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: "Hideous Beauty"

4/5 Stars

Grant Austin has just won the Pulitzer Prize for his presidential biography. But just when he's about to celebrate his ultimate triumph over a former rival, he learns that there's a plot to assassinate the president--what's more, he's being framed for it. Can he overcome the forces of darkness that are behind the plot to save the president and himself?

I picked this up at my favorite Christian bookstore a while back simply because it had been published by one of my favorite companies, Enclave Publishing. For about the first 80 pages of the novel, I was pretty sure I had made a horrible mistake in buying it. I really didn't like Grant at the start of the novel and found him an unbelievably petty, childish, and immature man, especially for someone who had been able to interview the president. Thankfully, he had a good character arc throughout the novel that made him into a more believable (and likable) character. Usually, I complain that Christian novels lack characters with real faults; I think this novel swung just a little too far the other way, but I give Mr. Cavanaugh kudos for making a character that's not a goody two-shoes off the bat. 

Once we got past the initial high school pettiness that was the framework for the beginning of the novel, it was really quite enjoyable. It had a nice blend of spiritual and real-life action, some political intrigue, and a nice splattering of humor. There were a few moments of awkward inter-character relations that I didn't quite buy (Grant has a habit of picking up lots of women and they somehow all get along?), but I really can't fault the action. The climaxes were dramatic, believable, and provided a satisfying ending to the book. 

I haven't decided if I'm going to pick up the next installment or not, but I think I'm leaning toward doing so. 

Recommended to: Fans of spiritual warfare and action books who don't mind some odd characterizations.

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: "Cry of the Raven"

Hey there, folks! Sorry it's been so long. Life was a little crazy in the fall, but COVID-19 has provided a good opportunity to get back into the blogging and reading world. Now, more than ever, I feel that people could use some great book recommendations. I hope you enjoy!

5/5 Stars

This is the third and final book in The Ravenwood Saga and provides a satisfying ending to a stellar and captivating series. Morgan L. Busse does an excellent job throughout the series of blending together fantastical action, unique story-building, and themes of redemption and forgiveness. I would highly recommend this series to fans of Christian fantasy. If you haven't read the rest of the series, I'll direct you to my reviews of the first and second books before proceeding below.

Selene Ravenwood has finally come into her full power, but nagging self-doubts, the lurking shadow of the Dark Lady, and her own past continue to haunt her. Will she and Damien be able to hold back the Empire, even if it means working separately? And will the two of them be able to navigate the struggles in their own relationship and move past their differences to be able to keep moving forward?

This is an excellent conclusion to the series, though I have to say that it didn't touch me as deeply as the first two installments. I can't put my finger on precisely why, but don't let that hold you back from picking up the series. It's well-written and imaginative, and this certainly is a suitable ending to it. 

Recommended to: Teen and up fantasy fans who enjoy romance and supernatural powers.

Friday Fiction Fix: The 49th Mystic

4.5/5 Stars

I was recently thinking that it would be nice to get back to reading some Ted Dekker when I stumbled across this at the book store. I had completely forgotten that he had released anything after completing the Circle.

Rachelle Matthews might be blind, but she's the only person who can keep two worlds from being permanently blinded--or so she's been told. Can her dreams of an alternate reality help save the modern world from an impending crisis? Or will she not be able to see beyond herself to what God is doing? The resulting story is one of both modern and fantastical action and self-discovery.

As a proudly stodgy Lutheran, there were a few points of theology that made me raise my eyebrows a bit. This wouldn't have been a huge issue, but the theology at play is a central point of the plot and the novel, so the heavy discussions may be a bit of a turn-off for some readers.

Recommended for fans of fantasy, world-traveling, and modern/thriller action who don't mind some theological discussions mid-plot.

Friday Fiction Fix: "Dragonspell"

5/5 Stars (Target Middle Grade to Teen Audience)

Wow, it's been a long time since I've read this book! I credit this series as opening my eyes to the wonderful world of dragons and truly cementing my love for Christian fantasy. It was great to read it again, even if some of the prose seemed overly simplistic as an adult. There's just a sense of wonder and lightness to this novel that still appeals to me. 

