, imaginative fiction with spiritual depth. "e;The Glimmer Odyssey"e; invites readers to believe in the unseen, trust the journey, and embrace the idea that everything happens for a reason.

Textauszug

Chapter 1

Magic finds those who know where to look. Sometimes, that magic hides in the shadows. A flicker of light might spark our curiosity. Most of us brush it off as imagination because we’re too afraid to explore the unknown. But sometimes, if we’re brave enough to follow that light, we discover something extraordinary—magic hidden in the darkness.

Now, let me tell you about the evening after Olivia found that cave. Have you ever had one of those moments where you’re trying to act like everything’s normal, but deep down, you know something’s not right? That’s exactly how Olivia felt.

She’s sprawled out on an old leather sofa—the same one that’s seen her through a thousand movie nights and rainy-day reading sessions. The fire crackles, filling the room with the cozy scent of oak. It should’ve been perfect. One of those evenings where nothing exists except you, a good book, and maybe some snacks.

Speaking of snacks, Olivia has her favorites: kettle chips (because regular chips just don’t cut it), and she’s doing that thing where you scoop up way too much ranch dip on each chip. Her sweet tea is nearby, condensation beading on the glass like tiny diamonds.

But then the wind decides to get dramatic, rattling the windows like it’s auditioning for a ghost story. Olivia nearly jumps out of her skin, then lets out a nervous laugh—the kind we all do when trying to convince ourselves we weren’t really scared. “It’s just the wind,” she tells herself, though her heart isn’t buying it.

That’s when she notices something strange: a small beam of light under the door of the coat closet. It looks like someone’s shining a flashlight in there. Except that’s impossible, right? Olivia rubs her eyes, blaming it on too much reading and not enough sleep.

Outside, the sun is setting, painting the sky in crazy shades of orange, gold, and pink. You know that time of day when everything looks a little magical, and the world feels full of possibilities?

Maybe it’s the sunset—or maybe it’s that strange light—but suddenly, Olivia feels an urge to explore. She sets her book down (so much for a quiet evening) and decides to take a walk. But first, she needs her favorite sweater—the one hanging in the coat closet.

With each step toward the closet, the floorboards make themselves known. Creeeak. Groooan. Like they’re trying to warn her. The air feels heavier, too—like that charged stillness right before a thunderstorm.

When Olivia reaches the door, the light is gone, but the feeling remains. Something is different about her perfectly ordinary coat closet. Her hand hovers over the doorknob, her heart racing.

Because what if… what if something extraordinary is waiting on the other side?

“Come on now,” Olivia whispers, giving herself a pep talk. “It’s just a closet. Nothing to be afraid of.” But even as she says it, she knows that’s not quite true anymore. With her heart hammering in her chest, she wraps her fingers around the doorknob. Taking a deep breath—like she’s about to dive underwater—she slowly opens the door.

And guess what Olivia finds after all that build-up? Absolutely nothing. Well, nothing obviously magical. It’s just your typical closet stuff—coats and jackets, scarves draped over hangers, and rows of shoes neatly lined up on the floor. She lets out a little sigh, feeling silly for getting herself all worked up.

“It’s gotta be here somewhere,” she mutters, pushing hangers aside, hunting for her favorite sweater. (You know how moms are—she’s pretty sure Christine “borrowed” it again.) But then she spots something unexpected. In the back corner, stuffed between two old coats, is a jacket she’s never seen before.

Not just any jacket. This one’s a deep indigo, the kind of color that makes you think of twilight skies. Everything else in the closet is earth tones— browns and greens—but this jacket? It stands out like a blue jay in an evergreen forest. The fabric looks worn but soft, like it’s been waiting for someone to find it.

When Olivia touches the jacket, warmth shoots through her fingers and up her arm. She probably should have been worried about a jacket feeling like that, but curiosity wins out. It’s way too big on her, but somehow, that doesn’t matter. It feels... right. Like finding something you didn’t know you were looking for. If she’d thought harder about it, she might have wondered why it felt so intentional. She rolls up the sleeves, buttons it, and heads to the porch.

Now she’s standing on the porch in this mysterious jacket, watching tendrils of mist curl around the trees. That’s when an idea pops into her head. You know that feeling when you’re a little spooked but don’t want to admit it? That’s when having a dog really comes in handy.

