C. F. Fruzzetti and M. I. Pearshall - The Light Bringer's Way

The Light Bringer's Way
(The Light Bringer's Series)


By C. F. Fruzzetti and M. I. Pearshall


Available on Amazon

Product Description (from Amazon)

In book two of the The Light Bringer series, THE LIGHT BRINGER’S WAY, Whitney and Reid arrive home after their first mission and Whitney is left wondering if and when her eyesight will return. More of Reid’s secrets are revealed and Whitney discovers together they can accomplish more than she ever imagined. THE LIGHT BRINGER’S WAY deftly weaves a physical journey of adventure through Africa rife with dangerous obstacles to obtain an ancient spear of pure energy with an emotional journey of love, trust and belief. The dark and deadly path she must travel down calls on Whitney to use her strengths to survive but will she once again be able to turn adversity into advantage? Each second counts in this young adult adventure as more truth comes to light and Whitney finally discovers Karen’s hold on Reid...or does she?

About the Author (from Amazon)

Best friends since childhood, Carolyn Fruzzetti and Meghan Pearsall always knew that they would work together on a creative endeavor. In 2011, they formed Pure Energy Books and released SUNDIAL, the first novel in a young adult series.
Originally from Alexandria, VA, Carolyn currently resides in Arlington, VA with her husband and two daughters. Carolyn has a B.S. in Public Administration from James Madison University and is a professional culinary graduate of L'Academie de Cuisine.

O.Scarlett! REVIEW by Rachel

Overall, I enjoyed book 2 of this series almost as much as the first one. The romance department rivets up a notch or so, and so does the action and adventure. The story picks up almost immediately at the closure of book one, so there is no interruption of the story line. In fact, the entire book takes place in very few weeks times and culminates on Halloween where the book ends with a bombshell of a discovery. The foreshadowing of this discovery is throughout both books, but believe me, you will probably miss it just like I did! Of course, the authors already have their third installment available, so no waiting to see how this will move the story along.

The story has the same setting, with another overseas adventure, this time stylized after Indiana Jones. There is even a mine train ride! The plot was excellent, speed without being too rushed, details without drowning in them, info dumps were kept to short clips in a fashion that made them seem natural. There were tons of new information that will thrill and amaze and keep you riveted at the edge of your seat for most of the story.


Basic Plot


The story opens with hours of the last books ending. The mission has been completed, but Whitney is now blind. Of course, she doesn't let that stop her. She may be blind, but she still has her intuition and she is perfectly healthy otherwise. She finds herself in a fight with Reid and manages to best him, proving to herself and others that she will manage life being blind if she needs to.

The group returns home and life resumes right where it picked up. Everyone in the high school believes Whitney was absent due to an allergic reaction to nuts, if only they knew the truth. But things don't really go back to normal, events have been set in motion, and nobody is safe, especially not the ever independent Whitney. Reid certainly has his hands full trying to keep her safe. Whitney isn't very sure she can trust Reid yet either, just what kind of hold does Karen have on him, rumors have it that she is his girlfriend and she wants him back.

But life is not going to drift back to "normal", by Chapter 3 there is a family emergency that has Reid whisking Whitney as well as her best friend Blair and Patrick off to the yacht. There they meet Reid's aunt, and she has a job for the 4 teens. The plane leaves in two weeks. She also drops some history and background into Whitney's lap and is shocked that she had no idea any of this was happening. Imagine discovering that most of what you thought was true about your life and the world around you was just a cover up for a whole sub world of people with special talents like Whitney and Reid.

The four teens arrive at their destination, where the adults will keep an eye on them as best they can, and begin to work their way toward the retrieval of a special artifact. Of course, the plans go awry almost as soon as they get settled. Que the Indiana Jones music, because shortly after they leave the plane in Chapter 8, the action will involve deep caves, molten rivers, poison darts, melting floors, mine trains, secret riddles and much more. Time is ticking. Nothing is as it seems. And everyone must face fears and learn to work together. The only other option is failure and death deep inside of the mountain puzzle.


As a whole, I enjoyed the "old world" explanations of history and how whole races of secret people with amazing talents have been manipulating legends and history from the earliest days of history. Peoples who hear more than others, see more than others, can predict time, and many more. Whitney was in for more than a few shocks and surprises.

The genre stayed true to the first book. A lot more kissing, but about the same as far as action, no gore - although their were bones. Language was mostly clean. Self Control was still a big theme, and so was learning to trust others and the importance of good communication. Whitney had a lot to learn about keeping secrets, and when it was important to share feelings rather than keeping them secret.

Genre/Theme:  Paranormal, CIA, Adventure, High School, 1980s, Sci-Fi

Reading Level:  TEEN - middle school and up
Profanity: Usually None .... but occasionally leans toward
 MODERATE - mild words & a few stronger expletives  (the text is really quite clean)
Sexuality:  MILD - descriptions of affection/desire   (lots of kissing)  some skimpy clothing and some wet clothing
OBVIOUS - there is a shower seen that is "interesting", it's an outdoor shower, so Whitney is fully dressed.  Quite a bit of snuggling and touching.  Also one accidental nude scene at the beginning - no descriptions - but to explain would be a plot spoiler, it involves a shared shower and accidentally walking in on the other person.
Other: The last several chapters are very intense – Indiana Jones adventure style, ESP and other skills

Claire M. Banschbach - Rise of Aredor

Rise of Aredor
Rise of Aredor


By Claire M. Banschbach


Available on Amazon

Product Description (from Amazon)

Lost in a foreign land and separated from his family, Corin does his best to survive as a slave in the household of a Calorin lord. With newfound friends he fights for survival in ambushes and wars. For one act of bravery, he is awarded his freedom and returns to a home that has been invaded and ravaged by the Calorin armies. When Corin sets foot on Aredor's shores, he has one goal in mind: find his family. He is driven into the forest, where he is reunited with childhood friends. From the shelter of the woods, they begin a spirited rebellion against Corin's former cruel master, who now holds sway over Aredor. Follow Corin's path in his quest to free his imprisoned brother, find a father who has vanished, and ultimately free his country in The Rise of Aredor.

About the Author (from Amazon)

Claire Banschbach was born and raised in Midland, Texas, the fourth of eight children. She was homeschooled through high school and is now a proud member of the Texas A&M University class of 2014. Though she loves reading and writing, her professional goal is to become a physical therapist in order to assist people in leading a full life. When not scratching out stories and homework with pen and pencil, Claire enjoys watching the Boston Red Sox and Aggie football, as well as playing volleyball. She hopes her strong foundation in God will help to guide her writing.

O.Scarlett! REVIEW by Kendra

From the first time I heard about this book several months ago, when the author posted in a forum I frequent asking for reviews, I wanted to read this book. Unfortunately, I was rather overwhelmed at the time, and had to turn down the offer. However, last month she contacted me again, and since my plate was relatively emptier, and she's about to release the sequel, I agreed to it.

