Christian SciFi And Fantasy Review

The Duke's Handmaid: Book One of the Ascendancy Trilogy by Caprice Hokstad Book Review

2012-02-24T08:54:00.002-08:00

Genre: Fantasy

Recommendation: Excellent

Originality – 5/5

Writing Style – 5/5

Plot – 5/5

Characters – 5/5

Aesthetics – 2/5

I love this book!

It’s got magic, torture, betrayal, court intrigue, and a murder mystery, but mostly it’s about the characters. When the peasant girl, Keedrina discovers that her family has been murdered, she meets Duke Vahn, the awe-inspiring younger brother of the king, and the direction of her life is immediately changed.

Keedrina loves and admires Duke Vahn and her highest aspiration is to be his slave. Which is where things get a little strange. The reader can certainly understand Keedrina’s fascination with the man, but is he someone we would like? Not today. He’s brave, fair, and honest, but what he takes the most pleasure from is people wanting to serve him! I imagine him as the most noble royal person you’d never want to meet.

It’s hilarious watching Keedrina learn to be a part of his staff, though. From learning how to sleep in a real bed to taking a bath to using a toilet, this simple peasant-turned-slave has a lot to learn. And the adventures and dangers she finds herself in after being thrown into the life of this aristocrat will certainly keep you turning the pages.

With Hokstad’s court intrigue, her subtle use of fantasy, believable descriptions, and complicated characters, The Duke’s Handmaid is a winner all around. In fact, I think it’s the best character book I’ve read. And this is only the first volume in the trilogy. There are definitely some things that still need to be taken care of at the end of book 1 and we can see that the duke’s final goal is to gain the throne itself. Will he get there? We’re not sure, but we’ll enjoy watching him try.

The Duke’s Handmaid is not a Christian story per se as there are no direct or parallel influences evident in the book. It is a clean read, however, and as long as you keep in mind that it is fantasy, Christians should have no objections.

It may not be the high fantasy or adventure story that you’re used to reading, but I heartily recommend adding Caprice Hokstad’s The Duke’s Handmaid to your to-read pile. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much you enjoy its uniqueness.

The Duke’s Handmaid is available from Splashdown Books

Visit Caprice’s website!

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Aliens. Vigilante Ninjas. Mad scientists. Hard-nosed detectives. Super-heroes.

God.

An alien ship has crash-landed on Earth, setting off a new wave of drug addiction and world war in its wake, while the sole survivor of the wreckage vows revenge against the god-like authorities of his home planet. At the same time, the new president of the GenRes Company is obsessed with living up to his father’s medical success and has just discovered how to transform normal children into Genetically Altered super-humans. Who will control these children? The scientist, the alien, and a couple of ambitious criminals are all eager to keep them for their own use. But Someone else has entirely different plans for them. Follow as each development merges together and a new breed of adolescent superheroes rises to the forefront in book one of The Gifted: In the Beginning.

Read it free or order your copy at

The Gifted Book Series!

Eric's War: The Cougar and the Lamb by Kenneth E. Bliss Book Review

2012-02-09T06:20:00.000-08:00

Genre: Christian Sci-Fi

Recommendation: Excellent

Originality – 5/5

Writing Style – 5/5

Plot – 5/5

Characters – 5/5

Aesthetics – 3/5

Satan tempting regular people is bad enough, but what happens when he starts to use those with super powers?

It’s a war for technology, but it’s also a war for Eric’s soul. Eric isn’t a Christian right now, but can his girlfriend, Michelle, prevent him from slipping further into Satan’s clutches? God has given her a vision of what the future will hold for Eric if she doesn’t stop him.

Kenneth Bliss brings us into a very believable world where select people have begun to use their mind in incredible ways. Every power that these individuals have is based on mental capability. For these elite heroes, killing and bloodshed is no longer necessary.

Of course, the villains still enjoy killing their enemies, even if they don’t have to, and one foreign agent in particular has a special grudge against Eric.

With lots of action, sleek characters, and a multiple enemies, this is one super hero series you’ll want to jump on board with. I have a feeling that it’s going to get better from here.

Eric’s War: The Cougar and the Lamb is available in print and e-book formats from Amazon.com and Wasteland Books.

Visit Ken’s website!

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Aliens. Vigilante Ninjas. Mad scientists. Hard-nosed detectives. Super-heroes.

God.

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The Queen's Martian Rifles by M. E. Brines Book Review

2012-01-27T11:02:00.000-08:00

Genre: Christian Sci-Fi

Recommendation: Excellent

Originality – 5/5

Writing Style – 5/5

Plot – 5/5

Characters – 5/5

Aesthetics – 3/5

19^th century Europeans on Mars. Nephilim. Noah’s Ark. Creation vs. Evolution. Occultists. Hi-jacked moons. Atlantis. Mystery.

Need I go on?

This is the second novel by M. E. Brines that I’ve read and I’ve loved both of them because I never know what to expect. It’s great!

Brines writes loose historical fiction and as such, The Queen’s Martian Rifles features occultist Aleister Crowley, inventor Nicola Tesla, and archaeologist Rebecca Bryce – daughter of Sir James Bryce.

Junior officer David McLaughlin arrives on Mars with the desire to snap England’s troops back into shape. But what he finds while doing so is much more than he bargained for. Can McLaughlin and Bryce save Earth from its secret Martian enemies?

The Queen’s Martian Rifles reads like a classic sci-fi adventure novel in the vein of Jules Verne, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, or H. G. Welles, and is just as imaginative (maybe even more so!)

Brines’ use of the Bible and Christianity are to be respected. Whereas his reimagination of events is not always completely factual, believers should have no problem with its fictional nature.

The Queen’s Martian Rifles is available as an e-book from Smashwords.

Visit M. E.’s website!

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Aliens. Vigilante Ninjas. Mad scientists. Hard-nosed detectives. Super-heroes.

God.

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The Relics of Nanthara: Book 2: Sacrifice of Heroes by Nick Giannaras Book Review

2012-01-13T10:42:00.000-08:00

Genre: Christian Fantasy

Recommendation: Excellent

Originality – 5/5

Writing Style – 5/5

Plot – 5/5

Characters – 5/5

Aesthetics – 3/5

Giannaras doesn’t pull any punches!

Most sequels don’t rise to the quality of their predecessors, but Sacrifice of Heroes is the exception. Book 1, Secrets Revealed, definitely had a lot going for it and Sacrifice of Heroes capitalizes on that and takes the storytelling to next level.

With the Crown of Sovereign successfully in hand, our mixed party of heroes must now make it safely back to their allies without the Dark One intercepting their prize. Along the way, they’ll hazard adventure after adventure, meeting interesting and dangerous people and maybe even finding more clues on who the Dark One is and how to defeat him.

With trolls, savage beasts, skeleton zombies, and evil sorcerers standing in their way, who will make it home alive? What new allies will they gain along the way? And who will still be standing at the end of the Dark One’s attack?

Besides the epic and action-filled plot, the interaction between Giannaras’ characters continues to be a high point. Whereas there’s not as much humor in this one, you’ll still enjoy the love-hate relationship between many of the party members.

I’m giving Nick Giannaras’ The Relics of Nanthara: Book 2: Sacrifice of Heroes a recommendation of Excellent. If you haven’t read Secrets Revealed, pick it up and then hurry on Sacrifice of Heroes. I’m sure you’ll enjoy the ride.

