Sequel Review: "Isle of Stars"

There aren't any spoilers here, but I would still recommend reading my reviews of books one and two if you're interested in this series. I'll catch you with a fresh series next week!

The Short:

Isle of Stars

The Isle Chronicles, #3

By: Wayne Thomas Batson

4/5 Stars

What: Kaylie, from the Dreamtreaders series, is sucked into the world of Cat and Anne on the day of their big wedding. But nothing seems to be going according to plan.

Recommended to those who: like fantasy and pirates and have read The Isle Chronicles # 1 and 2, as well as one or more of the Dreamtreaders series.

The Long:

This book is a bit different from most other books by Mr. Batson. As he explains in the opening, this is his “Christmas gift” story to his fans (albeit published in the spring). As such, it lacks the grit and darkness of most of his books. It brings together two series—Dreamtreaders and the Isle Chronicles—for a time of fun adventures.

This book is definitely a 4-star book for a lighthearted adventure. We have visits from many of our favorite quirky characters and swashbuckling adventures. Mr. Batson also gives a nicThe Lord of the Rings.

e hat tip to his other series and to

The book contains a strong Christian message. Some people may like it; others may not. I hesitate to say the Gospel is ever out of place, but let’s just say our mostly light-hearted story took a very serious turn right at the climax and it was a bit jarring, in my opinion.

I would recommend this book to fans of Mr. Batson who have already read his other works and appreciate his characters. This book really isn’t a good introduction to his writing or a great stand-alone novel. Fans will appreciate the nice wrap-up to Cat and Anne’s story and getting to revisit old characters, but newcomers probably won’t get much out of this story.

If you could have a follow-up book to any story/series, what would it be? And what would it be about?

Friday Fiction Fix: "The Outcasts"

The Short:

The Outcasts

Brotherband Chronicles, Book 1

By: John Flanagan

5/5 Stars

What: In a harsh society, a group of misfit boys find themselves tossed together as a group to be trained as warriors.

Recommended to those who like: Clean, sailing, fantasy, middle grade fiction. (Companion series to The Ranger’s Apprentice).

The Long:

I’m a huge Ranger’s Apprentice fan, so I was pretty excited when this series came out a while ago. I’ve been a little behind in getting around to reading it, but I really enjoyed this first book.

Hal is a fatherless young man who finds himself on the fringe of Skandian society, which resembles the Vikings. When the time comes for Brotherband training, he knows his chances are slim to be picked in the winning group. Can he pull together a group of misfits so that they’re no longer the outcasts?

This is definitely a book for a younger audience, but I still enjoyed it. There’s some good, snappy dialogue and the action kept me hanging on throughout the whole story. The characters are memorable and colorful.

The book takes a rather serious turn at the end and the second one is calling to me from my bookshelf. I think that, with the higher stakes set up at the end of this book, the next books will be really good. I'm looking forward to how the will characters develop in the coming books. 

Thoughts? Has anyone read these or The Ranger's Apprentice?

Sequel Review: "Isle of Fire"

I didn't want to cheat you guys out of a fresh book this Friday, but I did want to share my thoughts on Isle of Fire, sequel to Isle of Swords by Wayne Thomas Batson. Hope you enjoy, and I'll see you back here Friday for a fresh book! 

I'd love to hear your feedback regarding how I should handle sequels and series. 

The Short:

Isle of Fire

(Sequel to Isle of Swords)

By:

Wayne Thomas Batson

5/5 Stars

What: The pirate crew of the Bruce seeks out other pirates to join forces with them in ridding the seas of more dangerous criminals; Cat must come to grips with his past; The Brethren seek to eliminate The Merchant, a dangerous arms dealer.

Recommended to those who like: Pirates, sword fights, sailing, more historical setting, Christian themes

Not recommended for those who dislike: Some gruesome scenes (PG 13)

The Long:

                If you have not read the first book, be warned! Spoilers ahead!

                

This book is a well thought out sequel to Isle of Swords. Unlike so many sequels, it manages to continue character development, keep the stakes high, and still be a well-rounded story. If you enjoyed the first novel, you’ll certainly enjoy this one!

                

In the book, Cat must come to grips with having Bartholomew Thorne as his father. And now he realizes that it is not certain that his father is dead. Faced with this past, troubling memories, and fits of violence that he has difficulty controlling, much of the book is spent following his inner journey. When he is asked by the Brethren to seek out the notorious arms dealer known as the Merchant, he accepts.

                

Meanwhile, Captain Ross and the crew of the Bruce face disbandment by England. Together with Commodore Blake, they must find ways to defeat enemies new and old.

                

As in the first book, we have plenty of cannonfire, colorful side characters, and duels. Violence, love element, and historical elements are comparable to the first book.

              

I would highly recommend this sequel. It has a satisfying ending and the series does not appear to continue.

If you’ve read the book, feel free to share your thoughts below. Please remember to be respectful of Mr. Batson and his 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!

Friday Fiction Fix: "Isle of Swords"

The Short:

Isle of Swords

By: Wayne Thomas Batson

5/5 Stars

What: A pirate searches for a lost treasure to get out of the sweet trade; his daughter wants nothing more than to become a captain in her own right; a man awakes on a beach with no memories.

Recommended to those who like: Christian-centered fiction, pirates, sailing, somewhat historical setting, adventure.

Not recommended to those who dislike: Some gruesome scenes (akin to PG 13 rating at times)

The Long:

                In recent years, Wayne Thomas Batson has become one of my favorite Christian speculative fiction authors. Not one to shy away from some darker plotlines, his stories are colorful and rich. Isle of Swords is no exception.

                If you liked The Pirates of the Caribbean, this book would probably suit your tastes. The book does have a Christian element to it, but is fairly realistic and does not overwhelm the plot. The story is not set in a separate universe, but rather at an unspecified point in the past. It does not bear the hallmarks of a traditional historical novel (if you like adventure stories, you’ll still like this one).

                Throughout the story, we follow the adventures of Captain Declan Ross and his daughter, Anne, who seek the treasure of Constantine to be free from piracy—a profession the captain was forced into by circumstances. Anne, however, is perfectly content to be a pirate and often clashes over this with her father. They must also avoid Captain Bartholomew Thorne, a ruthless pirate who will stop at nothing to gain the treasure for himself and to get revenge on Captain Ross.

                The story is filled with colorful side characters fitting a pirate book, as well as “Cat”, a young man who awakes on an island with no memories. The writing is great and well-paced, making this book a nice read for an afternoon or two. I’m excited to be starting the sequel soon!

If you’ve read the book, feel free to share your thoughts below. Please remember to be respectful of Mr. Batson and his 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!