I read it in one night, staying up well past midnight to do so, but more because I was reading a PDF file and didn't want to loose my place, than because of the story itself. I was thoroughly intrigued by the premise, but it jerked awkwardly, especially at the beginning,  

The basic plot? The book's description did a pretty good job of sharing it. I don't know if I could do any better without telling you the whole book. The first half was a lot of set up and battle scenes, and could probably have done without a few of the chapters. The second half was about how Corin frees his native country from the oppressive power of the country that enslaved him. So, in a way, it's kind of a Joseph story, but more fighting.

A lot of reviewers are comparing the story to The Horse and His Boy, and it's a comparison it fully deserves. After all, if you have a missing prince named CORIN, made a slave in an Arabian-esque country called CALORIN (Calormen, anyone?) ... yeah, obvious connections can be made there, yes? However the writing style was very different from Lewis. It read more like a Henty novel, save for the fact that it didn't take place in actual history, and our hero wasn't married at the end. Good characters that can be sometimes hard to connect with, and an intriguing, twisting plot that took forever to get going.

A lot of readers are comparing the second half to Robin Hood, and I can see that ... but it reminded me more of William Wallace, since they weren't fighting off an oppressive government, but rather oppressive invaders.

But as much as I love Henty and Narnia, they didn't mesh well in this book. The magic of Narnia is the delightful world, and the rich truths that Lewis conveyed. The magic of Henty is the in-depth history and all of the historical figures that the hero rubs shoulders with. Rise of Aredor had neither, as its world is quite fictional, though realistic. While God - called Lleu - did have a presence in the book, He was usually only mentioned when things were going terribly wrong and they could no longer do it on its own. I would have liked to have seen the characters ask His guidance when making their troubles, to have seen a bit stronger faith. It made sense in the first half, but in the second, I would have really liked to have seen the characters asking Lleu's guidance BEFORE they made all of their grand schemes.

I did like the book, not enough to put it on my list of favorites, but enough that I'm tempted to buy a copy for my cousins (three rowdy boys who would love this sort of story) for Christmas, and enough that I'm eager to read the sequel, which is waiting for me on my Android. The author has a lot of potential, and I can't wait to see where the series goes.

Note: For some weird reason, I thought there were going to be eagle riders in the book. (Not sure where I got the idea, might have been the fact that I didn't look at the cover closely enough, and it got confused with another picture I'd also seen about that time). There were none. So ... yeah, slightly disappointed there.

Genre/Theme: Adventure, Non-magical Fantasy, Christian, 

Reading Level: TEEN - upper elementary to middle school 
Profanity: NONE - no offensive language 
Sexuality: NONE - not even hinted at. Not really any romance, either. 
Other: 
There was some drinking, including some drunken enemy soldiers, however it was no more prevalent than in a typical medieval historical fiction. QUITE a bit of fighting, and torture (including, but not limited to, whipping and a poisoned knife), and the main character spends most of the book injured. Nothing graphic, but there's a LOT of it.

Molly Evangeline - Trust

Trust
Makilien Trilogy


By Molly Evangeline


Kindle Edition Available

Product Description (from Amazon)

Struggling to cope with the losses of battle, Makilien seeks to live each day in trust of Elohim's plans. As the conflict of hope and reality war in her mind, a sudden arrival changes everything, bringing to light a new scheme wrought by the remnant of Zirtan's men.
Finding herself witness to a shocking act of treachery, Makilien is thrust into the very center of the dangerous plans. Trust is something she must give carefully as those who appear trustworthy fail even as those she would least expect could hold the key to success. Can she and those around her secure their safety and freedom or will they find themselves outwitted by their enemy's final act of dominance?

About the Author (from Amazon)

Molly Evangeline is the oldest of three, all of whom are homeschool graduates. Since graduating she has actively pursued her writing career and is the author of the historical adventure series Pirates & Faith. She currently lives with her family in Wisconsin where she continues to focus on her writing and other creative endeavors.

O.Scarlett! REVIEW by Kendra

After receiving and reviewing the first two books of the trilogy, I was on the edge of my seat in anticipation for book three. When it came out, it had a special introductory kindle price of 99 cents, and I just happened to have 99 cents in my Amazon gift card balance … so I snatched it up. I had it read within twenty-four hours. (The only book I can claim to have read within twenty-four hours its release)

And it's taken me … ten months to get around to writing the review. I really need to get on the ball with this reviewing business.

I approached this book with much trepidation. On one hand I already loved the world and most of the characters, and I really wanted to know what was up with the cliff hanger ending … but it was the last book in the trilogy, and I didn't want it to end. Also, I was left with a blah taste in my mouth from the last book's repetitiveness … and I didn't want to read the same book for the third time in a row.

I needn't have worried. This book was delightfully new, different, surprising, amazing, wonderful, and I'd almost come to like Makilien by the end of the book.

The book begins a year after the events of Courage. Unlike the previous two books, it began not in Reylaun, but in Elimar, where Makilien and Vonawyn are hiding behind a tree while strange men are shooting at them.

And they had thought the battle was over.

Things make even less sense when they discover that the orders given to the men are signed with a "V" rather than the "Z" that would have pointed to Zirtan. Someone is putting Zirtan's army back together and pestering them again.

On a more personal and emotional level, Makilien is still, after a year, trying to get over the fact that they hadn't been able to find a certain someone at the end of the great battle at the end of Courage. What's worse is that, just as she was beginning to accept that he has died, she has begun waking up in the middle of the night with strong urges to pray for him.

The plot twists in this book were amazing. Every time I thought I had everything figured out, it would take a new turn and I was left gasping for air. And every time it made complete sense! 

As for Characters, despite the fact that I never connected with Makilien, everyone else was superb. There were many old faces, many new faces, and no one felt out of place or forced upon me. One new person was the identical twin to one of the old characters a twist I absolutely loved. I may or may not have mentioned this before, but I love twins.

As for romance, Makilien's was beautiful. As for the other two, the one I had known about from book two still left me unsatisfied. I hadn't seen them together enough in Courage and they didn't get a single moment together in Trust until the epilogue. The new one, however, was sweet and sad. I hope he someday realizes that he can have a happily ever after, even if he had been a force for evil for so long. There was another one hinted at, and I liked the hint, but I would have preferred to see her and her people in person. Guess there wasn't time for it. And there are two characters that I strongly suspect will fall in love when she gets older. She's still seven right now, but he's an elf, so there's time.

My hugest qualm with this book is that the Jesus character, who had been so important in book one, received only one or two mentions. I admired the theme of trusting in God, or Elohim, but I would have liked His Son to have received more credit.

But everything else, every twist, every new character, every part of the theme of Trust was amazing. It was a perfect conclusion to the trilogy, and while I'd like more, I don't think the author plans to write more ... which is a pity unless you consider the fact that her upcoming Ilyon series is going to be twice as long and thrice as exciting!

Note: Highly recommended for teen girls who love fantasy but don't want the magic so often prevalent in the genre.