Kale is a village slave, without much hope of a future--that is, until she discovers a dragon egg. Her accidental discovery sends her on a quest to the greatest city in all of Amara. However, when an unlikely band of companions sidetracks her to defeat the evil Wizard Risto, she finds herself wondering what her true purpose is and if she's cut out for the questing life at all. 

DragonSpell is definitely targeted toward a middle grade to young teen audience, so if you're looking for a heavy read, you might want to pass this one up. Nevertheless, the adventuresome nature of the book makes for a fun fantasy journey with some thought-provoking themes centered around identity in Christ. 

Recommended to those who enjoy Christian allegorical fantasy geared toward younger audiences. 

Sequel Review: "Flight of the Raven"

This review does contain spoilers for Mark of the Raven, book one in the Ravenwood Saga. 

5/5 Stars

Favorites Shelf

After re-reading Mark of the Raven, I decided that this series just has to go on my favorites shelf. Selene is one of my favorite characters in Christian fiction. She has multiple needs, wants, and desires that all come into conflict with one another. She also has emotions without letting them rule over her like some schoolgirl or entirely quashing them like some woman trying to be a he-man. High marks all around on character development. 

In Flight of the Raven, Selene finds herself thrust into the center of life at House Maris. Between trying to navigate her new marriage, fearing her dreamwalking abilities, and investigating the Light, she seems to have her hands full. But House Ravenwood will stop at nothing to get its lost daughter back--or to stop her permanently. 

Meanwhile, Damien tries desperately to trust his new wife, in spite of growing evidence that she's not all that she seems. It's a distraction he cannot afford as the Dominia Empire encroaches on the doorstep. Will he and Selene be able to trust one another in time to save the kingdom? Or will the Dark Lady and patrons find a way to stop them?

The resulting action and intrigue makes for a captivating, quick read. There is a fair bit of romance involved, but it's framed around a married couple trying to work things out, which is a welcome change of pace from most novels. 

Recommended to teens and up who enjoy allegory, fantasy, swordplay, and a touch of politics. 

Friday Fiction Fix: "Curio"

4/5 Stars

This is one of a handful of steampunk books I've read. The genre focuses on futuristic technology set in past eras, if that makes sense. Thus, technological advances that we don't have (personal flying machines, hovercraft, etc.) are run off of old technology, such as steam engines. It's a unique genre that tends to focus on heavy worldbuilding. 

Curio centers on Grey Haward, a young woman who seeks to live a normal life in a very strange world, where people are at the mercy of a ruling class who controls the potions they need to survive. When an act of sacrifice puts her in danger, she is whisked away into a miniature world that holds even more secrets than her own western town. Can she get back home? And more importantly, can she save her friends and family?

As I expected going into this novel, the world building was unique and multilayered. However, even though it was my second time through the book, I still didn't feel I understood enough of the backstory to fully appreciate the book. It would be like jumping into The Lord of the Rings without any of Gandalf's or Elrond's explanations of things. Unfortunately, the lack of explanation was superbly frustrating and detracted from the novel quite a bit for me. 

The rest of the story (characters and plot) suffers somewhat from the lack of backstory guiding their motivations. However, I really liked Grey as a character. She's kind and capable, but also not superhuman or above emotions. It's a refreshing take on a female protagonist. 

There is a significant amount of romance in this book, including some kissing that is still within the realm of clean. Though some Christian themes are hinted at, none are explored as of yet. Some of the romantic themes and non-graphic violence would make this book better suited for a mature teen or young adult audience rather than middle-grade/early teen readers.

Recommended for: Readers teen and up who enjoy an imaginative dive into speculative fiction and aren't daunted by a significant amount of world building and back story. 

Friday Fiction Fix: "Curse of the Spider King"

I'm trying out a new/abbreviated review format so I can bring you more book reviews! (Err...so I have fewer excuses for neglecting to post them.) Let me know what you think in the comments!

