The Secret Journal

God Stones, Book 1

By: Otto Schafer

Narrated by: A.J Carter

Length: 12 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

A history hidden from the world. A truth long sought, but better left unfound. Will two teenagers survive the magical secrets they unearth?

Oak Island, Nova Scotia. Breanne Moore blames herself for her mother’s tragic death. So when her archaeologist father is invited on an exciting new dig, she’s determined to tag along and keep him safe. But as the mystery leads them closer to the island’s secret, Breanne’s dreams are filled with visions of a strange boy she’s never met...and a world of flaming carnage.

Petersburg, Illinois. Sixteen-year-old Garrett Turek is the unofficial leader of his fellow outcasts. Grappling with a volatile relationship with his stepfather, he avoids his home life by helping an eccentric accountant restore a historic Victorian house. But when he and his crew stumble on a crusty journal in the basement, Garrett uncovers a dead president’s key to a secret world-saving society.

As Breanne and her dad seek clues to a treasure hidden deep beneath the surface, they trigger a dangerous magic that should have stayed dormant forever. And when Garrett closes in on the truth, he’ll question everything he thought he knew and find trust in a girl from far away as they prepare to battle a dangerous foe.

Can the two would-be heroes fulfill a powerful prophecy and save the planet from destruction?

The Secret Journal is the first book in the sensational God Stones YA contemporary fantasy series. If you like unusual pairings, well-researched historical backgrounds, and heated suspense, then you’ll love Otto Schafer’s coming-of-age adventure.

Destiny awaits those brave enough to turn on the audio!

©2019 Otto (P)2022 Otto Schafer

Excellent Story, Spoken Audio

Thrilling story with a twist on history. The audio is very well spoken and clear. Nice to hear voice of characters

“Baby girl”

I am so creeped out at how many times a young lady is referred to as “baby girl” by her dad.
Other than that it’s a good story. But not sure I’ll be able to listen to anymore “baby girl”

Intriguing ya fantasy

This story has action and adventure in spades! The narration made the story flow and come alive. I’m ready to dive into the second book!

Loved it!

I absolutely loved this book. Otto seamlessly weaves multiple points of view together to create a rich and enticing story. A.J. Narrates this book in such a way that he encapsulates the essence of Otto’s characters to bring them to life. I can't wait for book two!

Great narration of a great book.

I enjoyed reading it and was a little hesitant to do the audiobook. However, I was pleasantly surprised on well it was performed on the audiobook.

Intriguing and suspenseful paranormal adventure

This is an intriguing story of two different groups of people looking for treasures. What they do not realize is that the treasures they are seeking to discover will have an apocalyptic effect on the world. The father, daughter, and brother in Nova Scotia must travel to Petersburg, Illinois to join forces with the second group – lead by a young man the daughter has only met in a vision! Together they must come together with an Ancient to help recover the God Stones and stop the destruction!
Otto Schafer, the author, has done a magnificent job of weaving together a story with historical people (The Templar Knights, Abraham Lincoln, Pharoh’s, and more) and fictional characters (aliens, trolls, fairies, etc.) with creativity and mystery. The Secret Journal is an action-packed story that will keep the listener guessing because Schafer throws in a couple of plot twists that you will NOT expect!
Each character is fully developed, and the storyline flows smoothly. The dialog is genuine and moves the story at a solid pace. Schafer also emphasizes the value and need for family and friends – alone no one could take this responsibility on and survive.
The narrator, A.J. Carter, gives a well-grounded performance with confidence and an authoritative voice. He speaks clearly and provides a different voice for each character. His performance allows the listener to keep the characters straight. This was my first time hearing a performance by A.J. Carter and I enjoyed it.
I look forward to the continuation of this series, it is one that has everything – mystery, suspense, magic, a touch of romance, and intrigue!
I enjoyed this story immensely and look forward to hearing the next in the series.
There were no issues with the production or quality of this audiobook. It was clear and crisp.

Disclaimer: This Audiobook was provided free of charge by the author, narrator, and/or publisher in exchange for a non-bias, honest review.

Enjoyed this!

I recently read The Secret Journal by Otto Schafer, the first book in the God Stones series. It was an incredible read that really resonated with me, and I generally do not read YA. It is told from the perspectives of two young adults, and doesn't shy away from racial stereotypes and the daily challenges that POC face. Being a POC myself, Schafer did an amazing job of presenting these topics in an accessible and meaningful way. (HUGE shout out for the way Native Amercian's were represented!)

The story follows two teens that do not know each other, and are on opposite sides of the world, not to mention they lead very different types of lives. A mysterious journal is found, and a search for answers follow, which begins to build the mythos of the world. By the end of the book, its inspiring to see the journey the kids went through, but as we got answers to questions, it ultimately led to MORE QUESTIONS!

Overall, The Secret Journal was a great read. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a well written YA series, and who might be bored of the Hunger Games/Divergent tropes. It's a fresh,  entertaining, and thrilling story. I look forward to reading the rest!

Perfect amount of scary for no nightmares!

This one felt a lot like a big crossover between National Treasure, Goonies and some Indiana Jones with a Voldemort thrown in. I like that the adventure involves a whole family at the beginning, it helps deepen the story line and makes you really want to root for the characters when the challenges come. The voice actor did an excellent job having different voices for the characters! I think this is a great teen book read and would definitely recommend!