Genre/Theme: Christian Allegory, Fantasy, Adventure

Reading Level: TEEN - upper elementary to middle school 
Profanity: NONE - no offensive language 
Sexuality: NONE - I think I remember some kissing, but that was it.
Other: 
As with the former two books, there's war going on. People get killed trough various methods (including poisons), people are tortured, whipped, made slaves. It can be quite frightening at times.

Molly Evangeline - The Pirate Daughter's Promise

The Pirate Daughter's Promise
Pirates and Faith


By Molly Evangeline


Kindle Edition Available




Product Description (from Amazon) 

Orphaned at a young age, Skylar McHenry grew up as little more than a servant and shunned by everyone around her because of her reputation as a pirate's daughter. Each day Skye faces is marked by some new struggle. Her only hope is to rely on her heavenly Father's care and comfort and the solace of her best friend, Will, who has become more than dear to her.

Just when an unexpected encounter gives Skye a small glimmer of hope that things might change in her favor, her world is shattered. She is awakened in the night by cannon blasts. Pirates storm the orphanage, drag her away, and force her aboard their ship. The cruel captain's intentions are clear. He will extract from her, through any means necessary, the location of the treasure hidden by her father. For Skye to divulge the location would mean breaking the last promise she made to him. She's certain she never will, but what happens when the lives of those dearest to her are at stake?

The Pirate Daughter's Promise is full of daring high seas adventure; sweet, wholesome romance; surprising discoveries; unlikely new friends; and the rewards of trusting in God even when life seems impossible.

About the Author (from Amazon)

Molly Evangeline has been using her active imagination to create stories since she was eight years old, encouraged by her mom's own love for writing. For years she wrote as a pastime until age fifteen when she began writing her first historical Christian novel, The Pirate Daughter's Promise, book one of her Pirates & Faith series. Three years later, it became the first of her books to be published.

Molly credits her success to God and her mom's teaching, guidance, and decision to homeschool her from kindergarten through high school. Since graduating she has actively pursued her independent writing career while living with her family in Wisconsin.

For more information, visit her website: www.mollyevangeline.com

O.Scarlett! REVIEW by Kendra



After reading and reviewing the first two books of Molly’s fantasy trilogy, I offered to read and review her Historical Fiction as well.

The Pirate Daughter’s Promise was Molly’s first book, so I knew that to have the same high expectations I had gleaned from Makilien would be unreasonable. Pirates aren’t my usual forte, but I do enjoy good historical fiction, so I was willing to give it a go.

The prologue was somewhat hard to get into, but I knew to expect that from reading other reviews. Once I got past the prologue, it was a whirlwind of a book that twisted and turned and kept me guessing. I was never able to guess what would happen to Skye – all I knew was that somehow she and Will would somehow come through in the end (and that only from reading the description of the second book). My biggest complaint in that area is that the twists felt, at times, contrived. They were too out of the blue. They made sense after they were explained … but … still …

While reading the book, I couldn’t help but compare Skye to Makilien. On the whole, I think I preferred Skye as a main character and as a person in general. She seemed more human to me – more of a woman. She was already a good fighter at the beginning of the book, but it made sense because she spent her first seven years of her life on the open sea, and the village weapon smith – who is pretty much her only friend beyond Will – helped her keep her skills up. Not only that, her years in the orphanage had softened her. Her name bothered me as out of place for the era, but I got used to it. It suited her.

Normally pirates and faith don’t mix – but it did for this book. The pirates aren’t the good guys. Skye’s father, though he had been a pirate, repented of his crimes. His treasure was amassed of the rewards he had gotten for recapturing and returning what pirates had stolen from others.

However, due to his pirate past, he was arrested and put in prison. Then punished the way all pirates ought to be punished: hanging. Skye was only seven. The last time she saw him he extracted from her a promise to never tell anyone where the treasure is hidden. Until she’s eighteen, the promise is easy. She’s in an orphanage, and there’s no one who wants to know, and even those she is close to would not be able to help her get the treasure. Telling would be pointless, and possibly dangerous.

But then the man that had been her father’s captain during his pirate days appears and kidnaps her. And his goal isn’t exactly a pleasure cruise. He’s got his heart set on that treasure, you see, and she’s the only one who knows where it is hidden.

This is a beautiful story, though it was a tad bit rough around the edges. I recommend it just as highly as I do her Fantasy trilogy. I’m eager to read the rest of the series once I finish with the last book of her trilogy.


Genre/Theme: Pirates, historical fiction, Christian


Reading Level:  TEEN - upper elementary to middle school
Profanity: NONE - no offensive language – the pirates are mentioned to use bad words, but the actual words are left unsaid
Sexuality: NONE - not even hinted at

Other:
Quite a bit of fighting, involving people dying. Whipping and starvation are employed to try to convince Skye to give up the location to her father’s treasure.

Nancy Sprowell Geise - The Eighth Sea

The Eighth Sea



By Nancy Sprowell Geise


Kindle Edition Available



Product Description (from Amazon) 


Publication Date: January 1, 2012
Have You Found Your Eighth Sea? In the cold, black hold of a sailing ship, a young woman lies dying, tormented that her death will mean nothing. No one will know. No one will care. Only the will to find a purpose for her life keeps breath in her exhausted body. Far away, a soft Carolina breeze touches a mother’s face as she peers into the night sky, agonizing over the loss of her infant daughter nineteen years before. A haunting vision that will not leave her—it whispers of a living tie, still unbroken, to that baby long ago. Worlds apart and unaware of one another, the mother and daughter fight their lonely battles for survival. Between them—a man rising to greatness with the new America will bring them together. The themes of this story are deep and universal: a long journey; separation and return; uncertainty; searching and finding; the search for understanding God’s will amidst tragedy; and finally, the realization that people can be bound together forever. The Eighth Sea is a passionate love story involving two unforgettable characters—Brenna and Nathan. Their story is our story—finding our place in the world, the meaning of our lives, our way home. Brenna's solution is to set sail beyond the only world she has ever known and into her eighth sea. The story is inspirational, and its romance is deep and enduring. Struggling to triumph are three major characters: Brenna—determined to find her place in the world yet haunted by the shadows of abandonment and self-doubt; Emily—plagued with grief over the loss of her only child an unable to shake a disturbing sense that something is unresolved; and Nathan—strong and charismatic, discovering that in his search for Brenna, he has found himself. Their story is a tribute to the human experiences of good overcoming evil, the power of persistence, seeking God, and finally, of love enduring against all odds. The Eighth Sea—finding the meaning of our lives, our way home.


About the Author (from Amazon)

Biography
Nancy was raised in Ames, Iowa and is a graduate of Iowa State University. She and her husband Doran have lived in Austin, Texas; Fort Collins, Colorado; and Topeka, Kansas.

