Alora Factor

Invasion of the Realm Jumpers

Young Adult - Fantasy - Urban
386 Pages
Reviewed on 08/30/2022
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Hi, I’m Diana! I write young adult science fiction and fantasy books under the pen name D.L. Williams. ​"Alora Factor: Invasion of the Realm Jumpers" is my debut novel and it's the first in a series.

Back in 2012, I returned to school with the goal of improving my writing and received a Master’s in Journalism & Public Affairs from American University. In 2013, I was selected as a fellow for the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association Student Journalism Project. Since then, my writing has appeared in UVA Today and in the News Virginian (my local paper) as well as a countless number of social media posts I’ve crafted for the many brands I’ve represented over the years.

From January of 2016 until the show’s run ended in 2020, I was the head of marketing for BackStory the American History podcast. Thanks to my communications and audience building strategies, BackStory earned hundreds of media clips and recognitions as one of the best history podcasts in publications like the New York Times, The Guardian and Buzzfeed. And even though the show ended more than a year ago, , it still garners earned media coverage and came in at #7 on Popular Mechanics’ list "The 24 Best Podcasts for Every History Fan" in August of 2021.

I've been married to my high school sweetheart for 26 years. We have two sons, two dogs and an ornery cat I found as a kitten outside the house one day.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

Alora Factor is a young adult fantasy novel by D.L. Williams. With the advent of her upcoming thirteenth birthday, Alora Factor will inherit her grandmother's supernatural powers, unique to the female members of the Factor family. The female Factors have always defended the weak and worked toward making society a better place to live. But this time around, Alora has a far more dangerous task on her hands. Symbiotes from an unknown realm have been taking over humans, leading to much chaos. When a Factor member gets injured, Alora finds herself assigned to the field way before her time. Helping her along the way are her two best friends, Drea and Drew, and Amore, a demi-god who becomes Alora's mentor. But when Drea goes missing, Alora must turn to her family to get her best friend back.

Fast-paced and action-packed, Alora Factor is a wild rollercoaster of a ride you don't want to end. Author D.L. Williams weaves a fascinating fantasy yarn full of twists and turns that keep your eyes glued to the pages from start to finish. Williams draws ancient lore from African and other cultures to create a tale that feels authentic and fills you with a sense of wonder and awe at the sheer imaginative worldbuilding. The characters are colorful and immensely likable. I particularly enjoyed the dynamic between Alora, Drea, and Drew, and their friendship was one of the highlights of the book for me. If you're a fan of young adult fantasy fiction, I can't recommend Alora Factor enough.

Ronél Steyn

When three sisters escape slavery and help their people, the ancients bestow on them special supernatural powers to aid their quest. These powers are then passed on to their female relatives on their thirteenth birthday. For Alora Factor, that day has arrived. There are currently only two Factor females in the field and Alora is the only female of her generation. Which of her ancestors’ powers will she receive? Times have changed and instead of just fighting for the people, Alora now has to face beings from other realms. Luckily her two best friends are by her side through thick and thin. Meanwhile, they have to keep a healthy balance between training, socializing, and just being teenagers in this fantasy novel by D.L. Williams, Alora Factor – Invasion of the Realm Jumpers.

This book has everything from non-binary entities and transgender teens to supernatural powers and shapeshifting. The plot is filled with love in all its forms. There is friendship, family, acceptance, humility, and duty. Every conceivable moral and emotion has its place in this story. Just as the trio of friends has to balance their lives, the author has perfectly balanced this book with its mixture of intricacies with profound precision. This young adult urban fantasy is written in the first-person narrative from the perspective of the three friends. Of vital importance to me were the relationships each of the teens has with their parents. There was honesty and trust from both parties. Navigating being a teen in this day and age warrants that sort of emotional support and stability.

K.C. Finn

Alora Factor: Invasion of the Realm Jumpers is a work of fiction in the urban fantasy, adventure, and social issues subgenres. It is intended for the young adult reading audience but could also be enjoyed by mature middle-grade readers, and was penned by author D. L. Williams. In this thrilling adventure novel that takes a representative and diverse look at fantasy fiction, we follow central hero Alora, a thirteen-year-old set to inherit an incredible array of superpowers from her ancestors. In order to use these powers for the pursuit of justice, Alora must find a balance between her normal teenage life and the strange new presence of beings from an unknown realm who are trying to break through to the human world.

It was so refreshing to read a brand-new YA book that really hits all the touchstones that diverse teen readers are sure to be seeking, from the array of gender representations and presentations to the authentic presentation of a hero where all the boring, old-fashioned, skinny, Caucasian, Disney-esque wherewithal has been stripped away. In Alora, we find a natural girl with supernatural gifts, and an exciting life both socially and on her journey to be a Factor and battle to save humanity. Andrea was a personal favorite of mine throughout the story, and I found myself totally fascinated by learning about their cultural life with their mother. I also thought their bond with Alora was a great example for young readers of how to treat your friends with compassion. Overall, I would highly recommend Alora Factor: Invasion of the Realm Jumpers and author D. L. Williams to YA fans seeking their next obsession. A truly unique and much-needed modern read.