Sacrifice of Heroes is available as an e-book from MuseItUp Publishing.

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Aliens. Vigilante Ninjas. Mad scientists. Hard-nosed detectives. Super-heroes.

God.

An alien ship has crash-landed on Earth, setting off a new wave of drug addiction and world war in its wake, while the sole survivor of the wreckage vows revenge against the god-like authorities of his home planet. At the same time, the new president of the GenRes Company is obsessed with living up to his father’s medical success and has just discovered how to transform normal children into Genetically Altered super-humans. Who will control these children? The scientist, the alien, and a couple of ambitious criminals are all eager to keep them for their own use. But Someone else has entirely different plans for them. Follow as each development merges together and a new breed of adolescent superheroes rises to the forefront in book one of The Gifted: In the Beginning.

Read it free or order your copy at
The Gifted Book Series!

Revival: The True Fairy Tale by Lydia and Kiya Thornton Book Review

2011-12-30T14:20:00.000-08:00

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Genre: Christian Fantasy / Christian Speculative

Recommendation: Excellent

Originality – 5/5

Writing Style – 5/5

Plot – 5/5

Characters – 5/5

Aesthetics – 3/5

Not your typical Fantasy novel.

Nina receives a magic bottle from a mysterious old bag lady and is whisked away to another land where she:

meets talking animals,

visits a church that isn’t a church,

speaks to a tornado,

goes to a Satanic circus,

tours Heaven and Hell,

has incredible visions,

and learns the truth behind what UFOs really are.

As you can see, there is a lot going on in Revival, and it is an interesting story, but for all the plot elements, it doesn’t read like a novel. Most of the book is dialogue or scene description with virtually no action sequences. That’s not bad. It’s just not something that most people are going to want to sit down and read for long periods of time. I found that if I treated the book more like a devotional, it was a lot better.

The authors provide a lot of Scripture and really have some very good insights and explanations into the spiritual realm. Much of it is solid Biblically, but of course, there’s a good bit of imagination and fiction-writing as well. Also, the authors include some theology and their own views that certainly not all Christians will agree with.

Aesthetically, I really like the illustrations included in the book. Unfortunately, the script suffers from a lack of quality editing. Most readers are sure to spot quite a few grammatical mistakes.

Overall, though, I’m giving Revival a recommendation of Excellent. It’s not a book for everyone, but if you’re looking for a spiritual journey story, Revival is one of the most imaginative to come out for years.

Revival: The True Fairy Tale is available at Amazon.com.

Read a FREE novel from reviewer Steve Wilson!

Aliens. Vigilante Ninjas. Mad scientists. Hard-nosed detectives. Super-heroes.

God.

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Aquasynthesis Edited by Grace Bridges Book Review

2011-12-17T15:21:00.000-08:00

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Genre: Christian Fantasy / Christian Science Fiction

Recommendation: Good

Originality – 5/5

Writing Style – 5/5

Plot – 3/5

Characters – 5/5

Aesthetics – 5/5

Some great stories by some of the best Christian sci-fi and fantasy authors working today!

Aquasynthesis is a collection of short stories with an added twist. We are reading each story through the eyes of a young girl whose parents have been murdered and her teacher is showing her these stories to help her cope with her desire for revenge.

As with any collection of short stories, some will stand out to you more than others. Some are humorous, some serious; some are excellent stories with simply fantastic writing, others leave you wanting as incomplete stories or wondering what they have to do with the theme of the young girl and her teacher.

That being said, let me tell you give some of the highlights of why you should read this collection:

A very poetic look at life in “Bob”, an artificial intelligence computer program that gains consciousness, by P. A. Baines

Grace Bridges’ “Second Site”, a humorous story that any video game or computer game lover is sure to enjoy

“Between the Pages” and “The Artist” by Kat Heckenbach, two very enjoyable stories of young girls learning how to use magic

Caprice Hokstad’s realistic and moving tale of a young girl being sold into slavery, “Fettered Soul”

A woman who learned how to get more than twenty-four hours in a day in “A Stretch of Time” by Grace Bridges

P. A. Baines’ Twilight Zone-reminiscent story of a man who becomes fixated with “Ears” or “The Field Trip”, in which a couple of aliens make a big mistake

Travis Perry’s “Gravity”, which explores the unique perspective of the Alzheimer’s patient

“Your Average Ordinary Alien” by Adam Graham in which loser fan-boy Kirk Picard Skywalker finally meets a real-life alien, but the experience isn’t exactly what he was hoping for

Over all, I’m giving Aquasynthesis a recommendation of Good. You won’t love every story, but the ones you do are well worth the read.

Aquasynthesis is available from Splashdown Books.

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Aliens. Vigilante Ninjas. Mad scientists. Hard-nosed detectives. Super-heroes.

God.

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The Thunder King: The Bell Mountain Series, Book Three by Lee Duigon Book Review

2011-12-02T16:08:00.000-08:00

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Genre: Christian Fantasy

Recommendation: Good

Originality – 4/5

Writing Style – 5/5

Plot – 4/5

Characters – 5/5

Aesthetics – 4/5

The dog Cavall and First Prester Reesh steal the show.

I’ve been a big fan of the Bell Mountain series since reading the first volume. In book 3, the Boy King’s formerly-Heathen army continues to grow in their faith in the One God under the tutelage of the Old Prophet. But is the Boy ready to be King?

As the action and characters in this novel shows, God more often than not calls us to do things that are much bigger than ourselves, and hardly ever reveals how He’s going to help us accomplish them.

Through a series of adventures and with the companionship of his new dog, Cavall, the Boy King learns trust and obedience as God uses him to fulfill His purposes.

On the other hand, Lord Reesh, head of the nation’s “Church” is scrambling to save the Temple, not because of any religious faith, but because he doesn’t want to lose that which he has spent his entire life building. He will do anything to keep the Temple safe from the Thunder King’s Heathen armies, even if it means committing some of the most heinous sins imaginable. My favorite scene in this novel is when Lord Reesh bids his oldest friend goodbye.

Filled with echoes of prophecy and Biblical stories, along with a solid theology and clean content, Bell Mountain continues to be one of the most encouraging Christian fantasy series out there.

I did take a few points off for The Thunder King, though, mainly because it felt like a transitional novel. There were some major events that took place and the ending sequence is great, but, in my opinion, it took a little too long getting there. It seemed like most of the book was spent traveling from place to place without much happening of consequence, almost like it was filler.

Still, the Bell Mountain Series continues to excite me and I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next for Duigon’s core cast of characters.

The Thunder King is available from Amazon.com.

Visit Lee’s website!

Get more reviews at Christian Sci-Fi and Fantasy Review!

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Aliens. Vigilante Ninjas. Mad scientists. Hard-nosed detectives. Super-heroes.
God.

An alien ship has crash-landed on Earth, setting off a new wave of drug addiction and world war in its wake, while the sole survivor of the wreckage vows revenge against the god-like authorities of his home planet. At the same time, the new president of the GenRes Company is obsessed with living up to his father’s medical success and has just discovered how to transform normal children into Genetically Altered super-humans. Who will control these children? The scientist, the alien, and a couple of ambitious criminals are all eager to keep them for their own use. But Someone else has entirely different plans for them. Follow as each development merges together and a new breed of adolescent superheroes rises to the forefront in book one of The Gifted: In the Beginning.

Read it free or order your copy at
The Gifted Book Series!