In 1979, when Nancy was a senior in high school, her English teacher Grace Bauske (Ames High School, Ames, Iowa), made an off-handed remark to Nancy that she "should be writing." That comment stayed with Nancy for many years until she finally decided to make it happen. Nancy thought about all the things she loved in stories--seeking and finding; romance; perseverance against all odds; the idea that people can be bound together forever; and finally, the universal struggle for all of us, finding our place in the world, our way home. As soon as Nancy made the decision to begin writing, the story came to her...in total.

The actual writing of The Eighth Sea evolved over several years and included extensive research of life aboard a 1700 sailing vessel and the areas of St. Christopher, West Indies (now called St. Kitts); Bath and Bristol, England; and Charleston, South Carolina.

Many unexpected events unfolded for Nancy in the process of writing the novel. One was the creation of a theme song. When Nancy worked on the book, she found find herself humming a little melody. She decided to see if she could play it on the piano. (Nancy barely plays the piano, so this was a task!) When her husband heard the song, he commented, "That sounds like your novel. You should put words to it." A light bulb went off...Nancy got a poem she had written for her character Emily. Nancy had never been able to find a place for the poem in the book. The poem basically dropped into the music. Nancy then gathered a group of musicians and they recorded the song.

The novel is, in part, about a family journeying by ship from England to America in 1769. There is a ship wreck and they think they've lost Brenna, their infant daughter, at sea (when in fact, she was rescued and raised on the island of St. Christopher). The book skips 19 years later to Brenna's life. The song is written from Emily's perspective (Brenna's mother). Emily is never able to come to terms with the loss of her daughter, always sensing that something was not right. The song is Emily willing her thoughts, through the wind and over the sea, to her lost daughter. The painting on the novel cover is of Brenna, standing on a faraway shore, listening.

To hear the song and watch the novel cover being created on canvass by artist Susan Jenkins, please visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6T1SIhdWgk

For more information about The Eighth Sea: www.theeighthsea.com

Nancy is available for presentations and book clubs. She is humbled and moved by the stories she is hearing of the ways The Eighth Sea is touching its readers. She asks that you keep sharing them with her: 8thseaauthor@gmail.com

Nancy is currently working on her second novel.

The Eighth Sea Theme Song:
Words and music by Nancy Geise; Vocals-Gyll Perkins; Piano and Score Translation-Matt Baretich; Cello-Heidi Nagel; Tin Whistle-Pamela Robinson; Orchestral Enrichment-Jerry Palmer; Technical Engineering-Russ Hopkins; Recorded and Produced-KIVA Recording Studio/Russ Hopkins Productions, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Author's photo by photographer Crystal Geise
www.crystalgeise.com

For more art by Susan Jenkins: www.susanjenkinsart.weebly.com



O.Scarlett! REVIEW by Rachel


This book holds a lot of promise, and some genuinely “good spots” that are frequent enough to keep the reader turning pages.   Unfortunately, as a whole, I did not find the story overly enjoyable ... it was good, just not all that great.

The basic plot is a common formula.  A girl in hard circumstances runs away from them, in the process putting herself into far worse of a situation that what she was running from.  A dashing young man comes to her rescue, but because she doesn’t trust anyone, and he isn’t much for communication, things get worse and worse.  Finally, the young man rescues the girl and the rough spots are all worked out and they find themselves madly in love and get married.

“The Eighth Sea” is a Christian Historical Romance.  Yet it pulls up short on all three accounts.  There is a single Bible verse that is on her bracelet that is quoted often, plus referrals to God are frequent, but not so much a part of the story that all Christian influence could easily be removed and the story wouldn’t miss it much.  It is set in the early American days, pre-revolution I think.  Plus a good deal of time is spent on the ship, and in England.  However, it is merely set in those time periods, and doesn’t have very much to do with the story as a whole.   It probably did best in the Romance department, although there wasn’t much steam in the story, but it tried its best to be a tear jerker and with a mystery/adventure twist.   There is plenty of romance, but the characters seemed a bit shallow to me, especially our young hero, who nearly ruined his chances by “teasing” his way through the relationship.

But the worst used literary device was the flashback.  I quickly became confused whenever it was implemented, due to the fact that they were embedded.  So you have a flashback to the shipwreck where Brenna was lost, while they are on the ship, there is a flashback to them packing, which leads to another flashback of an earlier time in their marriage ... and so on, then the flashbacks end and suddenly you are ... when?   It was often difficult to keep all the timelines straight.  Fortunately, the story usually ran along without the flashbacks.

I was somewhat shocked though, when upon reaching the end of the book, to find a substantial amount of “Discussion Questions” for the story.  For those who wish to read the book in a group, I suppose this would lend itself well to the emotional side of the story.

One of the best used literary devices was the near miss.  These were skillfully used to keep the reader turning pages and well involved in the book.  Just as you think things are going to work themsevles out, the plot would take an almost sickening turn as you felt your stomach drop in dismay, as they came so close to working things out, but not yet.  One of the best scenes using this, involved a bath house, Brenna was sneaking around town at night, removing the flyers that Nathan had placed all over the English countryside.  Suddenly, she hears voices and she hides inside, moments later, Nathan and a beautiful young woman arrive.  The young woman sees Brenna, realizes who she is, and deftly avoids saying anything and keeping Nathan occupied.  Brenna is thankful that the woman didn’t give her away, meanwhile, the woman is horrified that Nathan is so close to finding Brenna, because she wants Nathan to marry her.

There are many interesting characters along the way.  Some you will adore, and others quite the opposite.  None are so well developed to make them very memorable, although I found myself liking the first mate quite a lot.

Most young romantic teens will enjoy the story.  It has plenty of good, and interesting twists in the simple plot line.




Note:  The story involves some intense themes.  The reading level is low enough that most 9 year olds could read this book, but material may not be suitable for younger readers.   Descriptions are vague enough though, that the average 12 year old could handle the book.

Each chapter ends with “thought questions” to lend itself to a group study.

Genre/Theme:  Early American History, Romance, England and Ship Life, Mild Christianity


Reading Level:  TEEN - upper elementary to middle school  -  there are a few spots that may be a problem for some younger readers.  Ages 11 and up should enjoy it.
Profanity:  LOW - few mildly offensive words
Sexuality:  MILD - descriptions of affection/desire  -- descriptions of desire from the captain, several compromising situations, attempted rape,  a wedding night, and a woman scantily clad who is trying to seduce a character.
Other: Brenna nearly starves to death, her step father is very abusive, once in England, she runs away and the man who employs her nearly rapes her and frames her for murder.

Norm DaPloom - The Frog Who Would Be Prince

The Frog Who Would Be Prince



By Norm DaPloom


Kindle Edition Available



Product Description (from Amazon) 

Did you know that every 60 seconds another prince is turned into a frog? The Prince of Capitol City was in danger of becoming just another statistic when young Tom discovered him croaking on his bedroom windowsill. Now, with a little help from a cranky old dwarf, an overly optimistic dragon, and a wise-cracking library book, Tom must restore His Majesty to mammal-hood, and that’s not as easy as it sounds.

