The King's Hand

 

 

The Kings Hand

 

Written by Anna Thayer

 

Book Review:

 

This is Book 2 of The Knight of Eldaran Series.

 

Summary of Main Character Eamon Goodman from where it leads off in the first book called the Traitors Heir where hundreds of years ago Eamon’s bloodline turned traitor and helped the one who is now called The Master usurp and Kill The King of Eldaran. The Master has reigned over the River Realm for 532 years now using a powerful book called The NightHolt that helps The Master Control his people and reign his terrible wrath over his Kingdom. Eamon has been Sworn to The Master by way of a Mark that he pledged an Oath of Loyalty to with a mark upon his palms that has hidden powers and secrets kept from him. All who take an Oath of Loyalty receive the mark upon their hands.

 

Little does Eamon know that there is another man who’s Blood Line comes from the Original King and that Eamon knew of him when they played together as childhood friends. Eamon now has also pledged his alliance to the New King and his Bloodline. There is another Book that holds supreme authority stating that The land and all of the River Realm were given to and protected by the King and hid Bloodline. When Eamon swears allegiance to the new King he also realizes that he is now protected by The Kings Grace and has a mysterious Blue Light that occurs when he tries to help heal and protect others. Will Eamon swear to uphold The Kings Grace and defend the new King and all his glory? Or will he woefully be forced to serve The Master by his Oath that secretly controls his own thoughts and evokes fear and evil into his very soul! This book is Eamon’s fight for his very soul while he is promoted through the ranks of the Gauntlet and becomes a Quarter Hand to The Master.

 

This book is very suspenseful and the reader must be vigilant in focusing on the story as it can turn and twist with every page. The character development and plot twists are so often filled with extreme cunning and tension that with every move Eamon makes could be a move that gets himself or anyone of his friends or family killed at any moment. I would rate this book a 5 out of 5 Stars and Cant wait to review the 3rd Installment which I just finished call the Broken Blade. Thank you for such a wonderful, powerful, action packed and soulful ride that this book brings when you read each chapter.

 

I received The Kings Hand by Anna Thayer compliments of Kregel Publications for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This is the second book in the Knights of Elderan series!

 

For more information about The King's Hand, Anna Thayer or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below: 

 

The King's Hand by Anna Thayer

 

You can find Anna Thayer on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels. 

 

For more reviews on The King's Hand, please visit Kregel Publications.

 

Emissary

Book Review for the book titled Emissary by Thomas Locke

Written in a possible mid century type of style where wizards, mages, magic, mystery and a clouded past are just a part of the true underlying story of Hyam. Born and raised by a mother who did not birth him and a father who did not raise him casts shadows of uncertainty and an unresolved past of who Hyam really is. He has powers and can speak forbidden tongues of Milantian, Ashanti, and Elven even from an early age. It was told that anyone speaking or to be of Milantian blood would be killed on the spot. Hyam tries to understand who he is, where he is from and his uncertain future that bids of doom and prophecy.

Reading through the book from the first several chapters sent me in search of Ore as I turned each page. The character development was very well written and with each chapter I could see the characters forming in my imagination! Some of the writing could be better written with explaining how Hyam got from one town to another as in the beginning. It skips a bit without much detail on how the main character gets from one place to another.

Hyam, Joelle, Bryna as well as a flock of other interesting characters fill the pages with a deep sense of sorrow, wanting, and a lust to be free. The main characters could each have a separate book written about them and their races that would be just as fascinating as this book was. I will leave that to the author...

I rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars and would recommend anyone who loves mythical, magical science fiction and fantasy! I received Emissary by Thomas Locke compliments of Revell Publishers and Edify Media Group for my honest review. I received this book for free with no monetary exchange either written or expressed for my sole review. Thomas Locke is the pseudonym for Davis Bunn as he launches into a new genre of novels for readers. Davis Bunn has long been a favorite author of mine and this was did not disappoint. Definitely one I would recommend to fans of novels like The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and Chronicles of Narnia. This is the first novel in the Legends of the Realms Series due out in January of 2015, with a teaser prequel The Captive out now! I can't wait for the sequel and once again this author has found a true treasure in this book lover's heart!

For more information about Emissary, Thomas Locke or where you can preorder a copy of Emissary today, please click on the links below:

Emissary by Thomas Locke

You can find Thomas Locke on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

To read more reviews, please visit Revell Publisher's website. 