5/5 Stars

If you've been following the blog for very long (granted, I haven't been posting much recently, so maybe it would be more apropos to say, "if you've perused through my archives"), you've likely noticed that I'm quite the fan of Wayne Thomas Batson. He seems to find the right blend of dread, mythicalness, and high adventure to incorporate into his fantasy works. Curse of the Spider King, authored by him and Christopher Hopper, is no exception. 

This middle-grade to YA novel centers on several young people in the present day. Unbeknownst to them, however, they have unbreakable ties to the fantasy world of Berinfell-where elves face off with swords against the dreadful Spider King. Soon, they're caught up in a quest to save a world that none of them even knew existed. 

The resulting tale is one of intrigue, urban fantasy, and self-discovery. While there are many, many characters to follow, the authors do a good job of differentiating the characters and their abilities. The prose occasionally reminds you that this is intended to be a book for younger audiences, but overall doesn't get in the way of the rich worldbuilding and otherworldly adventure. I truly look forward to reading the next installment in the series. 

Recommended for readers who enjoy fantasy novels set for a younger audience that focus on world-traveling and self-discovery/coming of age. Some Christian elements are alluded to. 

What I've Been Reading

I promise I haven't entirely neglected the blog..there's about a half dozen articles and reviews typed out on my computer that I keep stalling on because I can't find the way to say what I actually want to say, if that makes sense. In the meantime, I'm going to follow some advice I heard a while back: if something's worth doing 100%, sometimes it's better to do it 80% than 0% if you can't quite muster full strength. So, here's my 80% post with some thoughts on my recent reads:

Children of the Blood Moon Trilogy

I just finished off this trilogy that I started reading over a year ago. It's an interesting Christian fantasy trilogy that, even if a little heavy handed on prophecies and special powers at times, is worth the read. S.D. Grimm manages to weave a tale that's well balanced with regard to action, character development, and a bit of romance. I look forward to reading more of her books in the future as her writing style continues to develop. Overall, I'd give the trilogy 4/5 stars. (Review of Book 1).

1984

This dystopian classic has been on my radar for a while now; it wasn't exactly on my personal reading list because I wanted to read it (I knew it was depressing), but because I feel it's one of those books that you should read if you claim to be a reader. While I don't think it's something I'll be inclined to re-read anytime soon, I'm glad I did finally pick it up. The story was less horrifying for its ending than its startling parallels to the 21st century--the best way to keep people missing holes in their logic is to keep them shouting about something. Stir up enough emotion and you can have them change which enemy they're facing and completely ignore objective truth. Not a light read, nor for those looking for a clean book, but nevertheless worthwhile to chew on for a bit. 

Rome: A History in Seven Sackings

This was a pure impulse buy; whenever I travel somewhere and find a local bookstore, I feel it's my bookish duty to support them. It's another volume that I won't be rereading for a while, but intriguing in its own right. If you have a general interest in history or in Rome in particular, the author's description of Rome's architecture and culture through the centuries through the lens of seven invasions was captivating enough to get me through the whole volume. 

Kiss of Deception 

My family generally tries to pick me up a new series every Christmas; this was one such book and may eventually make a full appearance on the blog. Although a little heavy-handed on the romance, it was an enjoyable read and I plan on continuing in the series. 

Upcoming

I'm looking forward to reading the very-long awaited Forsaken Continent by Wayne Thomas Batson. This third installment of the Myridian Constellation (formerly the Dark Sea Annals) is slated to arrive at my door in paperback on my birthday this week, which is pretty much the best bookish present I could ask for. 

As far as other long-expected books go, I'm working up the courage to open my copy of The Fall of Gondolin. It's the last Tolkien book to be released--probably ever--so it'll take the perfect day to read it. However, I'll probably tackle it just in time for the Tolkien biography movie set to be released in May. 