The Four Horsemen by M. E. Brines Book Review

2011-11-18T16:22:00.000-08:00

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Genre: Christian Fantasy

Recommendation: Excellent

Originality – 5/5

Writing Style – 5/5

Plot – 5/5

Characters – 5/5

Aesthetics – 2/5

Tons of surprises!

A grizzled mercenary, a wizard’s apprentice, and a young prophet walk into a bar…

Sound like a joke? It’s anything but! This is one book that delivers action, thought-provoking dialogue, and a new lens for the Gospel.

Nothing is as it seems on this adventure. M. E. Brines, a prolific writer, takes events, people, and nations from real-life history and turns it all on its head, often using logic to point out the fallacies of many popular theologians, religions, and strands of Christianity. There are also a lot of recognizable elements from fantasy genre that serve to keep things interesting.

All of Brines’ characters are quite realistic and have great backstories that you won’t see coming, except for one…and even then you’ll have to keep guessing until the end to see whether you were right or not.

This is definitely a Christian book, but like I said, things are done a little differently in this book. Go with what the author is doing and I’m sure you’ll appreciate his approach. There are a few, and a mean a few, mild curse words in the book, but that’s the extent of anything offensive. The theology of the book is spot-on and the Gospel message is very clear.

The Four Horseman is available as an e-book from Smashwords.

Visit M. E.’s website!

Get more reviews at Christian Sci-Fi and Fantasy Review!

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Aliens. Vigilante Ninjas. Mad scientists. Hard-nosed detectives. Super-heroes.

God.

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Martian Queen: The Adventures of Stewart John Jones of Mars by John Cosper Book Review

2011-11-05T09:44:00.000-07:00

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Genre: Science Fiction

Recommendation: Excellent

Originality – 5/5

Writing Style – 5/5

Plot – 5/5

Characters – 5/5

Aesthetics – 3/5

For all the wannabes out there!

What if the stuff you read in your sci-fi novels were true? Or what if you could actually do what your character does in video games? What if you could go to another planet and be a real-life superhero?

That’s exactly what Stewart John Jones of Earth gets to do! He’s a lazy gas station clerk who suddenly gets whisked away to Mars only to find out that everyone there is even lazier than he is. He soon convinces Princess Dayla to marry him, but on their wedding night, the Mountain King and his nefarious robot come and steal her away. Now Jones is on a mission to get her back and to restore the rightful Queen of Mars to her throne. Why him? Because he’s the only person on the whole planet willing to do something!

Martian Queen is a hilarious book with a witty writing style that any fan of the genre can enjoy. There are a lot of references to other pop culture works and if you’re anything like me, you’ll probably find yourself relating quite a bit to the character.

There’s nothing specifically Christian in this book, but it’s a clean and enjoyable read. You could get through it in an afternoon if you wanted to.

A couple of detractors is that there are a lot of typos in this book. Not so many that you can’t follow the story, but I’m sure you’ll note the lack of quality proofreading. Also, the cover shows a green woman. It’s a nice attractive image for the book, but no human-like Martians are green, so it’s a bit disappointing there.

Other than that, it really is a fun book, and quite deserving of an Excellent rating.

Martian Queen: The Adventures of Stewart John Jones of Mars is available in print and ebook formats from Amazon.com.

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After the Cross by Brandon Barr and Mike Lynch Book Review

2011-10-22T16:31:00.000-07:00

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Genre: Christian Speculative/Historical Fiction

Recommendation: Excellent

Originality – 5/5

Writing Style – 5/5

Plot – 5/5

Characters – 5/5

Aesthetics – 5/5

Does the cross of Christ still exist? What would you do to find it?

After the Cross is a non-stop action story of faith and cunning. Archaeologists have discovered a document relating the lost history of the cross. After the death of Jesus, the story describes how the cross was hidden, first by the Jewish authorities and then by Christians themselves. Now two enemies, a washed-up Christian professor and a ruthless black market dealer, have the chance to finally recover it. But should they?

As news of the discovery spreads, so does the danger. Some want the cross for its supposed healing powers, others for the validation it will give to the Christian faith, and some for the fame and fortune it will bring them for finding it. There are others who want to keep the cross hidden for political reasons or to keep believers from placing more faith in the cross than they do in the Christ. These competing factions will stop at nothing to beat each other to the sacred prize. Who will die? Who will survive? And who will end up with the cross in the end?

After the Cross is a thoroughly clean, Christian read that takes a look at real-life human motivations, fears, and faith.

Authors Brandon Barr and Mike Lynch have done a wonderful job of working together to produce a fun, thought-provoking adventure. The characters are rich and dynamic, the plot believable, and the ending perfect. I highly recommend making After the Cross your next read.

After the Cross is available from Ellechor Publishing House.

Visit Brandon’s website! Visit Mike’s website!

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Aliens. Vigilante Ninjas. Mad scientists. Hard-nosed detectives. Super-heroes.

God.

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Undercurrent by Michelle Griep Book Review

2011-10-08T14:08:00.000-07:00

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Genre: Christian Fantasy

Recommendation: Excellent

Originality – 5/5

Writing Style – 5/5

Plot – 5/5

Characters – 5/5

Aesthetics – 4/5

A fantastic Viking romance!

When Cassie, a snobby, lonely, middle-aged, career-driven professor magically time-travels to the era of the Viking, more than just her comfort level changes.

Undercurrent is a time-travel story, a love story, a murder mystery, a story of betrayal, and a story of sacrifice. Michelle Griep pulls all of these elements together in one truly engaging volume.

Besides Cassie, the other main characters are two Viking warriors, Alarik and Ragnar. Alarik is accused of murdering his brother in a drunken rage and is forced to flee his village. Ragnar, his cousin and friend, believes in his innocence and goes to find him. Meanwhile, an outside force threatens the village and will stop at nothing until it is completely under his power. Can the two cousins prove Alarik’s innocence? Will they able to rescue the village from this oppressive power?

Undercurrent is a very openly Christian novel and you will not find anything offensive therein. Ragnar is the only believer in Jesus in his entire village. He has suffered for betraying his father’s gods and is ostracized from any position of influence he would normally have. Yet he continues to believe and to witness and to yearn for the salvation of those who despise him. Will his perseverance in Christ be rewarded?

I thoroughly enjoyed Undercurrent. There were a lot of places where the story could have become cliché, but Ms. Griep did a wonderful job of keeping the story fresh and moving forward. I highly recommend it as being an Excellent read.

Undercurrent is available from Risen Books.

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Faith Awakened by Grace Bridges

2011-09-23T19:37:00.000-07:00

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Genre: Science Fiction

Recommendation: Excellent

Originality – 5/5

Writing Style – 5/5

Plot – 4/5

Characters – 5/5

Aesthetics – 5/5

If you could do life over again, what would you do differently? If you could design your life from the very beginning, what would you come up with?

Faith Awakened is a very fast-moving sci-fi novel that takes place in a post-apocalyptic world in which the greed of the elite has finally succeeded in producing a world-wide plague that wipes out all of humanity, except for a few immune survivors. But as futuristic as it is and as much as it uses virtual reality and cryogenics and other now-classic sci-fi elements, the biggest strength of the book for me was its realism in dealing with everyday life and faith issues.

Faith, a girl living in present day, presents questions like, How does someone feel when they sense that God is ignoring them? How do they react when they aren’t getting a ‘calling’ or being spiritually moved when they think they should be? What is it that God is really wanting from us? (Hint: It’s not just for us to all answer some Divine mission in life.)