The Traitor's Heir

 

 

Title: The Traitor’s Heir

Author: Anna Thayer

Series:  Book one of the Fantasy Trilogy, The Knight of Eldaran

Publisher: Kregel Publications

ISBN: 978-1782640752

 

My Review: 

A fantasy novel written in somewhat Medieval Times about a the main character by the name of Eamon Goodman, who for the right idea, pledged his service to The Master. Through his childhood, Eamon thought of being a chivalrous Knight or servant of The Hand, the illustrious right hand guard of The Master. Little did he know that upon pledging himself the day he was to become a servant and Ensign of The Master that things would never be the same. The cities and towns who fall under the protection of The Master are protected and kept safe by The Throned one, but are they under his protection or enslaved by his powers and armies?

 

His childhood friend, a girl by the name of Aeryn, who grew up watching him turn from a young boy with a harsh childhood into a brave young man warned him about accepting the Mark and swearing to obey The Master’s Commands. Wishing to prove himself worthy, he disregards his best friends advise and pledges himself to The Master. Will Eamon be lured over to the Dark Forces of The Master or will he reveal himself to be a King’s Man from a time before the Thrown was stolen!  The rest of the story will have to be read rather than reviewed!

 

Read for yourself the story of Eamon Goodman to see if he truly is a Traitor's Heir or if he makes his own history in this epic novel.

 

I received The Traitor's Heir by Anna Thayer compliments of Kregel Publications for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. I rate this book a 5 out of 5 Stars! It has tales of old heroes and a plot that would rival the great King Arthur and The Knights of Camelot! This is the first book in The Knight of Eldaran Series Trilogy and a debut novel as well. I can't wait to read the next novel in the series, The King's Hand!

 

For more information about The Traitor's Heir, Anna Thayer or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below: 

 

The Traitor's Heir by Anna Thayer

 

You can also find Anna Thayer on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels. 

 

To read more reviews on The Traitor's Heir, please visit Kregel Publication's website. 

 

 

Terminus

If I may make one statement about Christian fiction, it is simply this, it's fiction. It's taking a general idea about something the Bible clearly defines and writing a story around that idea. Sometimes when I read reviews about Christian Fiction from other reviewers, the first thing they do is pick the book apart about how untrue the book is relating to certain aspects of what the Bible teaches. Yet what they fail too often to understand is that it's a fictional story not a non fiction. With that being said I have to say Terminus by author Joshua Graham is everything a Christian Fictional book should be. I can sum it up simply by saying City of Angels with dark suspense thriller twist.

The Bible speaks briefly of the Nephilium, a child created by fallen angels and humans that lived in the Old Testament times. Joshua uses just this analogy to create some of his characters in Terminus. Nikolai is an angel who has made some mistakes in choosing to fall in love with a human in the late 1900s' against the laws of Angels forbidding such an interaction. Now serving time for his disobedience to God shuttling souls of those that he believes shouldn't have to die, he grows weary of being a Reaper 3rd Class. When he gets an opportunity to transport souls that should have to die, he feels a sense of justification for this job.

Assigned to his new boss, Lena gives Nicolai details of his tasks. To make sure the three humans follow through on the paths they have chosen, each will have a hand at misguiding many thousands of people and in the process altering the future in disastrous ways. He needs to hasten them to self-destructive ends they have chosen before they can cause incalculable harm. The first is a well known and publicized evangelist, Jonathan Hartwell, the second is Hope Matheson, a suicidal homeless woman, and the third, Lito Guzman, a notorious drug lord. Unsure just what the connection between them is, Nicolai soon learns that not everything is as it appears and begins to question his latest assignment.

I received Terminus by Joshua Graham compliments of Redhaven Books and Pump Up Your Book Tours for my honest review and received no compensation for a favorable one. I love books on spiritual warfare and I think Joshua Graham did an incredible job at taking us into the heart of Nicolai. To see how they can interact with humans and the powers that some of them are able to possess. You have to read this with an open mind because there are those occasions where we may in fact find ourselves in the company of angels or being influenced by demons. One thing is clear in reading this novel is that forgiveness can be found in the most dire of circumstances and any life can be turned around if we are willing to seek God. The best part I really enjoyed was the constructs, something angels can create at will. To find out more, you'll have to read this one. I loved this twist on a spiritual warfare novel and can't wait to add Joshua Graham to my watch list. Terminus has found a forever home in my personal library and rates a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Terminus, Joshua Graham or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Terminus by Joshua Graham

You can also follow Joshua Graham on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

For more reviews on Terminus on the Pump Up Your Book Tour, please click here. 

Broken Wings

Sabres.

"I look more carefully at the angels before us. They're larger than any I've seen before, and brighter. I count them on approach - a dozen - and then I watch them, trying to understand their movements. Light curls around them, tendrils of incense rising into the sky.

