Friday Fiction Fix: "A Swiftly Tilting Planet"

5/5 Stars

While A Swiftly Tilting Planet is the third book in the Time Quintet, it should be easy to pick up this volume without having read either A Wrinkle in Time or A Wind in the Door, though that may help you be familiar with some of the concepts explained in the book. Of course, if you haven't read Wrinkle, I would recommend you pick it up, solely for the reason that it's one of my favorite books. 

The world seems to be at the edge of nuclear catastrophe within the next several hours. Even the president isn't sure what to do. However, the heavenly powers have not abandoned Earth to its fate and elect to send Charles Wallace back in time to points when the history of the world has turned on the tiniest of points. Will he and Meg be able to redirect the future? Or will the powers of darkness win as they always have?

This book won a five-star rating from me for the sheer emotions in it. I've read it before and I still teared up at a couple points. It somehow drives home for me the unfairness of life, but the beauty of love and joy shines all the brighter in those dark moments. The time-traveling aspect is a nice framework to the story, without getting bogged down in the details of it overly much. 

That being said, this book does have some iffy theology hidden in it. Seeing as it's framed in a fictional work and it's not overtly religious, I don't mind it overmuch, but proceed with a grain of caution. 

Recommended to: Fans of time-travel and fantasy, middle grade and up.

Friday Fiction Fix: "That Hideous Strength"

5/5 Stars, Favorite

While That Hideous Strength is the third book of the space trilogy, it's really not necessary to have read either Out of the Silent Planet or Perelandra prior to picking it up. In fact, you might benefit from giving yourself a month or two between reading the first two books and this one; if you pick it up right away, you might well be shocked, confused, or even flabbergasted by the sudden change in setting and story telling. 

Mark Studdock has always wanted to be liked--to be part of the in-crowd. When the opportunity presents itself to be at the center of a new group called N.I.C.E that seems to be taking over his university--even all of England--he can hardly refuse. Meanwhile, his wife Jane is having troubling visions that seem to indicate that N.I.C.E.'s intentions are anything but wholesome. Will the free West stand? Or will it succumb to celestial powers of darkness?

If someone came up to me and told me that they didn't like this book, I wouldn't fight them. The first 80 pages or so are dry and academic in flavor (though I promise they have relevance later on), only to yield the stage to a somewhat bewildering array of extra-terrestrial powers, Arthurian legends, and science-fiction horrors. This is not a book for the faint of heart, even if it were to remain politically correct by today's standards. 

And that, I suppose, is why this book is so near and dear to my heart--Lewis will manage to offend your modern sensibilities in some way in this book, all while framed in a fantastically mind-boggling setting. He tackles topics such as wanting to be part of the in-crowd, what people will sacrifice for power, the influence of the news media, and the role of husband and wife in marriage. I can pretty much guarantee that something in this book will make you angry. 

However, that anger is a gateway to opening up for discussion, thought, and discourse on some very relevant topics. That Hideous Strength is therefore one of my favorite books. Every time I've read it, I've found something in it that has stopped me in my tracks, made me run through a whole gamut of emotions, and reconsider a previously held viewpoint of mine. And that, to me, makes a spectacular book, even if it isn't for everyone. 

Recommended to: Fans of C.S. Lewis who are willing to have a profound suspension of disbelief and have some modern conventions sorely offended.

Friday Fiction Fix: "A Wind in the Door"

4.5/5 Stars

As I've ranted about before on this blog, A Wrinkle in Time is one of my favorite books of all time. As for the rest of the time quintet (of which I've read the first four), I have varying opinions. This is one of my less treasured installments, but it's still an enjoyable read and introduces some concepts that are further explored in A Swiftly Tilting Planet. It's not necessary to read A Wrinkle in Time before picking up this book, but if you haven't read Wrinkle, I would still suggest reading it first, as it's the more enjoyable book of the two. 

Charles Wallace has fallen mysteriously ill while stars are disappearing into a great rent in space. But according to the cherubim in the Murray's garden, it's all connected--and it's up to Meg, Calvin, and Mr. Jenkins to bring balance back to the universe. 

This book has some intriguing concepts about the interconnected-ness of the universe, from mitochondria to the farthest stars and from angels to garden snakes. Like all of L'Engle's works, I take her explorations into theology with a generous portion of salt. However, she does make some good points about loving your neighbor and avoiding hate, along with the classic struggles of good vs. evil. 