Mariah, a woman living after the disease has swept the earth like a second Noah’s Flood, has to deal with things like, How do you find hope in the midst of tragedy? How do you accept the gift of life when all you want to do is die? How long can we wait on God to finally fulfill His purposes in this world?

Faith Awakened is sci-fi laced with some very real spiritual struggles, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a neat concept and a fondness for in-depth characters.

Anyone who reads it won’t easily forget Faith Awakened.

Faith Awakened is available from Splashdown Books.

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Aliens. Vigilante Ninjas. Mad scientists. Hard-nosed detectives. Super-heroes.

God.

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Halloween Night Fever: End of the Long Walk by Dan Graffeo Book Review

2011-09-10T07:49:00.000-07:00

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Genre: Horror Adventure

Recommendation: Excellent

Originality – 5/5

Writing Style – 5/5

Plot – 5/5

Characters – 5/5

Aesthetics – 4/5

Have you ever wondered where the term “Jack O’ Lantern” comes from?

Find out in Dan Graffeo’s teen super hero/horror novel, End of the Long Walk. It takes place in the city of Sleepy Owl, Connecticut, where for hundreds of years, real monsters have been allowed to visit the small town for one night only in order to enjoy the Halloween festivities. Everyone’s all dressed up anyway, so no one knows that there are real vampires and other mythical monsters among them.

Except for the Pniese, the Monster Cops. Most of the monsters and creatures that visit our world are friendly and just want to party for the night, but for those that may want to be a little more mischievous, or downright evil, these teenagers are there to knock them back in line.

With great monsters, laugh-out-loud dialogue, a quick pace, and plenty of super hero action, End of the Long Walk makes for a very enjoyable Halloween read. I would, however, suggest reading The Cir-Cuss Comes to Town before picking this one up, as that is chronologically first in the series.

Halloween Night Fever is not a Christian novel in any specific way, but it is a pretty clean read. There are a couple of curse words and a few instances of taking the Lord’s name in vain, but other than that, you shouldn’t find too much to object to.

Halloween Night Fever: End of the Long Walk is available from HalloweenNightFever.com.

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Faith & Fairies: Book One of The Father Tree Tetralogy by C. S. Haviland

2011-08-29T19:06:00.000-07:00

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Genre: Christian Fantasy

Recommendation: Excellent

Originality – 5/5

Writing Style – 5/5

Plot – 5/5

Characters – 5/5

Aesthetics – 5/5

A hilarious, action-packed adventure!

Three very different orphan boys are on their way to a new Home in the small town of Haviland Hollow. Terry is a sixteen-year-old, overconfident, independent spirit. Scott is the fourteen-year-old worry wart with coke-bottom glasses, and Ronnie is…well, Ronnie is a nine-year-old boy, complete with an utter distaste for girl cooties and a love for all things exciting.

The adventure begins when Terry decides that he doesn’t want to go to a new orphanage and takes the other two boys, unknown to them, along on his escape. Terry’s plans are cut short, however, when they meet a group of magical, female, fairies. It seems that God plans to use these unlikely boys to help the fairies overcome their greatest peril.

With laugh-out-loud dialogue, deep characterization, original creatures and ideas, and non-stop action, Faith & Fairies is a definite win for readers of all ages.

The novel is definitely faith-based, but is not a hit-you-over-the-head treatment of spirituality and is appropriate for any reader.

I give Faith & Fairies a recommendation of Excellent and encourage anyone who’s looking for a fun, Christian, fantasy tale to pick this one up immediately. You’ll definitely enjoy it.

Faith & Fairies: Book One of The Father Tree Tetralogy is available from LegendMaker Scriptoria.

Visit the Faith & Fairies website! or Visit C.S.’s website!

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God.

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Gateway to Gannah: Book 1: The Story in the Stars by Yvonne Anderson Book Review

2011-07-29T12:39:00.000-07:00

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Genre: Christian Science-Fiction

Recommendation: Excellent

Originality – 5/5

Writing Style – 5/5

Plot – 5/5

Characters – 5/5

Aesthetics – 4/5

The more I read, the more I liked!

Dassa is the last of her race. Her world has been destroyed by a plague and the only one who can save her is Doctor Pik, a man who would rather have her entire race die with her. In fact, it was Dr. Pik’s people who created the plague in the first place.

The Story in the Stars is a dynamic first novel. It’s a story of grace, it’s a story of obedience, it’s a treasure-hunting story, it’s a love story, and it’s a story with an absolutely perfect ending.

Yvonne Anderson has created deep characters with an interesting back story. She tells her tale through rich descriptions, natural conversations, and a well-placed bit of humor every now and then.

The Story in the Stars is a poignant illustration of the Christian message. Most importantly, it delivers a fine example of how to offer forgiveness to those who have hurt us and what it means to sacrifice for the cause of Christ. It shows us what it means to struggle with our beliefs and how to handle our faith in the face of tragedy. If that weren’t enough, there’s even a guest appearance by the great American revivalist Jonathan Edwards!

As you read, you may find some things that seem odd, like the fact that the aliens often speak in King James English, but don’t worry – it will all make sense.

The cover is good – it depicts the main character very well when she’s in certain moods – I just wish it showed more action or included Dr. Pik along with her (a good six-fingered, non-facial-expressive alien image would have been a nice touch).

Overall, I feel very confident in recommending The Story in the Stars with a rating of Excellent. It will be interesting to see what Yvonne does with our very opposite characters next.

Gateway to Gannah: Book 1: The Story in the Stars is available from Risen Books.

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"Relics of Nanthara: Book 1: Secrets Revealed" by Nick G. Giannaras Book Review

2011-07-22T21:05:00.000-07:00

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Genre: Christian Fantasy

Recommendation: Good

Originality – 3/5

Writing Style – 5/5

Plot – 5/5

Characters – 5/5

Aesthetics – 3/5

A thoroughly enjoyable read!

Imagine J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth, but with more humor. That’s as close as I can come to describing Nick Giannara’s Nanthara. Nick takes full advantage of almost every classic fantasy element and makes it his own. From dwarves (Dwergens), mages, elves (Alkani}, and crusading knights; to riddles, magical items, quests, split personalities, holy water, and budding love; to traitors, assassins, Opanocs (Orcs), and zombie Dark Heralds (Ringwraiths), this book has it all! And it is humorous. Some of the scenes and turns of phrase had me laughing out loud.

But don’t get me wrong, it’s not all laughs. The fate of the world is at stake and our party of heroes is playing for keeps. Some of them may not even make it to the end. Long ago, the God, Sovereign, created four royal items of immense power – the Crown of Sovereign, the Scepter of the Elders, The Cloak of the Alkani, and the Ring of Life – to bless His people. But being too powerful to risk them falling into the wrong hands, these items have wisely been hidden. Until now. The Dark One is rising and has found clues to each of the items’ locations. Now our heroes must race to search for and recover the relics before the Dark One’s forces. Will they be successful? And at what cost?

Secrets Revealed is a great kick-off novel to the epic tale that Relics of Nanthara promises to be.

Nick’s world is rich, his characters colorful, and his writing a combination of magical story-telling and natural humor.

If you’re a fan of classic fantasy with a twist, I encourage to pick this one up. I’m giving it a recommendation of Good and will look forward to reading the next chapter in the story, Relics of Nanthara: Book 2: Sacrifice of Heroes.