Along the way they’ll face witches, monstriches, the horrifying (but eminently literate) Bookwyrm, and the dastardly pirate captain Dirty Beard Daggert, with his notoriously bad hygiene and his chronically ill parrot, Admiral Petey. They’ll swim through the innards of a giant sea turtle, witness the unbridled ferocity of a traditional Dwarven meal, and explore the tranquil beaches of Insignifica, where the world’s tiniest armed forces don’t take kindly to trespassers. And – who knows? – they may even learn a thing or two about sniggling while they’re at it.

The Frog Who Would Be Prince is a 60,000 word novel designed for middle readers with an interest in humorous fantasy adventure, but its quirky, off-beat humor will inspire a laugh from readers of all ages.

About the Author (from Amazon)

No Author Information Available

O.Scarlett! REVIEW by Kendra


You see that description up there? This book managed to keep that humor throughout the whole book.

This book is another book that just showed up on my kindle for me to read. The title caught my eye, and made me think “FROG PRINCE RETELLING!” instantly. I was not incorrect in my assumption. This was a Frog Prince retelling – and probably the best Frog Prince retelling I have ever read.

The book starts out with Tom trying to find a dragon. He has a small problem, you see, and his grandfather had once told him that dragons are extremely smart and can solve such problems as the one he has.

His small problem, you see, is that the prince at the castle which he works at … is now the frog that he has in his pocket.

Yep, definitely a small problem.

Well, despite that no one he asks even believes that dragons exist, he has, at last found a dragon – and a dwarf as well to throw into the mix. However, while the description describes the dwarf as being cranky, I didn’t exactly remember him being so. It was the book that was cranky. The dwarf was just as optimistic as the dragon.

Unfortunately, the dragon doesn’t know what to do about the prince turning into a frog, and he can’t find anything about it in his collection of books, so they do the logical thing: go to the library.

They go through all sorts of adventures to get to the library, and then they have to get past the bookwyrm to get the book they want. The answer that the book gives is most disheartening: the prince frog must be kissed by a princess – but not just any princess! They must travel north to find a certain princess who is trapped under a spell of sleep.

I loved that part, too. Not only did the book have the Frog Prince – it also had Sleeping Beauty!

In order to find said princess, of course, they’ve got to go on all sorts of adventures, and they take the library book with them – it has a map, you see. When they go past the return date for the book, the book starts talking and complaining and pretty much ordering them to return it to the library.

The ending was magnificent and totally not what I was expecting. I can’t tell you what happened, as it’s the ending – but it totally threw me for a spin. It’s one of those stories that have a false ending. I’ve decided that I like false endings.

This was the sort of book that I spent half the time I was reading it in laughter. Good laugh out loud belly laughter. As soon as I finished it, I flew to my computer to see if he had any other works. Unfortunately, he has none, but if he were to write any more books, I’d read them in a heartbeat.

Let me say this one more time: This book was amazing. I never knew what could possibly happen next, and just when I thought that everything that could happen had, something new would happen and reduce me to a lump of laughter.


Note: This book would be great as a read aloud to children – especially boys.

Genre/Theme: fairy tale adaptation, humor

Reading Level:  CHILD - children's literature, but would be great for anyone who wants to laugh.
Profanity:  NONE - no offensive language
Sexuality:  NONE - not even hinted at. Nothing beyond the princess kissing the top of the frog’s head.
Other: They get captured by dirty pirates, ships get blown up, they almost get burned and poked to death, and they get eaten by a giant sea turtle. Nothing bad, but it can sometimes be a tad bit scary.

Ernie Lindsey - The Two Crosses

The Two Crosses



By Ernie Lindsey


Kindle Edition Available



Product Description (from Amazon) 

Publication Date: March 26, 2012
When Jay Cross heals a paralyzed man just by shaking his hand, and is able to do it again and again, his quiet, cozy little world is on the verge of shattering.  The one thing that would make it all worth it, the one thing that would make him embrace his abilities, won't work, no matter how hard he tries.

At the same time, only a few miles away, David Kreutzer wipes his hand across his wife's forehead and cures her failing eyesight.  He, too, is able to repeat these healing miracles, and in doing so, he sees the bright glow of dollar signs.  Millions of them.

Where did this ability come from?  Why were they chosen?

And who is the mysterious stranger lurking in the shadows, waiting for his chance to destroy them both?


From the Author
The 'last chapter' Epilogue that reviewers refer to below is no longer present in the current version.

The Two Crosses, as a contemporary fiction novel, could fall into a number of categories.  Readers say it's a blend of literary fiction and others say it's Christian suspense, so there's a little bit in there for a variety of tastes.  You be the judge, have fun with it, and happy reading.  You may want to buckle up, because it is not your mama's Christian Fiction and it does have some rough-around-the-edges language.  The characters question their faith in where a supernatural ability like this could come from, but as a whole, the novel is not overwrought or preachy, as one reviewer kindly states below.  If you have questions or comments feel free to get in touch with me over at ErnieLindsey.com.



About the Author (from Amazon)



Biography
Ernie Lindsey grew up in the Appalachian Mountains of southwest Virginia, herding cattle and chopping firewood, and has spent his life telling stories to anyone that will listen, whether its sitting around a campfire or hunched over a keyboard. He currently works as a freelance writer, and is the author of two novels and numerous short stories. Ernie and his wife Sarah live in Bend, OR.



O.Scarlett! REVIEW by Rachel

Sometimes you wonder “what was I thinking?” when you pick up a book and begin to read it.  Then when you finish you are still wondering “why?”   Such was this book.  There were only two or so characters in the book that I actually felt any degree of “like”.  One was a preacher, and the other was an older man that ran a mechanic shop.  Jay Cross and his girlfriend were alright, but still rather shallow.

The story did have its moments, and there are parts that I really enjoyed, but mostly, it was a book that I was glad to see the end of, and it left a sour feeling.  Maybe some will enjoy it, but it just wasn’t for me.

Some labeled this a Christian novel, and since it deals with faith healing, and God, and there is a preacher that quotes scripture, I suppose it is.  But I was never sure if there was a positive message or not, I was left with a feeling that God was a mystery man, you do your best, and hope He lets you into heaven.

Jay shakes hands with an injured and paralyzed football player one day, and the man begins walking.  He hasn’t walked in three decades, and suddenly he is walking around a grocery store.  Of course news like that gets in the paper.

Somewhere else in America, David’s son wants his parents to see the words on the tree outside.  David touches the words, is jolted, and when he reaches over to touch his wife, suddenly her failing eyesight is restored.

Jay tries to hide his healing powers.  David wants to make money from his.  Jay wants to help others, especially his deaf girlfriend.  David is willing to loose his wife and son in order to gain fame and fortune.  Throughout the book, the two are contrasted.  Neither are particularly faithful Christians, if they can be called Christian at all.

A man hears of a healer, he decides to investigate.  He is something of a mental case, and is sure God wants him to kill the False Preacher Fake Healer.  He bides his time, he is confused by the two names, but there couldn’t possibly be TWO?  Could there?