The overall plot can be a little heady with sidetracks into concept exploration. Unlike Wrinkle where we have some more definable physical action to break up these thoughts, Wind doesn't always have enough discernible physical action to break up the sometimes lengthy theoretical discussions, rendering it a bit dry in places. Nevertheless, it's an enjoyable book written on an easy level.

Recommended to: Fans of  science fiction who enjoy exploring theoretical and theological concepts, middle grade and up.

Friday Fiction Fix: "Perelandra"

5/5 Stars, Favorite

It really surprises me that more people don't know about C.S. Lewis' space trilogy. I guess I'll have to do my small part in the world to rectify that. Seriously, if you've ever wished to read another Chronicles of Narnia that was slightly less strict allegory and more geared toward adults, this is what you've been looking for.  

While Perelandra is the second in the trilogy, it's not necessary to read the first book (Out of the Silent Planet) to understand the story. (In fact, I would recommend picking up either this installment or That Hideous Strength, the final book first, unless you really enjoy science fiction). 

Ransom has been summoned by the angels to go to a distant planet as Maledil's ambassador. Unlike Malacandra, this new planet is in the beginning of its life cycle, filled with new life and possibilities. Those possibilities have also beckoned the forces of evil, however, and he soon finds himself arguing-even fighting-for the heart, soul, and very future of an entire race and planet. Will this new humanity fall as Adam and Eve? Or will it stand? 

This imagination of the Temptation and Fall struck me to the core and continues to grow every time I read it. Lewis, as always, manages to weave a story of surpassing beauty and depth of thought. It's a book to be chewed on thoughtfully, not devoured. 

Recommended to: Fans of C.S. Lewis or fans of science fiction who enjoy theological themes woven through their books.

Sequel Review: Through Chaos

Well, I had to slip in one last post before the end of the year, though this review is a month overdue. This is the third book in the Chronicles of Sarco Christian sci-fi series by Joshua A. Johnston, and I would highly recommend it. If you're looking for the first book in the series, you can find my review of Edge of Oblivion here.. 

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.*

The Short

Through Chaos
Chronicles of Sarco, Book 3

By: Joshua A. Johnston

4.5/5 Stars

What: The crew of the Hattan find themselves facing a two front war that only they can win.

Recommended to those who like: Christian, Allegory, Sci-fi, Space Opera, Space Battles, Ensemble Casts

The Long

I always approach the end of a series with a certain amount of trepidation. Will it finish well? Or will it bust. That underlying anxiety is heightened when I get the chance to review a copy of the book for the author.

All of my fears were unfounded with regard to this series, however. Mr. Johnston did not disappoint. The allegorical elements continued to be well-executed, the sci-fi backdrop remained rich and vibrant, and I can imagine no better way to send off some of the characters I've grown to love in the series. My only complaint was that it got a little challenging to keep track of all the characters that had joined the story, especially since it had been several months since I had read the first two installments.

Nevertheless, I would highly recommend this series to fans of Christian sci-fi/space opera. You'll find that it's hard to beat.

Happy New Year and Happy Reading!

Friday Fiction Fix: Courage

The Short

Courage
Book 1 of The Legacy Chronicles

By: Lauren H. Salisbury

4.5/5 Stars 

What: A slave woman must evade an alien empire to save her son's life.

Recommended to those who like: Sci-fi, Christian, allegory

The Long

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review*

It's been a horribly long time since we had a book review on The Book Hound, but I can think of no better book to come back on. Courage is the sort of book that the blog was designed for--imaginative Christian speculative fiction that's written to excellent standards and provokes deep thought in the reader. (Also, I'd like to give a shout-out to Ms. Salisbury for being patient with me for the overly long time it took me to review her book. She's a saint.)

In the future, humans have been enslaved by the powerful Esarelian Empire. In spite of their daily hardships, many of them maintain hope and faith in the God from Old Earth. One such couple is Elias--a man who will fight to the end for his family and their community--and Gilla--who wishes to pass on her strong faith to her children. But before their next child can be born, their world is turned upside down and Gilla must have the courage and faith to protect her son.