“Isabelle! Come here, girl! Wanna go for a walk?” Olivia calls into the house, trying to sound casual, though her voice is a little shaky. Before she finishes the sentence, there’s a thundering of excited paws on the hardwood floor. And then— BOOM—there she is. Isabelle, a gorgeous white fluff monster, part White German Shepherd, part Great Pyrenees, and 100% enthusiasm. Her tail is wagging so hard it looks like it might lift her right off the ground.

“Okay, you ready to roll?” Olivia grins as she clips on the leash. Isabelle barks in response, a bark that clearly means, “Finally! I’ve been waiting all day for this!”

Isabelle isn’t just any dog. She’s Olivia’s partner in crime, her four-legged bodyguard, and tonight? Tonight, Olivia’s extra grateful for those protective instincts.

The evening wraps around her like a cool blanket. The north Georgia mountains are putting on a show, with sunset colors painting the sky. The wind rustles the trees, and birds call out their goodnights.

As they walk, darkness starts creeping in, and Olivia’s mind wanders back to the strange events of the past day—the glowing cave, the mysterious light in the closet, and now, this jacket. She’s so lost in thought that she doesn’t even notice the rock—the kind that lies in wait until someone stubs their toe on it.

“Whoa!” Olivia stumbles, flailing her arms like a windmill, doing an awkward dance with gravity. “Geez, that was close.”

Just as she regains her balance, something catches her eye. Up on Guardian Rock, there’s... a glimmer of light. Not a flashlight or a campfire, but something different. Something... otherworldly.

She blinks, and it’s gone—so fast she starts doubting whether she saw it at all.

Needing a minute to clear her head, Olivia makes her way to a flat rock she knows well. It’s her thinking spot—the place she goes when life gets a little too weird, and she needs to sort things out. Usually, it gives her this sense of being grounded, solid. But tonight? Tonight is different.

Because there, right under her hands, she notices something she’s somehow missed all the other times she’s sat here. There are brown marks in the stone that aren’t random like you’d expect. They form perfect cross patterns, like someone carved them ages ago and nature’s been preserving them.

“Wow, that is so cool,” she whispers, running her fingers along the marks.

Then, a breeze kicks up—the kind that cuts straight through you—and she stuffs her hands into the pockets of the jacket. That’s when her fingers find it. A tear in the lining... but it’s not really a tear. It feels more like a secret compartment. Inside is a key.

But calling it just a key doesn’t do it justice. It’s silver—old silver that feels like it’s seen things. Patterns etched into the metal seem like they’re trying to tell a story. Tiny gemstones catch the fading light of the day, but they’re not just for decoration. They’re arranged around a crystal bubble at the center, forming a perfect rainbow circle. And at the top of the key? Wings, like something from a fairy tale.

But here’s the wild part. As Olivia holds the key, turning it over in her hands, the crystal at its center starts to glow—not reflecting light, but actually glowing from within. She’s mesmerized, unable to look away.

“Isabelle, look at this,” she says, holding out the key like it’s some newly discovered treasure. “I bet this was making that weird light in the closet. Doesn’t it look like it came straight out of a storybook?”

Before Isabelle can offer her expert canine opinion, something shifts.

Have you ever heard that dogs have a sixth sense about things? One second, Isabelle is her usual happy self, and the next—BAM!—she lets out a bark so fierce it nearly sends Olivia jumping out of her skin. Not a “hey, there’s a squirrel” bark, but a “something’s not right” bark. Isabelle means business. Her hackles rise, and her eyes lock on something in the trees—something Olivia can’t see.

Olivia leaps to her feet, nearly crashing into Isabelle. In the chaos, the key slips from her fingers, clinking loudly as it hits the stone.

Isabelle’s leash falls.

Olivia freezes. Somewhere nearby, a twig snaps.

She spins around so fast she’s sure she gave herself whiplash, scanning the darkening woods. For a fleeting second, she swears she sees something moving between the trees. But it’s gone before she can be sure.

The second Olivia bends down to grab the key—

BOOM! Light explodes everywhere, as if someone just set off a burst of blue, gold, and silver fireworks.

...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 19.7.2025
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Kinder- / Jugendbuch
• ISBN-13: 9798317809775 / 9798317809775