Relics of Nanthara: Book 1: Secrets Revealed is available as an e-book from MuseItUp Publishing.

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"Winter" by Keven Newsome Book Review

2011-07-15T16:48:00.000-07:00

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Genre: Christian Horror

Recommendation: Excellent

Originality – 5/5

Writing Style – 5/5

Plot – 5/5

Characters – 5/5

Aesthetics – 5/5

What’s your spiritual gift?

Winter Maessen’s is prophecy, even if she isn’t the most mature Christian yet.

Winter is a new believer and a new college student attending a small Christian university. God directly told her to go to this school shortly after she was saved because He has a mission for her – to stop a serial killer.

Keven’s writing is natural, his characters realistic, his story intriguing, and his action well-paced. The best part of this book, however, is watching how Winter develops through the course of her young life. Having experienced tragedy and then God’s redemption, Winter shows us exactly how events in our lives can change us and what it means to be a work in progress. I also appreciated the importance Keven places on friendship and looking beneath the surface of things. God knows exactly when we need a friend or two to come alongside us and He knows that our character is shown by more than our appearance.

Whereas this is a perfectly clean, Christian novel, I do have to warn you that it is not a pretty book with a completely happy ending. There is murder, there is gore, there is occult practices, there is rape. As you read and begin to care about the characters, you will find some things happening to them that you didn’t want to happen. This of course makes for a more realistic read, but I’m just letting you know – it will get to you emotionally.

Overall, I’m giving Winter a very hearty recommendation of Excellent and will look forward to the much-needed sequel.

Winter is available from Splashdown Books Darkwater.

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"The Cellar Beneath the Cellar" by Lee Duigon Book Review

2011-07-08T20:55:00.000-07:00

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Genre: Christian Fantasy

Recommendation: Excellent

Originality – 5/5

Writing Style – 5/5

Plot – 5/5

Characters – 5/5

Aesthetics – 5/5

If you’re not reading Lee Duigon’s Bell Mountain series, you need to be! It’s absolutely one of the best out there!

In this amazing second volume, The Cellar Beneath the Cellar, First Prester Reesh, the leader of the entire organized “Church”, is purposely misinterpreting Scripture to serve his own ends while a barbarian army streams into Obann, hungry for the slaughter.

Meanwhile, the Bell has rung and God has continued to call His chosen ones to a great and final purpose. He is speaking through the Toddler Prophet, has gifted the Old Man Missionary, has strengthened the Flail of the Lord, has commissioned the Finders of Lost Scripture, and has anointed the Boy King.

With so much going on, The Cellar Beneath the Cellar can’t fail to be an intriguing read for any fantasy-lover. Lee’s writing is refined, his characters deep, his action non-stop, and his vision big. This is indeed an epic worth following.

It all starts with Bell Mountain, continues in The Cellar Beneath the Cellar, and then on into the soon-to-be-released The Thunder King. I can’t wait for it to come out!

Okay, I’m done gushing, but as you can tell, I’m giving The Cellar Beneath the Cellar a big recommendation of Excellent and personally guarantee that this will be one of the best series you’ve ever read. Check it out today!

The Cellar Beneath the Cellar is available in print from Amazon.com.

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"Magnus Kir" by Dean Hardy Book Review

2011-07-08T11:56:00.000-07:00

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Genre: Christian Fantasy

Recommendation: Excellent

Originality – 5/5

Writing Style – 5/5

Plot – 5/5

Characters – 5/5

Aesthetics – 5/5

Why does God make rules? And what makes us want to break them?

Twelve-year old Zack has never been outside his hometown of Magnus Kir. That’s because the people of Magnus Kir have built a wall around the entire town with no entrance and no exits. They are ‘trapped’ inside, protected from and unaffected by the outside world. In fact, the only way to leave town is by committing a crime so heinous that the king has no choice but to sentence you to exile.

But Zack has accidentally found another way out. Will he take it? What he will find on the outside? Will he be able to get back in once he’s left?

Magnus Kir is a wonderful Young Adult tale of sin and redemption. Dean’s writing is fluid, his world unique, and his message spot on. You’ll love reading about wise King Amethyst, the fantastic creatures of the Gedolah, and discovering all the poignant spiritual truths this multi-faceted allegory reveals.

I recommend Magnus Kir to readers of all ages and will look forward to any other tales Dean Hardy may have in the works.

Magnus Kir is available at MagnusKir.com.

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"Discovery in the Desert: It Will Shake the Nations" by Tom Thiele Book Review

2011-07-08T11:51:00.000-07:00

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Genre: Christian Science-Fiction

Recommendation: Average

Originality – 5/5

Writing Style – 3/5

Plot – 2/5

Characters – 5/5

Aesthetics – 3/5

What if we discovered another book of the Bible? What if one of us had to go back in time to write it?

David Hart did just that. He’s been working on NASA’s time travel project and now he gets to meet Jesus Himself! What would Jesus say to someone from our generation?

Discovery in the Desert is an interesting idea, filled with great theology and poignant messages for today’s world.

The problem comes with the plot. Tom summarizes and glosses over some of the most potentially exciting scenes in the book and problems that the characters face are dealt with too quickly and easily. We don’t really see the characters being put into any real danger or having to deal with difficult problems. Everything is taken care of in the tidiest way possible, which makes for a rather unclimactic read.

The message of the book is one of its strongest points, but all of the theological discussions seem to come in big, long chunks. There’s no pacing so it reads more like a sermon than a sci-fi story at those points.

There is also a bit of needless cursing in the book. I’m not sure why such an edifying book would include swearing, but there it is.

All in all, if you’re looking for a book with a great message set against an interesting idea, Discovery in the Desert is it. Just don’t expect too much of the plot. I give this book a recommendation of Average.

Discovery in the Desert: It Will Shake the Nations is available in print and e-book formats at Amazon.com.

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"Daughter of the King" by Malcolm Cowen Book Review

2011-07-08T11:45:00.000-07:00

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Genre: Christian Fantasy

Recommendation: Excellent

Originality – 5/5

Writing Style – 5/5

Plot – 4/5

Characters – 5/5

Aesthetics – 4/5

It’s been six years since Mary Shunem suddenly found herself in a new world. Six years since the Governor’s son, Moy-ni Tan, tried to kill her. Six years since she killed Moy-ni instead and defeated Moy Tan’s army.

Now Moy Tan wants revenge.

It’s just a matter of time before Moy Tan forces the old king to name him as his successor and what better way to celebrate his impending coronation than by finally getting even with the woman who blocked his previous bid to reconquer the valley and reunite the Empire?

Daughter of the King is a nice follow-up to Lady of Foxdale. As I’ve already mentioned, we get to see the aftermath of the events in Lady and Mary comes face-to-face with novels’ main villain. We also get to see a couple of the more interesting supporting characters, like Erwin (one of Moy Tan’s generals) and Lissia (a valley woman who saw her husband and children brutally killed and exacted vengeance against her enemies in an equally ruthless manner), taking more of a prominent role, as well as the introduction of a couple of new ones. Of course Joni and a developing Mary-nin also continue to play key roles.

The one downfall with this book is that while there is certainly action occurring from the beginning, we don’t get to the really interesting stuff until near the end. Then it’s epic. So the end is definitely worth waiting for, but you may find yourself wanting a faster pace in the beginning.