Friday Fiction Fix: "Mark of the Raven"

The Short

Mark of the Raven
The Ravenwood Saga, Book 1

By: Morgan L. Busse

5/5 Stars

What: In a world where the ruling houses have supernatural gifts, the heiress of one house must decide how to best utilize her family's long-kept secret.

Recommended to those who like: Fantasy, Christian, Assassins

The Long

Morgan L. Busse doesn't readily come to my mind when I think of my favorite authors, but she really should, especially after this opening to her latest Christian fantasy series. It was absurdly close to making it onto my favorites shelf, and it may eventually work its way there when I re-read it.

Lady Selene of House Ravenwood has a secret that no one can know. Ravenwood, long thought to be the only ruling house without a supernatural gift, holds one of the most powerful gifts of all--dreamwalking. They've been using it to gather information from people's dreams for the past few centuries and Lady Selene is now thrust into the position of using her gift for her house's benefit.

But when the time comes to choose between her house's benefit and the good of the entire kingdom, what will she choose?

This book was darkly captivating and heart-wrenching at some points. I really like Selene and how three-dimensional she is when she has to face the various moral quandries presented to her in this book. She feels real, with conflicted emotions, but she has enough drive that she doesn't come across as wishy-washy.

The world-building in this book is also fantastic. Unlike many Christian books, multiple religions are presented and they aren't so clear-cut as to be unrealistic. The different houses and their heads are fleshed out enough to make it feel like a real world without being overwhelming to the reader.

The Bottom Line: I would highly recommend this book to fans of Christian fantasy who are looking for a darker, richer tale of how to deal with moral dilemmas. Due to some mentions of adult themes, I would recommend it to teens and up.

Looking for more by Morgan L. Busse? Check out my reviews of her other fantasy series  and her steampunk novels. 

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: "Thr3e"

Well, it might be Tuesday, but it's been a while since we've had a book review. Note to any other book bloggers--don't save all your book reviews on your computer without backing them up somewhere where you can access them with a loaner computer. 

The Short

Thr3e

By: Ted Dekker

5/5 Stars (And Possibly a Favorite)

What: A seminary student finds himself the next target of a serial killer.

Recommended to those who like: Thriller/suspense, Christian, teen and up.

The Long

I read this book a couple of years back and enjoyed it--though it scared me pretty good at the time, too. Now, a few years later, it still sets me on edge, but I was also able to more fully appreciate the theology subtly discussed throughout the book. It was a surprisingly good pick for the start of Lent. 

Kevin is a young seminary student leading a somewhat normal life, if overly organized. He attends classes, has thought provoking discussions with his professors, and reads voraciously. The only thing his professors absolutely cannot know is that he has a past to hide. 

It's not the sort of past that naturally comes with converting to Christianity, either. It's the sort of past where a serial killer can call you up and ask you to confess your sin tot he world--or he'll blow up your car. 

The resulting read delves deeply into the nature of sin and the two natures of mankind without seeming to get too theological or sacrificing suspense and plot. Really, it's a story that's Christian at its core without being preachy or contrived at all, the way books are meant to be. 

Given that the book does deal with a serial killer, I would recommend it to mature teens and up only. It doesn't involve gratuitous violence, but it can be quite dark at times. 

The Bottom Line: This suspenseful book combines some great action with deeper theological truth in an organic and meaningful way; highly recommended to fans of suspense who are interested in a Christian message.

Friday Fiction Fix: "The Skin Map"

The Short:

The Skin Map

Bright Empires, Book 1

By: Stephen R. Lawhead

5/5 Stars

What: An unremarkable young man is sucked into interdimensional time travel by none other than his great-grandfather.

Recommended to those who like: Time travel, interdimensional travel, loosely Christian.

The Long:

I picked up this series mostly because I was intrigued by the cover of the last book, The Fatal Tree. I don't know that I would've picked up the series off of the title and description of The Skin Map, but I'm happy that I did! As usual, Mr. Lawhead brought a rich and poetic tale to his readers.

Kit Livingston is an average Londoner. He has a girlfriend, fights traffic on the subway, and trudges about his life without much enthusiasm--until his great-grandfather appears to him in a back alley.

