Friday Fiction Fix: "The Restorer"

The Short:

The Restorer

(The Sword of Lyric, Book 1)

By: Sharon Hinck

5/5 Stars

What: A frazzled housewife finds herself sucked into another world that is startling familiar and

yet altogether different.

Recommended to those who like: Christian fantasy, world travel, sword fighting.

The Long:

As you’ve probably noticed from most of my reviews, I tend to review more young adult and teen books than “adult” books (in part because there’s a better range of speculative fiction for young adults and teens than adults). This is the first book I’ve read that’s really centered on a middle-aged woman. And I liked it!

Throughout the story, we follow Susan. She can’t seem to keep up with the kids and everything else in her life. But when her husband prepares an attic getaway for her, she finds herself in a world where faith is a matter of life and death just as much as the sword play is. More frightening, the people here seem to think that she is meant to deliver them. She couldn’t even keep up with the kids’ lives—how is she supposed to restore a whole nation?

The story is a powerful mix of faith, fantasy, and some futuristic elements. I would highly recommend it to anyone who likes a fantasy story where Christian themes/ faith are a focus. The world building is excellent and unique. The characters are deep and intriguing. So many times, Christian fiction ends up a little short on internal conflict (at least in the speculative fiction genres). However, Ms. Hinck doesn’t hesitate to show her characters having the same doubts and fears that we all have.

If you’ve read the book, feel free to share your thoughts below. Please remember to be respectful of Ms. Hinck and her work, as well as other commentators. I also welcome comments on what you would like to see included in the reviews. I reserve the right to remove vulgar, hateful, or rude remarks from the comments. Thanks for sharing!