The resulting story is imaginative, colorful, and rich with life. Once I finally sat down to read it, I flew through the (digital) pages. While insightful readers will discern quickly what Biblical story the novel parallels, the characters feel like truly living beings with their own motivations, emotions, and thoughts. While the allegorical nature of the plot makes some points predictable, the setting gives the story fresh life and insight.

The story does at points rely on strong telling rather than showing, but I found that the writing overall was of good quality and added to the story. 

The Bottom Line: A great pick for readers who enjoy sci-fi with an allegorical twist, I would recommend Courage to readers who are looking for a relatively quick and enjoyable read with rich characters and intriguing settings.

Friday Fiction Fix: "The Fall of Lucifer"

The Short:

The Fall of Lucifer

Chronicles of Brothers, Book 1

By: Wendy Alec

4/5 Stars

What: Satan's fall and the birth of mankind from an angelic perspective.

Recommended to those who like: Spiritual warfare/supernatural, Christian, some sci-fi elements

The Long:

I must say that I was really intrigued by the concept of this book. It depicts the fall of Lucifer from heaven from the perspective of the other angels--mostly Michael and Gabriel. To a somewhat lesser degree, the book also portrays events on earth such as the fall of man and the flood. 

The imagery in the book is stunning to the point of being almost overwhelming. On one hand, this is one of the book's greatest strengths; it's a hard task to bring heaven and the direct presence of Christ to life. On the other hand, the descriptions are a bit like eating Thanksgiving dinner--it's good, but there's so much of it that it's hard to appreciate all of it at once and by the end you're wondering why you ate (or read) so much of it. 

It's important to note that this is a fictional book and it's difficult to discuss in-depth theology with a novel. That being said, I thought that the author did a solid job of describing some of the basic tenets of Creation and its fall while filling in some of the unknown gaps. It gives a new flavor to the term "speculative" fiction. Given the prologue and epilogue to the book, I think the series could get into some dicey areas when it comes to theology regarding Revelation/other prophetic books, but if one reads it as a work of fiction rather than theology, it works out fairly well. 

The characters were well-conceived for being such untouchable figures, though I felt they still retained some of their distance. Also, the very nature of trying to fill in the gaps for a tale that's already been told make it a difficult story to construct. We know that Lucifer has to become Satan and fall from grace, but how can you do that while making him something other than just the ultimate villain? I thought the author achieved a fairly nice balance between his ultimate evilness and his initial grace. It was a fine line to tread and, for the most part, it was trodden quite well. 

The Fall of Lucifer does contain some sci-fi elements, which was an interesting twist. For example, much is made of mankind's DNA, the composition of matter, and other scientific pursuits. This adds an interesting flavor to what could otherwise be a very heavy-handed theological story. 

The story does address some issues of sexual immorality (not in detail), so it would be more suitable for teens and up, even though the writing style isn't strictly age-prohibitive. Furthermore, I would say that it's important to give this tale only to people well-versed in the Christian faith and who are willing to take it as a book of fiction; taken too literally, I could see some pitfalls for heresy. (In short, make sure that whoever you give it to understands that theological questions should be addressed to their pastor, not a work of fiction, especially concerning God's judgement and mercy, levels of heaven, eternal punishment of sinners, the nature of sin/original sin, etc.) On the flip side, it could make an interesting book for someone who's vaguely interested in the Christian faith; it offers many opportunities for discussion.

The Bottom Line: The Fall of Lucifer is an engaging book that could be thoroughly enjoyed if given to an appropriate audience.

Sequel Review: "Awakened"

I would recommend reading the first book in the series, Tainted, prior to reading this sequel. However, this review should be spoiler-free for both books. 

The Short:

Awakened

The Soul Chronicles, Book 2

By: Morgan L. Busse

5/5 Stars

What: Kat and Stephen must find a cure for her while avoiding bounty hunters, international disputes, and their own troubled pasts. But time's running ut. 

Recommended to those who like: Steampunk/sci-fi, Christian, Romance, Young Adult.

The Long: 

It felt like it took forever for this book to be released. In looking back, it's only been a year and half since the first book was released. Regardless, it was certainly worth the wait. In fact, I enjoyed Awakened even more than I had enjoyed Tainted. Reuniting with Kat and Stephen was definitely enjoyable. And even though it's been some time since I read the first book in the series, it was easy to hop right back into the action. 

Kat and Stephen are on the run from the Tower once again. This time, they also have to contend with their own troubled past. Will they be able to overcome their differences before Kat's mysterious condition overcomes her? And will the doctor they seek even be able to help?