What did I like?  I enjoyed the constant comparing, contrasting of the two men and their reactions to this seeming random gift of healing.  One timid and wanting to help everyone that he could, but secretly.  And the other loud and pushy and pulling in crowds.

I also liked Ace, Patty, and the country preacher.  The country preacher came the closest to Christian character of anyone else in the book.  I loved the way they helped and advised the young couple looking for answers and help for their ailing car.   I also liked David’s wife and son, as they refused to be a part of the exploitation of “the healing touch”.

What I didn’t care for?  The language, it used God’s name far too often.  I didn’t like the “christen maniac” man, Conner, for me, he pretty much ruined the story.  David was a jerk, as was the man who was helping him.  I can’t think of a single part of the book that Conner was that I liked at all.  The beginning  ... what gives with the butterflies?  Nor did I care for the ending.  Jay seemed to compromise himself.  And I’m not a fan of sensational or vague abrupt endings.

Not everyone will love every book, I know that.  There are many out there who will get a thrill from the faith healers and not be thrown off by the language.  But this was not a book for me.  Parts of it were good enough to pull me along to the end, mostly because I wanted to see how Jay resolved his dilemma, for I didn’t care much for any of the other main characters, and skimmed over many sections trying to avoid the language.



Note:   This topic would be confusing and dull to most youngsters, and would probably not appeal to anyone under 13.  Some parts of the book are quite crass and violent.

Genre/Theme: Suspense / Adventure, Current Time, Healing Preachers

Reading Level: Mature TEEN - high school to college
Profanity: MODERATE/HIGH – lots of mild words & quite a few stronger expletives  --  some characters have very clean language, and others have very bad language.
Sexuality: MILD - descriptions of affection/desire  -  One preacher is married, and his wife leaves him.  The other healer is touring the countryside with his girlfriend, and it is obvious that they are sleeping together.
Other: One person shot and killed, one man is determined to kill the false preacher.

Molly Evangeline - Truth

Truth
The Makilien Trilogy


By Molly Evangeline


Kindle Edition Available 




Product Description (from Amazon) 

Trapped in a village no one is allowed to leave, Makilien yearns for the answers to her questions about life and the world outside the village walls. Yet no one but her closest friend seems to understand or share her desire. Despite her family's fears and warnings of the consequences, she is determined to find answers.

The unexpected arrival of a stranger, and the knowledge he possesses, drives Makilien to drastic action. Confronted with a world she knows nothing about, she must choose carefully who to trust as both good and evil lurk in all places. As a battle looms, one in which will be determined the fate of all, she must decide whether to believe in the One who is truth or fall prey to the lies of the enemy.


About the Author (from Amazon)

Molly Evangeline is the oldest of three, all of whom are homeschool graduates. Since graduating she has actively pursued her writing career and is the author of the historical adventure series Pirates & Faith. She currently lives with her family in Wisconsin where she continues to focus on her writing and other creative endeavors.

O.Scarlett! REVIEW by Kendra


I discovered Molly Evangeline going through the “people who purchased books by this author also purchased books by these authors” list on my own amazon author page. Looking at her book list, and her background, I really wanted to read her books so that I could review them.

So I added her blog to my google reader, and went about my daily life.

Then she posted on her blog a post for volunteers to read and review her books, and that she would send the volunteers a free book. I sent her an email at once volunteering to read Truth, the first book in her fantasy trilogy

And I’m glad I did!

The story is allegorical to the spiritual struggle of God’s people against the evils of the world. It begins with Makilien in her village of Reylaun. She has spent her whole life in this village, as did her parents before her, and their parents before them. In fact, one is not allowed to leave the village without the escort of the black guards that guard the city. It is claimed that this is for their safety, but Makilien has her doubts. She believes that there is more to it than the stories that are told to scare them, but she can’t get anyone else to believe her.

Cue a stranger to visit the village. He is the first stranger Makilien has ever seen, and has been instructed to not talk to anyone or stir up trouble. So, since he may have the answers she seeks, she talks to him.

He confirms that what she has been told all her life was, indeed, lies, and to meet him the next morning so that he can tell her more. Unfortunately, he’s arrested before then.

So she decides to run away and see the outside world for herself.

What she finds is world that, though it is dangerous, the danger is from the people who were supposedly keeping her safe. She meets new friends and becomes involved in a war that she had no idea even existed.

The world that Molly has painted has the magic of both Middle Earth and Narnia plus a magic all its own. The telling is slightly stiff at first, but soon I found it enchanting, the scenes playing out vividly in my head. I only had three bumps in the road from awkward wording.

I loved the Christian Allegory in this book, and how it was handled. As Makilien goes through her journey, her new friends introduce her to Elohim, about whom she has her doubts. How can she believe in something she can’t see? Later she meets Manian … who was masterfully done.

In fact, the only issues I have with the book was that Makilien seemed to lack a feminine side. Personally, the story might have been better had there been a young man in the position of main character. I got the impression from this world that, while it is allowed for women to fight, it doesn’t happen very often, since Vonawyn says that she had once had the option of fighting, and chainmail had been made for her. Now, while I don’t have anything against women fighting, I like there to be good reason, other than simply, she wanted to. I probably would not have had as great an issue if there were mentions of other women in the fight, beyond the female dragon.

Also, some of the characters seemed cookie-cutter and flat, such as Loron. This came of too many characters in too short of the book. However, there are two more books in the trilogy, so both of these issues may be resolved.

This book is definitely now on my list of favorite books. I highly recommend it, and can’t wait to read the next two books.

Genre/Theme: Christian allegory, fantasy, adventure

Reading Level:  TEEN - upper elementary to middle school
Profanity:  NONE - no offensive language, except for the mention of some of the bad guys cursing
Sexuality:  NONE - not even hinted at
Other: There is quite a bit of fighting, both with swords and bows. Enemies get burned alive by the three dragons, and Makilien gets bit twice, once by a wolf, and later by a goblin.

Mike Vasich - Loki

Loki



By Mike Vasich


Kindle Edition Available


Product Description (from Amazon)

God of Mischief. Father of Lies. Harbinger of Destruction. Exiled and tortured by the gods, Loki swears vengeance. He will summon the mighty Fenris Wolf and the legendary Midgard Serpent, and they will lead an army of giants and all the dead in Niflheim. Brimming with the power of the most destructive being in the Nine Worlds, he will not rest till Asgard is in ashes and all the gods are dead under his heel.

About the Author (from Amazon)

"Loki" is the first novel I have finished, and it was born from my love of Norse mythology and the teaching of it in my English class for the last ten years or so. Essentially, it's the story of the traditional villain of the myths--Loki, of course--except it's from his point of view. So instead of being merely a trickster who eventually turns completely evil, there are compelling reasons for his fall, reasons which explain why he takes the actions he does. 