I give Daughter of the King a recommendation of Excellent and will look forward to any other adventures Mr. Cowen may choose to grace us with.

Daughter of the King is available as an e-book from The E-Book Shop.

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"Journals of the Peregrine (Volume 2): Dictates of Conscience" by Carol Parsons Book Review

2011-07-08T11:40:00.000-07:00

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Genre: Christian Science-Fiction

Recommendation: Average

Originality – 3/5

Writing Style – 3/5

Plot – 3/5

Characters – 3/5

Aesthetics – 2/5

Siph Gaillon, governor of the Imperium planet, Vedra Epsilon, wants to limit the Believer population. He has issued a decree stating that persons wanting to have a child must apply for a birthing permit. He then denies the applications brought to him by Believers.

The Believers, however, continue to have children without the permits and without the aid of medical professionals. They then must hide their children from the authorities and often entrust them to Guardians who will keep and protect their children.

One of these Guardians is a woman named Brietta. She will soon be joined in her efforts by Patriots, Kynan and Ganet. Can they keep the children safe from Gaillon? Will they have to evacuate Vedra Epsilon, or will the Patriots and Guardians join forces to overthrow the governor?

Dictates of Conscience certainly has a lot going on and it’s loaded with action. Unfortunately, I felt lost most of the time while I was reading it. The characters and problems weren’t very well defined. Why is the Imperium so against Believers? How did the Imperium rise to power? Who are Kynan and Ganet? The author introduces all of these concepts, but fails to give sufficient background for the reader to appreciate them.

The action and ideas are all a bit cliché, as well. The Patriots and Imperium smack a bit too heavily of the Star Wars’ Empire and Rebels. The action revolves around characters breaking into or out of jail, impersonating officials, and uncovering traitors, all of which has been done. In the end, though, it isn’t even the heroes who save the day. Rather, they become somewhat of a side story for the final sequence.

I did like, however, the frustrated love scene at the end.

Dictates doesn’t have anything objectionable in it and does present some very strong examples of characters placing their faith in God.

Over all, I give Dictates of Conscience a recommendation of Average. It’s a fun read with some good action, but it’s not for the most discerning reader.

Journals of the Peregrine (Volume 2): Dictates of Conscience is available in print and e-book formats at Amazon.com.

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"Bell Mountain" by Lee Duigon Book Review

2011-07-08T11:30:00.000-07:00

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Genre: Christian Fantasy

Recommendation: Excellent

Originality – 5/5

Writing Style – 4/5

Plot – 5/5

Characters – 5/5

Aesthetics – 5/5

God is at work in Obann.

A thousand years ago, King Ozias, the last king, placed a bell on top of Mount Yul. Scripture says that when someone rings that bell, God will hear it.

But no one ever has rung the bell.

Until now.

Many people, from the head priest to a small-town teacher, have felt God stirring their heart to ring it, but the only ones obedient enough to answer that call are two children – Jack and Ellayne.

Jack is a poor boy, a child of misfortune; Ellayne is a rich girl, child of the town’s chief councilor. Together they will make it to the top of the mountain and fulfill their calling.

Bell Mountain is such a fun read for people of all ages. It’s interesting and moves at a quick pace with lots of action and adventure. As you read, you’ll meet new creatures, an expert assassin, Helki the Rod, Obst the Hermit, and Wytt the…? (Well, you’ll just have to read about Wytt.)

It’s a perfectly clean read with a ton of depth and good Christian messages. One of my favorite themes was the question of how we should treat Scripture. Is it to be taken at face-value and treated seriously, or is it just a collection of myths and metaphors?

I give Bell Mountain an enthusiastic recommendation of Excellent and will look forward to diving into the sequel, The Cellar Beneath the Cellar.

Bell Mountain is available in print from Amazon.com.

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"Gaea" by Robina Williams Book Review

2011-07-08T09:44:00.000-07:00

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Genre: Christian Speculative

Recommendation: Good

Originality – 5/5

Writing Style – 5/5

Plot – 2/5

Characters – 5/5

Aesthetics – 4/5

Amazing! Playfully imaginative!

Gaea takes the gods and goddesses of myth and brings them under the creation and dominion of the one, true God.

Gaea, the earth goddess, Mother Nature herself, is frustrated with humankind’s wanton use of the earth’s natural resources and utter disregard for the other creatures of this world. She wants to punish the humans for not respecting creation as they should and begins visiting other deities, asking for their help in her campaign against humankind. The question is, how far will God let her go? And will humans ever really change their ways?

Gaea is both humorous and spiritually insightful. Robina Williams shows us a great picture of God and provides a strong presentation of the Gospel message.

The one problem I found with the book was its slow-moving plot. The narration becomes very repetitive as we are told over and over again how Gaea feels versus how God feels. Many of the conversations and scenes continue well beyond the point of providing new information.

Overall, I give Gaea a recommendation of Good and will look forward to reading the rest of Robina Williams’ Quantum Cat series, of which Gaea is the third.

Gaea is available from Twilight Times Books.

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"Angelos" by Robina Williams Book Review

2011-07-08T09:33:00.000-07:00

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Genre: Christian Speculative

Recommendation: Good

Originality – 5/5

Writing Style – 5/5

Plot – 4/5

Characters – 5/5

Aesthetics – 5/5

There’s a new Guardian in town…and the friars aren’t going to like it.

Also, the deceased Brother Jerome gets “teleported” to a new town and he isn’t going to like it much either.

Angelos, book two in Robina Williams’ Quantum Cat series, finds Father Fidelis being transferred to a new assignment and a new troubled priest taking up the reigns of the friary. The new guardian, Father Aidan, has been feeling distant from God lately as he experiences what has classically been referred to as “that dark night of the soul.” What will he do to keep himself and his fellow monks on the right path? Will he be able to find God’s presence again?

Meanwhile, Brother Jerome, the dead friar who occasionally stops back in at the friary for a visit around his old home or a chat with friends, finds himself suddenly whisked away to a dark maze of concrete tunnels, filled with dead men’s bones. He is in the lair of the Minotaur! And, equally unhappy at his change in location, the Minotaur finds himself waking up in the friary’s shed.

Robina spins humor, sensitivity, deep spiritual insight, and a Christianized version of classical mythology into this amusing and thought-provoking exploration of the inner and outer spiritual realms.

(There is some use of taking the Lord’s name in vain and some mild cursing.)

Overall, I give Angelos a strong recommendation of Good. The Quantum Cat series starts with Jerome and the Seraph and follows Angelos with the third book, Gaea.

Angelos is available from Twilight Times Books.

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"Jerome and the Seraph" by Robina Williams Book Review

2011-07-08T09:28:00.000-07:00

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Genre: Christian Speculative

Recommendation: Good

Originality – 5/5

Writing Style – 5/5

Plot – 3/5

Characters – 5/5

Aesthetics – 4/5

Brother Jerome is dead. So now what should he do?

Robina Williams’ Quantum Cat series, of which Jerome and the Seraph is first, revolves around a group of friars and their pet cat, Leo, living in the English countryside. When one of the friars dies, however, he finds himself in an afterworld that he never expected and must now rely on his old feline companion to help him navigate his way around the afterlife.

Meanwhile, the rest of the brothers become rather concerned about the head of their local friary, Father Fidelis. Some surmise that the priest is terminally ill. Others believe he’s having an affair with the new woman who’s moved into town.