The resulting tale is one of romance (though not too much, even for a stooge like me), imaginative steampunk action, and solid worldbuilding. Not only have the stakes been raised for Kat and Stephen, they've also been raised for the entirety of World City. 

I'm not one for romance (as most people reading this blog know), but I did think that the romantic element of the story was well-played in this novel. It addresses some real issues in the couple's relationship in a realistic manner, heightens some of the tension in the story (without being there for tension's sake), and even manages to be fairly believable. 

I was even more impressed by the Christian element in this story. While it occasionally dances the line with cliche, it largely avoids many of the common problems of Christian fiction. Turning to God doesn't miraculously make everything better, true struggles with Christian dilemmas are addressed in an honest manner, and what many authors would have left as a deus ex machina at the end was beautifully executed to be logical and spiritually miraculous at the same time. 

The Bottom Line: Awakened is not only a good sequel, but a great book on its own for execution of a Christian plotline as well as fantastic worldbuilding and character growth.   

Friday Fiction Fix: "Frayed"

The Short:

Frayed

DarkTrench Shadow #1

By: Kerry Nietz

5/5 Stars

What: A young, lowlevel debugger gets the promotion of his dreams—or is it really a nightmare?

Recommended to those who like: Sci-fi, Christian/Clean, Futuristic, Dystopian

The Long:

I’m always a little nervous to read spin-off series. They can be anywhere from good to horrible. If the former, then I rejoice at reading them; if the latter, I can spend a solid two weeks bemoaning my decision to ruin a perfectly good story world.

So far, the DarkTrench Shadow series is turning out to be the former.

Unlike many spin-offs, the story and characters are fresh, without unnecessary interruptions by previous characters. Furthermore, the story continues to build and offer a fresh perspective on the world first introduced in A Star Curiously Singing.

In the future, the world is under Sharia law. Some of the lowest—yet oddly respected—members of society are debuggers, men who have been implanted with technology that allows them to link with machines in order to repair them. The cost of this gift is their freedom; even their thoughts are policed.

One such man is ThreadBare, a young man just trying to survive and, if possible, get a promotion. But when he gets his coveted promotion, is it a dream come true or a nightmare? He feels he has no hope of making any decisions, but, at the same time, maybe he has more freedom than he thought. Can he make what he believes to be the right decision, even if everything else tells him it’s wrong?

The resulting story is a fast read and quite enjoyable. I would recommend it to mature teens and up for some violent/disturbing scenes. It’s not gratuitous, but rather serves to initiate questions on the nature of morality, a central theme of the book.

Although SandFly is still my favorite DarkTrench Universe character, ThreadBare is a nice character as well. He manages to be an engaging narrator while still being distinct from SandFly.

It is not necessary to read the original trilogy prior to reading this book, but it may help to explain a little bit more backstory.

The Bottom Line: Frayed is a solid pick for mature fans of science fiction and a promising introduction to a new series. 

Looking for the original DarkTrench Saga? It starts with A Star Curiously Singing.

Or, check out my interview with Mr. Nietz where he talked about his inspiration for Frayed, faith and writing, and the publishing industry.

Sequel Review: "Crown of Fire"

I'd strongly recommend reading Firebird and Fusion Fire prior to picking up this book. Check back in next week for a new series! As always, I've tried to keep this review spoiler free for both this book and the previous books. 

The Short:

Crown of Fire

Firebird Trilogy, #3

By: Kathy Tyers

4/5 Stars

What: Firebird and Brennen must face their own fears and flaws while trying to put down the most dangerous threat to the Federacy yet.

Recommended to those who like: Sci-fi/Space Opera, Christian, Space Battles

The Long:

Firebird was one of the first non-Star Wars sci-fi universes I read about that I felt that I could really fall in love with. In spite of focusing on just a couple of key characters, the universe feels spectacularly huge and rich. While this is the end of the original trilogy, it looks like there are two more books to read in the same universe, so I look forward to picking those up sometime in the future.

Regarding Crown of Fire, while it wasn’t my favorite in the trilogy, it was still a solid read. It was great to hear about the adventures of Firebird and Brennen again and to wrap up some plot points that had been introduced as early as the first book. However, I felt like there were still a couple loose ends that would have been nice to tie up. Maybe they’ll be finished off in the later two books?