Loki is a compelling character, and you will really feel for him as you read the novel. He's not squeaky clean--far from it!--but I think most readers will easily be able to empathize with him.

The book is loaded with action--I love a good fight scene!--but also has a lot of depth to it. I rewrote some of the traditional myths and interspersed them throughout the book, so that the effect is "myth" followed by "true story." And of course the myths are not always accurate to what "really" happened. There are also plenty of twists, and I think readers will be surprised at many turns even if they are familiar with the myths. I hope you enjoy the story!

O.Scarlett! REVIEW by Rachel

Loki is primarily a retelling of the Norse myths, but not just a telling it in a more understandable way.  Instead the story is retold in an entirely new fashion that gives a glimpse into the creation of myths, the taking of the true, chaining the truth into a poetical story or song, massaging the details to make them sound more interesting ... and then through the years it morphs and changes with the telling, until the truth is hard to see.

Yet this remains a work of fiction.  In each section of the story, a myth or legend of the Norse gods and especially Loki and Odin and Thor is given in a close to original form.  As a teen, I read an extensive amount of mythology, fairy tales, and legends, and tales of Loki and Thor were among them, but my teen years are a long time in the past, so my memory of them is a bit fuzzy.  All I can say for sure is that the mythology stories told in the book, seemed to jive with the memory I have of those stories.

After each myth is told, a masterful retelling of the story begins.  The retelling is somehow more believable, tying meat and brains and muscle to the bare bones of the myths.  Details are toned down, so that the telling seems to be more believable, as if it perhaps happened in just that way.  In the midst of the character development, you catch glimpses of motives and how misunderstandings arose and were flamed.  Evil characters seem more justified, and the good ones have ulterior motives.

Basic Plot

The story opens shortly after one of the many battles between the giants and the gods.  The gods need a wall to be rebuilt, and a man arrives with his horse to offer to rebuild the wall.  The task is so large that the gods are confident that he will never finish in time, but agree to his demands with the knowledge that at least part of the wall will have been built.

The story jumps from one perspective and tale to another, each story giving the reader a piece of the greater puzzle and told in such a way as to explain the reasons behind the myths.  It is as if the story was taking place on a giant rotating stage, with the available point of view changing so that the one watching catches a new detail that was previously unknown and unseen.  The author uses this tactic with skill, and it lends itself well to the apparent unraveling of the myth, and the understanding the reader has of the main characters.  As the story unfolds, you get glimpses of the Allfather’s knowledge of all time and all events in the past, present, and future, all of which must somehow come to pass.  Even with all of his knowledge, he chooses to let the events unfold as he sees them happening.  With each new piece of the story, you soon begin to wonder who is truly the trickster, and who is being tricked.

Loki sees that the gods have been tricked, and the man must be more than he appears, for the wall is being completed with great skill and speed.  He will have no problem finishing his task on time, and gaining his coveted prize.  Loki devises a slight trick, with mere days to go for the task to be completed, a trick that slows the progress just enough to cause the man to fail.   The man is angry, and as he allows his secret power to be seen, he unleashes a great deal of harm and destruction on the gods.  It is by the barest of margins that he is overpowered.  The level of detail of the battles always come just a tad shy of outright gory – but there are enough details to turn the average stomach.  If bloody and sexually charged adventures are not to your liking, then these stories will probably not appeal to you.

When Loki returns with a gift for Odin, he is met with disgust and disdain.  Others do not trust him.  Loki has already begun to question Odin’s motives.  This merely added fuel to his questioning spirit.  Odin summons Loki, and then sends him on a mission to the giant’s home that had sent the mason to rebuild the wall.  Loki and Odin both know that Loki secretly has Chaos inside of him, and that by sending Loki on this mission, the fate of the gods will be sealed, and yet he sends him to be corrupted into their enemy anyway.

As the stories unfold, Loki learns to use his Chaos.  He steals the secret source of their youth.  And he father’s 3 hideous monsters for children with a giantess as their mother.  The other gods take Loki’s children, and Loki is bound and tortured for eternity, but when his werewolf son aids his escape, and his dead daughter that rules the underworlds lends him troupes to aide the battles, and he brings a secret weapon to destroy the gods, will any survive the trickery and the deceit?

I was very impressed with the way the story twisted and turned, giving tiny bits of information out and then turning them over to reveal a very different picture.  The story will give the reader pause, pondering the deeper message behind the myths.  Some may be able to gloss over the book and enjoy it as just a work of fiction.  But as someone who has studied mythology as it ties in to history and religion, I found this point of view to be fascinating and somewhat disturbing.   It is a book that can cause you to question your beliefs and may shake your understanding of “the way things are”, so this will not be a book that I will give to my children. 

Although it has been a few months since I read the book, the story has stayed with me, and occasionally I find myself pondering parts of the book and the way things were worded, and perhaps the bigger picture that the author was painting.  

Yet, there were areas of the book that were rough and difficult to understand.  The wording could have been improved in many locations.  Overall, I felt the book was well written and the story well told.   I think it would be fascinating to see how this author might handle some of the other ancient mythologies and legends of other  countries.

Note:   This book is long, and a rather rambling story, yet some as young as 5^th grade may be able to handle it as an adventure style novel, although with the violence and sexual themes, I would recommend readers be in high school at least, and very good readers who can handle the vocabulary level.   This is not a clean or sweet story, it is blood, sweat, tears, horror, and so much more.  

Genre/Theme:   Mythology,  Norse Myths,  Adventure/Biography style, Fiction

  

Reading Level: Mature TEEN - high school to college 
Profanity: MODERATE - mild words & a few stronger expletives  to
HIGH - many instances of strong language    (There are many instances of “strong language”, but they are not heavily used by every character, nor in every situation.  Many long passages are quite tame.  Other parts are quite crass.)
Sexuality:  OBVIOUS - blatant sexuality in text, but not explicit   (One character/goddess in particular is frequently referred to in a sexual way, and many of the “exploits” of the gods are referred to, but nothing quite reaches the explicit  level.  Many descriptions of lust and bodily beauty of both males and females.  Perverse acts are implied, even if left unsaid.)
Other: One god turns himself into a mare to tempt a stallion, and gives birth to a many legged colt.  A giantess gives birth to 3 monsters.  These monsters are killed or abused as the story progresses – while they are only a few days old.  Many acts of extreme violence during the frequent battles and wars.     There were many places that really turned my stomach in the graphic details.  The gods all age and the aging is graphically detailed.  Tons of trickery and lies, and some is worded to cause you to question all religion.

Yvonne Anderson - Words in the Wind

Words in the Wind
Gateway to Gannah


By Yvonne Anderson 


Kindle Version Available




Product Description (from Amazon)

Dassa is back on Gannah, but things aren’t going the way she’d planned.

A shuttle crash leaves her marooned 10,000 kilometers from the settlement just as a blizzard sets in. Injured, she takes refuge in Ruwach Gorge. Seeking food and shelter, she stumbles across the ruins of a place she’d always thought was a myth. What she finds there casts doubt on some of her fundamental beliefs.