Blending mystery, humor, and a wee bit of heresy, Robina delivers a very pleasant read in Jerome and the Seraph. The plot may seem a bit slow to some, but remember, life in the friary isn’t supposed to be fast.

More conservative readers should note that the characters do take the Lord’s name in vain and use mild curse words to a limited extent. There is also a Christianized reference to the mythological gods. Finally, as Brother Jerome discovers, the afterlife described in this book may not be the Heaven that you would expect.

Overall, I give Jerome and the Seraph a recommendation of Good and will look forward to reading the rest of Robina Williams’ Quantum Cat series, Angelos and Gaea.

Jerome and the Seraph is available from Twilight Times Books.

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"Seven Archangels: Annihilation" by Jane Lebak Book Review

2011-07-08T09:21:00.000-07:00

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Genre: Christian Speculative

Recommendation: Excellent

Originality – 5/5

Writing Style – 5/5

Plot – 5/5

Characters – 4.5/5

Aesthetics – 4/5

This is a book you might have missed, but shouldn’t have. The classical struggle of good against evil becomes even more dangerous as angels are forced to fight for their lives in Jane Lebak’s Seven Archangels: Annihilation.

Jane combines humor, action, and a unique take on the angelic host as she helps us to imagine what it would be like if Satan and his demons discovered a way to unmake an angel.

The angel characters in this book are not the perfect, stoic saints we normally envision. They are much more human, though undoubtedly more powerful than any human was created to be. They often disagree with one another, get jealous and angry with each other, and even question God from time to time. As in normal human life, God is often on the sidelines in this book, regularly offering guidance and comfort, but usually leaving it up to His followers to handle the hands-on stuff. The great thing about God in this book is that whereas the angels are often afraid and unsure, God never is. He is in complete control the entire time.

Even so, there is a definite sense of urgency in the book. Although the reader trusts that God is ultimately in control, we never know how far God is willing to let a situation escalate. There is a very poignant scene in which God commands one of His angels to let another angel die and we see how challenging that is to the character’s faith.

The main angel characters, such as Gabriel, Remiel, Raphael, and Michael are very easy to identify with and they are, in many instances, familiar names from Scripture and Christian legend. So the reader definitely finds themselves caring about what happens to these characters. There is even a cameo appearance by the Apostle Peter and a rather large supporting role given to Mary, the mother of Jesus.

One thing I hate about a book is an unsatisfying ending and Jane certainly doesn’t disappoint with this one. The last battle will keep you guessing as you dread what will happen to two of the main characters and the resolution and epilogue are well worth the wait.

With that said, I do have a couple of detractors to mention. First, the angels in this book are all organized into different groups with different abilities given to them and they are able to bond and communicate with one another in special ways. Whereas this is all very interesting and indeed forms a large part of the subplot, it also seems to get a little too complex, especially in the beginning, as Jane’s humorous foreword addresses. Still, as long as you don’t get too hung up on trying to figure everything out and instead just let the story carry you along, you should be fine.

The other questionable material involves the way in which two angels or two demons are able to bond with one another. The relationship seems to resemble a human romance more than a platonic friendship. There is one scene, for instance, where the imagery of how one demon is attacking another almost sounds like a rape. Later, these same two demons, both described in the masculine, are very obviously flirting with one another as one sits on the others’ lap. I don’t think this should keep you from reading the book, but it is something you will most probably notice. In the author’s defense, angels do not necessarily have to relate to one another in the same way that humans do and these scenes may even have been purposefully inserted here to show how the demons are even unable to love one another properly.

As far as the aesthetics of the book go, the cover does depict a key theme of the story, but the art is not very impressive. The interior is of a standard, professional quality.

As I said at the beginning, this book is definitely worth picking up and I look forward to Jane’s next installment, hopefully coming out sooner rather than later. I give Seven Archangels: Annihilation a recommendation of Excellent.

Seven Archangels: Annihilation is available from Double-Edged Publishing.

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"Never Ceese" by Sue Dent Book Review

2011-07-07T04:43:00.000-07:00

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Genre: Christian Horror

Recommendation: Excellent

Originality – 5/5

Writing Style – 5/5

Plot – 5/5

Characters – 5/5

Aesthetics – 5/5

Wow!

Can werewolves and vampires be saved? That’s the question in Sue Dent’s novel, Never Ceese.

This is a Christian fantasy novel about a werewolf named Ceese and a vampire named Richard, who are both on a mission to break the curse of what they are and regain their salvation. It’s captivating, edgy, humorous, and realistic – the perfect combination of light and dark. I especially appreciated the tangibility of each of the characters. They are dynamic and memorable and Sue has a wonderful gift for taking us inside each of their minds to make us feel what they feel.

The story begins in early America and quickly brings us to modern day. Among Ceese and Richard’s allies are an old, psychic woman, her great-granddaughter, and some surprising characters from the past.

Their enemies include their darker natures, a scientist who wants to learn how he can use their curse to live forever himself, and three questionable college students.

If you’re looking for a great read with werewolves and vampires, look no further! Stephenie Meyer has nothing on Sue Dent! And look for the sequel, Forever Richard, which will be reprinted soon.

Never Ceese is available from Black Bed Sheet Books.

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"Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider" by Ellen Maze Book Review

2011-07-07T04:37:00.000-07:00

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Genre: Christian Horror

Recommendation: Excellent

Originality – 5/5

Writing Style – 5/5

Plot – 5/5

Characters – 5/5

Aesthetics – 5/5

God’s Word is potent and His followers are powerful!

Meet Beth Rider. She writes Christian vampire novels. After reading her latest publication, The Judging (also authored by Ellen Maze – read my review here), real vampires are being inspired toward salvation. The problem is that the vampire hierarchy doesn’t appreciate so many of their underlings turning to “Beth Rider’s” God. Marking Beth as an enemy of the Brotherhood, the hierarchy orders that she, and all those vampires who are turning toward God because of her, be caught, tortured, and eliminated. Now the chase is on as Beth and her new bloodthirsty friends must trust God for their very survival.

I continue to be impressed with Maze’s writing. Her prose is clean, her characters well-formed, and her pacing flawless. The action will grab you from page one and keep you turning to the end.

I especially love how Ellen paints such strong Christian characters in her novels. They are obvious proof of the author’s own Christian passion and maturity shining through her work.

I have definitely become a fan of Maze’s writing and will look forward to reading the follow-up volumes, Loose Rabbits and Rabbit Legacy. The Judging and the forthcoming Damascus Road, are written as the character Beth Rider’s fictional novels. You can start with either Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider, or The Judging, but I did enjoy reading The Judging first as it gave me more of an insider’s view on what the characters in Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider were referring to.

Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider is an Excellent novel. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider is available from EllenCMaze.com.

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"Halloween Night Fever: The Cir-Cuss Comes to Town" by Dan Graffeo Book Review

2011-07-07T04:23:00.000-07:00

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Genre: Horror

Recommendation: Excellent

Originality – 5/5

Writing Style – 5/5

Plot – 5/5

Characters – 5/5

Aesthetics – 4/5

A fun horror novel with plenty of action and great characters!

Cindy Daniels is an immature, irresponsible, boy-crazy cheerleader. She’s also a teenage super-hero, at least on Halloweens. Every Halloween, supernatural and undead beings of every variety come to visit the town of Sleepy Owl and the Halloween Night Warriors, better known as Monster Cops, are always there to keep the peace. This Halloween, a demon clown named Punchinello has it in for Cindy, but she has no idea why. Can Cindy and the Monster Cops figure it out before it’s too late?