One of the things I really appreciated about this trilogy was the fact that both Brennen and Firebird struggle with different character flaws throughout the trilogy, yet these flaws spring out of their own fundamental personalities. It destroys the common stereotype that Christian characters are perfect (or become perfect by the end of the first book and then no longer have any character development left).

As usual, the worldbuilding was fantastic and rich. The Christian themes of the book were a little stronger than in the earlier books, but still weren’t overwhelming.

The Bottom Line: I’d definitely recommend this series to fans of Christian science fiction who enjoy a bit of action and don’t mind some romance.                                                                                                        

Friday Fiction Fix: "Out of the Silent Planet"

I'm back! Thanks for your patience as I was away. Normal posting will resume this upcoming week, with a miscellaneous post on Tuesdays and a book review on Fridays. 

The Short:

Out of the Silent Planet

Space Trilogy #1

By: C.S. Lewis

4.5/5 Stars

What: Interplanetary kidnapping leads a professor to question his knowledge of the universe.

Recommended to those who like: Sci-fi, contemplative reads, Christian

The Long:

One of my English teachers in high school recommended the space trilogy to me. I read the first book and then never finished the rest of the series due to getting hooked on Ted Dekker later in the summer. Now I’ve returned to the series with the intention of finishing it sooner rather than later. Now a few years older, I was able to appreciate the book considerably more than I had been able to in high school.

Ransom is a professor on holiday, taking a tour of the British countryside. However, a series of events leads to his kidnapping, not just across the world, but between worlds. He must come to grips with his own mortality, the reality of life outside of earth, and the possibility that there is something even bigger than himself afoot in the universe.

The book is very contemplative in nature—a true English teacher book recommendation. It doesn’t have much action, and much of the plot is spent in dialogue or explanation of the planet. However, it’s still an engaging read if you’re in the right mood for it.

In some respects, it’s closer to The Screwtape Letters than The Chronicles of Narnia, but it’s still set up as a novel. It does have a strong Christian slant on it, though I wouldn’t consider it to be “preachy”.

The Bottom Line: A contemplative read recommended to fans of slower-paced Christian sci-fi. 

Happy Space Exploration Day!

Yesterday was National Space Exploration Day. It commemorates the anniversary of the first manned moon landing on July 20th, 1969 by the Apollo 11 Crew. To celebrate, enjoy these sci-fi blog highlights!

From NASA

Feeling like watching some sci-fi movies? Check out my brief reviews of three films about space exploration by clicking here.

In the mood for some character analysis? Here's a Pastors in Fiction article about Shepherd Book from the TV series Firefly. 

Or, check out my interview with author Kerry Nietz about Frayed, his Christian sci-fi novel that was released last summer. I'm excited to (hopefully) read it on my flight tomorrow!

Starting tomorrow, I'll have very limited ability to check on the blog for the next few weeks, but posts will continue to be put up on Fridays. Thanks for your patience!

Friday Fiction Fix: "Edge of Oblivion"

The Short:

Edge of Oblivion

(The Chronicles of Sarco, Book 1)

By: Joshua A. Johnson

4.5/5 Stars

What: A mysterious ship is bent on the destruction of the interstellar Confederacy. The only hope for civilization seems to be an average starship’s crew quest for archaic artifacts.

Recommended to those who like: Sci-fi/Space Opera, Christian

The Long:

Earth’s history is lost, but a new future has emerged. Spaceflight has been developed and an alliance, the Confederacy, has formed between Earth and other planets. That bright future is now at risk. A strange outside force has invaded and is now bent on the destruction of the Confederacy. All that stands in the way is an average starship crew and their unlikely quest to find religious texts that may be related to the invaders.

This book had one of the more believable sci-fi casts that I’ve read recently. Members were neither absurdly odd nor overly good at their jobs—it’s very believable that this ship is representative of the thousands of others in the Confederacy, making them relatable. Although I didn’t relate to any single one of them in particular, I found them well-developed and likeable as a whole.

The worldbuilding in this book was fantastic. Each world is given the right amount of attention to paint a suitable backdrop without overwhelming the reader. Similarly, there were enough alien species give a feeling of galactic diversity without seeming too large to explore.