Her husband, Pik, reluctantly takes charge of the settlement in her absence and organizes a search for her. Rebellious settlers and a wayward daughter make things difficult enough. But when the planet’s animals threaten to break the ancient treaty and resume the old Wildlife Wars, Pik’s hard-pressed to hold things together. If he can manage to find Dassa, will she have a home to come back to?

Alone in the mysterious canyon where reality and fairytale are flipped, Dassa wonders the same thing.

About the Author (from Amazon)

Anderson writes fiction that takes you out of this world. Words in the Wind is the second in her Gateway to Gannah series.

Visit her Website

O.Scarlett! REVIEW by Rachel


Warning .. don’t pick up this book unless you have time to be transported to another time and place for several hours.  At nearly 300 pages, it took me around 8 – 10 hours to read.
Pik and Dassa are again the main two characters, but where The Story in the Stars (first book) jumped from location to location, and shifted sub characters several times, this book has two primary locations and only one set of characters. Many of them were in the first book, and it was delightful to get to know them better.

Whereas the first book’s theme was love and forgiveness and the Gospel, this story is about maintaining our Walk with God and obedience and discipline.  There are many spots that will make you squirm in your seat, particularly if you find that character’s words and thoughts too much like your own.  Another splendid novel by Yvonne Anderson, and I feel sure she would say to give the glory to God.

Words in the Wind is not a soft read; it will grab you and work you over a bit.  It will stretch your comfort zone, and pull your comfy chair right out from under you.  I laughed.  I cried.  My heart ached and rejoiced.  I don’t often enjoy emotional books – but this one had a subtle lesson as it took you through the journey and was far beyond the typical “tear-jerker”.

While ‘Stars’ had an underlying “Star Trek” feel to the universe, because the entire story takes place on Gannah, there is very little of that feeling in this book.  Gannah was a familiar location from the first book, and so it felt homey and unique all at the same time.  The plot here is vastly different from ‘Stars.’  The book flips back and forth between Pik’s story and Dassa’s story.

Basic Plot

A decade or more has passed.

Dassa has just finished translating an ancient log book for the Karkar.  She has spent several weeks on a space ship, piloted by the captain of the rescue ship in the first book, Dr. Broward.  In spite of less than clear skies and her better judgment, she opts to return to the surface of the planet, she is so anxious to see her two children and husband Pik again.  But as the shuttle descends, Yasha talks with Dassa about her attitude of aloofness and hiding from him.  Suddenly, things go very wrong ... and the shuttle crashes.

Dassa survives the crash, only to find herself in the most edge of a gorge at the northern edge of the land.  A blizzard is beginning, and temperatures are dropping fast.  She needs to find shelter fast – and in spite of her injuries, including damaging her meah, she escapes the burning shuttle, kills a lion, takes his skin, and manages to escape down the edge of the gorge against all odds of her surviving.  She knows help will arrive ... eventually.  But she also knows that winter has begun, and the storm above could rage unchecked for weeks.  In the meantime, she needs to find food and shelter, warm clothes, and better shoes.  This is one part of her world that she knows very little about.

After many days of travel, which take several chapters due to the extreme danger, she arrives at a statue – and realizes that the mythical cities of the stories of her people are not myths at all.  What she finds inside shakes her to her very core and upends everything she thought she knew about her beloved Gannah’s history.

But she is determined to return home.  She estimates it will take her a year, maybe two, but she will cross all of Gannah with nothing more than her survival skills, her faith in Yasha, and the ghosts that haunt her memories.

Meanwhile ...

Pik has suddenly found himself the Gannah ruler of over 1000 Earthers.  None of them truly understand Gannah yet, and they feel the loss of Dassa as a young child would feel to be suddenly ripped from loving parents.  Dassa’s two children especially feel this loss, as they are separated from their mother’s meah as well – something they have never been without, no matter how far away she has been.  Eventually, the young daughter’s fears and anguish cause her to make an unwise choice and she is badly injured.

Meanwhile, one of the council members uses Dassa’s disappearance to advance his own agenda.  He wants to lead a group to start a second settlement, and he will stop at nothing to get his way.  Pik does his best to treat him fairly and keep the matter private.

The animals come to talk to them – only Adam had a meah to talk to them – and they try to trick the humans into breaking their agreement – and then report that one of them has seen Dassa, but was unable to communicate with her.

The first rescue attempt was called short, but they see signs that Dassa is alive.  But with so many things going wrong at the settlement, and the bad weather of winter, will she be able to continue to survive?  Can the settlement survive without her?

........

Whether you are “into sci-fi” or not, this book is compelling on so many human levels as well.  It will challenge you to re-evaluate where you stand in your faith, and compel you to a more faithful level of obedience.  At least, I found that true for myself.

Now that I’ve finished reading, I find myself mulling over things.  And definitely, I am looking forward to the next book.   The book comes to an end at a good place, but it leaves several problems unsolved and unaddressed, minor issues to be sure, but a vital part of the sub plot.

Thank you so much to Yvonne for inviting us into her world of Gannah.

I handed the books to my sci-fi loving 14 year old daughter, and she is devouring them as well, and has declared them “too good to let me sleep until I know how it ends!”


O.Scarlett! review by V. Kathie

This book did not captivate me as much as the first, but I still enjoyed it. Mom says it is probably because I am not a mother and I never had to deal with the problem of “what would happen to my family if I was separated from them for a large amount of time.” Although that broken arm of hers gave my imagination a work out as I tried to picture the book as it happened. I kept having her reach for things with her right hand but realized that was the one that was broken so I had to switch my mental picture to having her reach with her left hand.
I was able to put this one down a whole lot easier than the last one. But I still had trouble. I enjoyed the lesson and it got me thinking. (I love a book that makes me think, probably why I enjoy listening to Unshackled so much.) If you are the type of person who has a ‘camera’ running in your head while you are reading something you probably will have a bit more trouble reading it than if you are not. I had to walk away from it every thirty minutes to let my ‘camera’ cool off although I do enjoy a good mind stretcher that works with my brain to see things in different lights. I give this book a five star rating and will definitely be reading it over and over and over again.



Note:  Depending on a child’s ability to handle violence, this book could be enjoyed by most Jr. High students, and some in upper elementary.  Violence is not the theme of the book, but is “extreme” (not graphic) on the occasions that it occurs.   Theme is learning obedience and reliance on God through the things that you suffer.


Genre/Theme:  Science Fiction, Survival/Adventure, Christian,
Reading Level:  TEEN - high school to college  (ages 10 and up)
Profanity:  Mild
Sexuality: Very SUBTLE - hinted, but not explicit  -  people marry, have babies, and the Captain flirts
Other: Dassa crashes on the northern most extreme edge of her world (only one land mass) just as winter begins.  Describes crash and the extremes she goes to in order to survive.  At the settlement,  one child is badly injured.  A few descriptions of the violence of the animals of the planet.