Dan’s humor, believable characters, fantastic imagination, and surprise ending makes Halloween Night Fever: The Cir-cuss Come to Town an enjoyable read for any horror or super-hero fan.

From a Christian perspective: Though the author is a Christian, there isn’t really anything in the novel to set it apart as being a specifically Christian work. There is holy water involved (being shot out of squirt-guns at the monsters, which I love) and a demon is featured as the main baddie, but that’s about it. The demons don’t go to Hell per se and whereas the characters develop, none of them address any real faith issues. There are also some references to Native American mythology and a moderate use of the characters taking the Lord’s name in vain.

Overall, I’m giving Halloween Night Fever: The Cir-cuss Come to Town an Excellent recommendation and will look forward to reading Halloween Night Fever: End of the Long Walk (chronologically book 3 in the series, but the first released).

Halloween Night Fever: The Cir-cuss Comes to Town is available from HalloweenNightFever.com.

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"Feckless" Edited by Ellen Maze Book Review

2011-07-07T04:15:00.000-07:00

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Genre: Christian Horror

Recommendation: Good

Originality – 4/5

Writing Style – 4/5

Plot – 4/5

Characters – 5/5

Aesthetics – 5/5

Vampires, Werewolves, and Ghosts, oh my!

Meet a woman who can kill you with a single touch, a man who is friends with Death and a dying dragon, an alien preacher, a very special magician, a man who just can’t leave his ex alone, a woman who loves her husband despite his being possessed, a serial killer who gets exactly what he deserves, and more.

Feckless was put together by Ellen Maze, Christian vampire author extraordinaire, and many of the stories are of her own creation, which is a definite plus for the book.

Like most short story collections, there are some pieces in this volume that you’ll enjoy more than others, but I believe there is enough good stuff here to satisfy any horror fan.

A few of my favorites were “dtour” by Kevin Maze, and “88” and “Bully” by Ellen Maze. “dtour” is neat because the story is told all in text messages being sent between two people. “88” is a very touching tale about a man preparing for his 88^th birthday party. “Bully” is an effective story that jumps from following the victim of a neighborhood bully to a serial killer to a werewolf and back around again.

Many of the stories in this collection also contain a strong Christian message.

I give Feckless a recommendation of Good and encourage any horror fan to pick it up. It’s well worth it.

Feckless is available at EllenCMaze.com.

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"The Judging" by Ellen Maze Book Review

2011-07-07T04:09:00.000-07:00

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Genre: Christian Horror

Recommendation: Excellent

Originality – 5/5

Writing Style – 5/5

Plot – 5/5

Characters – 5/5

Aesthetics – 5/5

Fabulously frightening! Insanely imaginative!

Hope Brannen has just met Mark Corescu, the man of her dreams. He’s handsome, charming, and he’s a doctor! He’s also a vampire. Not to worry, though. This vampire only sucks the blood of evil people because he believes he’s doing God’s will by punishing them for their sins. Hope and her pastor-friend, Tony, have some questions, though. Can murder ever be within God’s will? Is a vampire supposed to judge humanity’s sins? Or is Dr. Corescu simply rationalizing his need to kill?

Things heat up when Corescu starts hearing voices in his head and begins to remember who he was before he became a vampire. In the midst of all this, a certain reporter is beginning to ask questions and the doctor’s servants are starting to rebel.

Ellen Maze delivers an intriguing plot with captivating characters and an extremely natural writing style.

The Judging is a clean read with no objectionable material or language.

I give The Judging a recommendation of Excellent and will certainly look forward to reading the next installment in the Corescu Chronicles, Damascus Road, as well as Ellen’s earlier work.

The Judging is available at EllenCMaze.com.

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"Reality's Ascent" by R. L. Copple Book Review

2011-07-06T20:58:00.000-07:00

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Genre: Christian Fantasy

Recommendation: Excellent

Originality – 5/5

Writing Style – 5/5

Plot – 5/5

Characters – 5/5

Aesthetics – 5/5

Reality’s Ascent is a definite win!

As the sequel to Reality’s Dawn, this second installment in R. L. Copple’s The Reality Chronicles is even better than the first. Twenty years after the conclusion of Reality’s Dawn, Sisko has married Gabrielle and raised a son and daughter with her. He is still wearing the ring given to him in the steam house, but is performing no miracles with it. He has been unable to use it in that manner since his abuse of it in the last book and is still dealing with the consequences of that error. Trouble soon comes, however, when someone tries to take the ring from Sisko and use it for themselves.

This is a fast-paced action story from start to finish as Sisko and his family battle wizards, supernatural beings, trolls, and more in order to defend the gift God has given them. It is a story of love and family, of temptation and healing.

I particularly enjoyed seeing how some of the more minor characters from the first book have developed over the years and the humorous and realistic interaction between Sisko’s son and daughter. The sibling relationship truly is like no other.

If you’re looking for a good, clean Christian read with plenty of story and a great message, this is it!

I give Reality’s Axcent an Excellent recommendation. Just make sure you read its predecessor, Reality’s Dawn, first in order to appreciate it fully. (You can read my review of Reality’s Dawn here.) I will definitely be looking forward to the next installment from R. L., Reality’s Glory.

Reality’s Dawn is available from Splashdown Books.

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"Reality’s Dawn" (the expansion and re-release of "Infinite Realities") by R. L. Copple Book Review

2011-07-06T20:51:00.000-07:00

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Genre: Christian Fantasy

Recommendation: Excellent

Originality – 5/5

Writing Style – 4/5

Plot – 5/5

Characters – 5/5

Aesthetics – 5/5

What would you do if you could perform any miracle? What temptations would that bring? How would it change you? R. L. Copple explores these questions and more in Reality’s Dawn, the first volume of The Reality Chronicles.

Written as an allegory, Reality’s Dawn is told in the very simple first-person narrative of the main character, Sisko. Having walked into the local steam house, where everyone is supernaturally given exactly what they deserve, young Sisko emerges with the ability to perform any miracle he wishes, but with a very important catch: He cannot use his ability to benefit himself. This one rule sounds like it would be simple enough to obey, but the temptations that Sisko faces are abundant.

Each chapter records a new adventure in the hero’s life and is loaded with danger, action, and Biblical morals. He’ll gain friends, join a gang, fall in love, and become a popular healer near and far. The question is, will he be able to maintain his devotion to God in the midst of it all?

I give Reality’s Dawn a recommendation of Excellent and will eagerly anticipate reading the rest of The Reality Chronicles.

Reality’s Dawn is available from Splashdown Books.

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Aliens. Vigilante Ninjas. Mad scientists. Hard-nosed detectives. Super-heroes.

God.

An alien ship has crash-landed on Earth, setting off a new wave of drug addiction and world war in its wake, while the sole survivor of the wreckage vows revenge against the god-like authorities of his home planet. At the same time, the new president of the GenRes Company is obsessed with living up to his father’s medical success and has just discovered how to transform normal children into Genetically Altered super-humans. Who will control these children? The scientist, the alien, and a couple of ambitious criminals are all eager to keep them for their own use. But Someone else has entirely different plans for them. Follow as each development merges together and a new breed of adolescent superheroes rises to the forefront in book one of The Gifted: In the Beginning.

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