I really wanted to give this book five stars, and the plot was promising at first. However, the climax was rushed and came close to becoming a deus ex machina. It fit into the plot and several of the plot seeds planted, but it didn’t depend too much on the characters or their skills. 

The Christian element was well-played and provides an interesting look at salvation and religion in an interstellar story realm. It was never overwhelming and I look forward to seeing the topic explored in more depth in the upcoming books.

The Bottom Line: Edge of Oblivion would be a good pick for sci-fi fans who are looking for a brief exploration of Christianity and a rich exploration of alien worlds.                                                                    

Blogiversary Bone 2017: Science Fiction

The Sci-fi category was a little lean this year on fresh Christian series (though I did read a lot of sequels). I'll be looking to remedy that next year for sure! Here are my top picks for the sci-fi Blogiversary Bone. Remember, books must be standalone/first in the series, received a rating of 4 stars or above, and be distinctly Christian in order to qualify. Due to the limited field this year, I used the term "sci-fi" loosely. 

Third Place: The Emerald Enigma, by Paul Regnier

Captain Starcrost and his crew of misfits are on a quest to find a legendary treasure--er, well, good luck charm. But when enemies from his past place a bounty on his head, he and his crew have to focus more no not getting their brains blown out than reaching the treasure. 

This book is the quintessential humorous sci-fi story. It probably would have made me laugh my socks off on-screen. As it was, it was a pleasant read that earned an honorable four stars, and a solid seat in the top three (even if the field had been larger, I likely would have still ranked this book highly). 

Second Place: Failstate, by John Otte

A teenage superhero wants nothing more than to get his vigilante license, which would remove some of the restrictions on his nightly escapades. But to do so, he'll have to defeat nearly a dozen other superheroes--including his own brother--on a gameshow. 

Full of wit and action, this sci-fi/superhero novel made for a fun and fast read. It has all the charm of your favorite superhero movie, plus a side of Christianity that wasn't overwhelming. The idea was original and I loved many of the characters. 

Winner of the 2017 Blogiversary Bone for Science Fiction:

Out of the Shadows, by Emma Carrie

A genetically engineered teen assassin is placed up for adoption. But will her handler find her, endangering her newfound family? And how does her faith play a role?

While I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review, it still rose to the top of the list. Although the sci-fi elements have only been hinted at so far, there's definitely some good futuristic action coming down the pipe. Good pacing and suspense, along with intriguing characters, made for a good read. 

You can also check out my interview with Ms. Carrie here. 

Honorable Mention:

-Ctrl Alt Revolt! by Nick Cole. Artificial intelligence decides to take over the world. Humans are so engrossed in virtual reality, they probably won't notice anyways. (Please note: brief language, otherwise clean). 

Sequel Review: "Freeheads"

The Short:

Freeheads

The DarkTrench Saga #3

By: Kerry Nietz

5/5 Stars

What: SandFly and HardCandy return to Earth, only to find that it’s nothing like it was when they left.

Recommended to those who like: Christian, dystopian, sci-fi

The Long:

I’m incredibly happy that I finally got around to finishing this series. The ending did not disappoint, but continued to build on previous characters while also introducing higher stakes, new concepts, and fresh faces.

SandFly and HardCandy return to Earth, only to find that the entire system has changed. Will their newfound faith be enough to pull things through? Or will they be left behind as outdated and malfunctioning?

This was a fitting end to a great series. The worldbuilding was fresh in each novel—no small feat. And while faith definitely took a bigger role in this volume, it wasn’t overdone or forced. Also, though God takes an active role in the story, there really isn’t the feeling that He’s fixing everything without letting the characters do the groundwork first. That’s another great accomplishment.

Overall, a job well done on this series. I may have to look into picking up the companion series soon!

The Bottom Line: Freeheads is a fitting end to the DarkTrench Saga, a series I would recommend to teens and up who are fans of

Christian science fiction.                                                                    

Sequel Review: "Tangled"

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. If you haven't already, check out my review of Out of the Shadows, the first book in the series. (Tangled is set to hit digital shelves soon, so it gives you plenty of time to read the first book!)

The Short:

Tangled

The Tacket Secret, #2

By: Emma Carrie

4/5 Stars

What: Jessie finds herself hunted again—only this time, she has her new guardian to protect.

Recommended to those who like: Sci-fi, action, mystery/detective, Christian.