Suddenly, his life is turned upside down. Following the mysterious ley lines, he is taken on an adventure through both time and space. But what starts out as a merry jaunt quickly turns dangerous--it turns out he and his great-grandfather aren't the only ones who know the secret of the ley lines. And those people will stop at nothing to get the most prized possession of the travelers, the skin map. 

What could've been a simple McGuffin-esque story turned into a multi-layered story that had some characters I truly cared about by the end. Some of those characters take surprising turns in their arcs and choices, which was delightful to read. 

The plot itself was engaging and kept me hanging onto every page. This was aided by rich writing--take it or leave it; the style may be a little extravagant for some tastes. 

I would consider the story loosely Christian in light of some of Lawhead's other works. It'll be interesting to see how (or if) he continues to develop that element throughout the rest of the series. 

The Bottom Line: I'd recommend The Skin Map to fans of weird fiction that goes off the map into time travel and urban legend. 

Sequel Review: "Heirs of Tirragyl"

As with all sequel reviews, I have attempted to keep this review spoiler-free. However, I would recommend picking up and reading Chains of Gwyndorr prior to reading this book. 

The Short

Heirs of Tirragyl

Poison Tree Path Chronicles, Book 2

By: Joan Campbell

4.5/5 Stars

What: Shara's on the run, but she faces a choice about where--and with whom--she will place her trust.

The Long

I was really looking forward to this sequel, and it didn't disappoint. Shara is really growing on me as a character, and I think we need more like her in Christian fiction. She wants to do the right thing, but she frequently trips herself up. It's a freshness much need in a genre that tends to be clogged with paper cut-outs who are too perfect to be true. 

Similarly, many of the characters we're introduced to in this book are just as well crafted. I love reading about their motives behind what they do and what makes them conflicted in their actions. Nyla, The Raven, and Elxa were engaging characters for me to read about. 

I really enjoyed the plot of this book and how it switched between the multiple story lines. It was always hard to tear myself away from the pages and I was almost always eager to return. 

The Christian element in this book was slightly more pronounced in this book, but it avoided hitting you over the head with a sledgehammer or becoming preachy. I look forward to how that plot element will continue to develop in the final installment.

This book does contain some themes that are more suitable to teens and up (visiting bars with scantily clad women to find leads on other characters, trained assassins who have interesting views on morals, etc.). However, the writing style is very straightforward--perhaps a little too much at times. (Okay, so I've been on a Tolkien streak lately with my reading and it's spoiled me). 

The Bottom Line: An engaging fantasy with excellent characters and Christian undertones, I'd recommend Heirs of Tirragyl to fantasy fans who are looking for plot and characters over flowery prose.

Friday Fiction Fix: "Scarlet Moon"

The Short:

Scarlet Moon

Children of the Blood Moon, Book 1

By: S.D. Grimm

4.5/5 Stars

What: Jordan's supernatural powers are the key to delivering the kingdom; the only problem is, the people who want her to use those powers killed her parents.

Recommended to those who like: Fantasy, loosely Christian, some romance

The Long:

I don't know why it took me so long to pick up this book, but I'm glad that I finally did! I really enjoyed it and definitely look forward to reading the second book in the series. 

Jordan lives a peaceful life with her adoptive family. Her greatest worry is her looming wedding to a man she likes, but doesn't yet truly love. 

Until her special talents bring the Feravolk to her door. Now forced to flee, and her family in tatters, she's faced with a choice: help overthrow the queen that she despises with the help of her family's murderers, or try to make her own way in the wild. 

The resulting story is one of some romance, a healthy amount of action, and some fresh worldbuilding. My only significant complaint was that there were so many questions about the world left unanswered! 

The Christian element to this story is quite loose, but I think it may play into a bigger role in later installments in the series. 

The Bottom Line: This loose Christian fantasy would be a good pick for fantasy fans who enjoy fresh storyworld development and a small bit of romance.

Happy New Year!

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.