The Long:

Jessie’s sure that she’s being hunted by her handler again. That would have been complicated enough without her new guardian, Detective Vick Tacket, poking her nose into her business. When three Russians show up on her doorstep, looking for information on genetic engineering and tissue generation, things start to get messy.

Just as with the first book, the action keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time. It’s a fast-paced, quick read, with a hint of Christianity thrown in (without getting preachy). There’s also a touch of humor to several of the scenes, which made for a few refreshing moments in what otherwise might have been a dark novel.

However, this book failed to deliver on any of the major secrets introduced in the first book, which was a little frustrating. While we get to see the characters grow and develop, we didn’t get to learn any more about their gritty and mysterious back stories. I want to know how Jessie became such a skilled assassin! What’s Vick hiding? Argh. I suppose I’ll have to read the next book to find out, because this one didn’t give me the answers I was looking for.

The author provides nice refreshers on what happened in the previous novella, so you can probably jump into this one without reading Out of the Shadows, if you really needed to. However, I think you'd miss some of the more subtle character nuances if you did that. 

The Bottom Line: Recommended to action fans who like a hint of sci-fi and Christianity thrown in.            

Friday Fiction Fix: "The Emerald Enigma"

The Short:

The Emerald Enigma

Space Drifters #1

By: Paul Regnier

4/5 Stars

What: A crew of misfits strives to find the ultimate good-luck charm while not getting their brains blown out.

Recommended to those who like: Sci-fi, lightly Christian, humor

The Long:

I picked up this ebook on sale after having it on my to-read list for some time. When I cracked it open (can you crack open an ebook? Powered up the screen?), I couldn’t have even told you anything about it, other than that it was sci-fi something or other.

What followed turned out to be a pleasant, humorous sci-fi story with a quick pace. Captain Starcrost is a swashbuckling, underdog starship captain who quickly learns to regret his decision to wear pajama pants to the bridge. His first mate is a pacifistic, all-too logical Vythian named Blix, who offsets him quite nicely as they attempt to avoid the bounty placed on their heads. Add into the mix a moody computer and several other colorful characters and you end up with a fun, lighthearted read with a nice touch of Christianity thrown in—without being obnoxious. This is something easily recommendable to non-Christians, at least at this point in the series (based on the ending, the tone may change a bit in upcoming books).

I just can’t seem to get into humorous books as much as I can with movies, and I think that’s why I didn’t care for this book as much as some others I’ve read. If it had been on screen, I probably would’ve laughed my socks off. If you’ve watched/read several sci-fi books, you’ll likely also pick up on some hidden gems in the book.

The Bottom Line: A great, humorous sci-fi read suited for pretty much any reader.

Friday Fiction Fix: "Out of the Shadows"

The Short:

Out of the Shadows
The Tacket Secret #1

By: Emma Carrie

5/5 Stars

What: A highly trained teen assassin finds herself placed up for adoption. But will fulfilling her dying guardian’s wish put her in danger?

Recommended to those who like: Christian, sci-fi, action

The Long:

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Emily is on the run again—and things might be better that way. Though she’s just a teenager, she holds many secrets—including that she’s a highly trained assassin. But when her dying guardian’s final wish forces her to meet with a detective, both her life and the detective’s hang in the balance.

This was an intense read from the start. I enjoyed the tight writing style and the fast pace that was maintained throughout. I also enjoyed the length of the book—it was nice and short, perfect for an afternoon read.

Emily’s past holds many secrets. While some were revealed in this book, I also look forward to learning more about her in the upcoming novels. She’s a very likeable character, as well.
Detective Tacket is also likeable. I can’t relate to her much as of yet, but I think that I’ll really enjoy her character once the series gets going.

There’s a hint of Christianity in this book, and I’m interested to see where the author will take the message of her story.

The Bottom Line: Out of the Shadows is a fast-paced read that introduces what looks to be a great Christian sci-fi series.

Author Interview with Emma Carrie

Emma Carrie is a speculative fiction author and opportunist. She’s explored an active coal mine, fired a Gatling gun from a Humvee, examined chromosomes with a scanning electron microscope, hitched a ride in a corporate jet, and wiped out on stage while modeling. Fun moments like those fuel her stories.

Emma loves quirky characters who are driven by unconquerable determination—the encouragement she hopes readers take from her stories.

I see you're independently published. What made you choose that route of publication? What makes it difficult?

I chose indie publishing for two reasons: (1) flexibility and (2) adventure. As an indie publisher I have freedom to manage all aspects of my book, from title and storyline to cover design and pricing points. If I choose poorly, I can correct it. For me, indie publishing is an adventure. I’ve spent years growing as a writer, and I expect that will continue. Now I’m discovering how to market. Each piece is a new opportunity to grow.

Indie publishing is difficult because I started with zero connections. I didn’t know anyone in the publishing business. I didn’t have critique partners or beta readers. I didn’t know any editors or reviewers. I had no fans. It takes time, but I’ve been meeting people all along the way, and I’m enjoying it.

The first book in The Tacket Secret.
Check back on Friday for a review!

What's the most difficult part of the writing or publishing process for you? How do you work through it?

I’m not sure it’s the most difficult part of the process, but a significant challenge has been balancing writing and marketing. I spent years focused solely on writing, and the result is that I have two drafted series. The Tacket Secret is almost completely edited and The Rebel Mission has begun.

Now I’ve turned my attention to marketing, and I’ll go days without writing new fiction. Ideas are log jamming in my imagination. But because I’ve got books almost ready for publication, I’ll focus on marketing for now. Meanwhile, I’ll outline new ideas and scenes for new books until I have more time for writing. Then I’ll flesh those out.

How would you say that your faith influences your writing?

My faith is the reason I write. For years, I’ve written outreach Bible studies, newsletter articles, and discussion questions for my church’s women’s ministries. I love communicating gospel truth, offering eternal life, to others. Fiction also has the power to communicate the hope of Jesus Christ, and I wanted to learn how to do that—particularly for my kids and their friends. However, in a young adult fiction context, a subtle message is more effective, and I’m learning how to do that.

You have a background in engineering. How has that influenced your writing?

Engineering has provided experiences like working for military contractors and experimenting in laboratories that influence the science fiction pieces of my stories. However, engineering’s bigger impact is that I write systematically: outline, first draft, check for logical storyline, check for complete character arc, etc.

Finally, if you were to find yourself in a back alley in the middle of the night and felt like you were being watched, what book character would you summon to help you and why?

Harry Potter. He could share his invisibility cloak, and we could get the drop on whoever was spying on me. Maybe then we could use the wand. That would be fun.

Thanks for taking the time for an interview!

Don't forget to check out Emma's author website.

Friday Fiction Fix: "Fiero One"

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

The Short:

Fiero One

Mantis Force #1

By: R. J. Amezcua

3/5 Stars

What: A starship crew is forced into an unexpected conflict on a foreign planet.

Recommended to those who like: Space opera, loosely Christian, large casts of characters.

The Long:

I have so many thoughts about this book that I’m not even sure where to start. Some parts of it were stellar (pun intended), while other parts left me feeling disappointed.

The crew of the Osparatta is sent on a simple rescue mission that quickly goes awry. Failing ship systems, a short-handed crew,

and the rise of an ancient enemy are more than any of them were prepared for. Will they be able to band together, or will their lack of experience be their downfall?

This book had a rather Star Trek-y feel to it, which I enjoyed. (I’m not a hard core Trekkie by any stretch of the imagination, but I do enjoy the new movies). There’s a large cast of colorful characters who have to work together in order to solve problems and save their ship. Unfortunately, so many characters got launched at me in a short amount of time that I had difficulty keeping them straight. Just when I was getting to where I felt I knew a sub-group of characters, I would get taken to another group who I had to learn to like, then sent to another group, and so on.

The plot proceeded in a similar manner. The author clearly put a lot of effort into creating a multi-layered plot that will eventually tie together. I love plots like this; however, there was just a little too much going on at once. There’s a planetary battle, a ship catastrophe, planetary politics, a virus outbreak, natural disasters, and views from the antagonist going on all at once. As of yet, very few of them have connected, though I assume they’ll intersect later in the series. Some of the sub-plots didn’t seem to connect at all to our crew members and I had a difficult time caring about those plots; it almost felt like I had been sucked into another story.

One aspect of the story that I did enjoy was the world-building. The universe is a complex one with many different belief systems, ideologies, and cultures. Also, the author spends a lot of time talking about food—something of which I approve.

The Bottom Line: This book had a great concept, but there was just too much going on at once for me to really, truly enjoy it.