"What are they doing?" Jake asks.

"They're worshiping," I say awestruck.

Is there a rhyme or reason to where they've positioned themselves? Some of them kneel, some of them stand staggered across the rock, but the one thing they all seem to have in common is their wings. They're metallic. Not just in color, but in their very construction, it seems. I have an inexplicable need to reach out and touch them, to run my fingers over a single feather.

"They're huge," Jake says. "How tall are they, Canaan?"

"Eight, nine feet." There's no mistaking the amusement in his voice.

We're close now, so close that I can see that touching a Sabre's wing may be the fastest way to lose an arm. I set to examining the nearest one. He's gigantic, like Jake said. And his eyes are pure white, trademark white. Like Canaan's. Like Helene's. He has the celestial gaze of one who'd lay down his life for another. His skin, too, is white, so white it looks almost silver. His muscled arms and chest make Canaan look trim. But as much as I can find things to admire about his physique, it's his wings that so separate him from any other angel I've seen.

Their beauty is staggering, their design inexplicable. Where I expect to see rows and rows of snowy white feathers, one blade lies on top of another - thousands of them - sharp and glistening silver. I can't help but compare each and every one of them to the dagger that pierced my chest this past December. To the instrument of death that bled me dry on a rooftop.

Yet these blades are pristine, polished, organic even. The Sabre adjusts them and they ripple, a trilling tune making its way to my ears. His kinsmen do the same, and the skies fill with music. Loud, warlike, with a tremor of delicate strings woven through it. It's unlike anything I've ever heard. My throat tightens with emotion, and I gasp again and again."

In the second book in the Angel Eyes Trilogy, author Shannon Dittemore pulls back the celestial veil once more to reveal the spiritual realm in her novel Broken Wings. Brielle has been given a unique gift and it's just that gift that has her the target of the darkness in spiritual realm. Now the Palatine, a demonic army is on the move and is now looking to find Brielle and Jake, two humans who have been gifted with divine powers. They now have to do whatever they can to stay one step ahead of the enemy and one they can't risk telling anyone about. After all, how many people do you know that have the ability to see angels and demons when they remain invisible to everyone else?

The author picks up just where we left off in the debut novel Angel Eyes, and Brielle is just coming to terms with the fact she is now the wanted by the demonic army. She has been given a unique gift of being one of God's redeemed and thus her supernatural gift that before she was only able to use when holding an angelic halo. Now her vision is being honed in a remarkable way and she soon learns that prayers and scripture memorization have more power than she ever imagined. Will she be able to save those she loves while she learns something about her past that my break more than her spirit?

I received Broken Wings by Shannon Dittemore compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers and Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Tours for my honest review. I have not received any monetary compensation for a favorable review. I simply live for books like these since reading my first "Darkness" book from Frank Peretti! Shannon takes that a step further endowing her characters with a sense of frailty even though that have spiritual gifts that most of us would die to have. They fail to realize that the real power doesn't come from their gifts but from the God who created them and until they apply those same spiritual principles that are available to all of us, they remain weak despite their talents. I rate this one another 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait to pick up Dark Halo that comes on in late 2013. I would highly recommend that you read, Angel Eyes before picking this one up or you will be completely lost at the concepts discussed that make this book so incredible to inhale. 

For more information about Broken Wings, Shannon Dittemore, or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Broken Wings by Shannon Dittemore

You can also follow Shannon Dittemore on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews from the Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Tour on Broken Wings, please click on the links below:

Gillian Adams
Julie Bihn
Jennifer Bogart
Beckie Burnham
Pauline Creeden
Janey DeMeo
Theresa Dunlap
Emma or Audrey Engel
Victor Gentile
Nikole Hahn
Becky Jesse
Jason Joyner
Karielle @ Books à la Mode
Carol Keen
Emileigh Latham
Shannon McDermott
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Megan @ Hardcover Feedbackhttp://rebeccaluellamiller.wordpress.com/"> Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
Nathan Reimer
James Somers
Kathleen Smith
Jojo Sutis
Steve Trower
Phyllis Wheeler
Shane Werlinger

Judge

"Child of dust, will you be My servant?"

When both Kien Lantec and the prophet Ela Roeh of Parne receive messages from the Infinite, they will each be called to do His will in different ways and in different lands. For Kien Lantec, it is usually through the voice of Ela the Prophet that the Infinite speaks His words to the people, but now, Kien has heard His voice to journey to the land of ToronSea like the biblical prophet Jonah to bear witness and seek to deliver a message to repent and turn from their evil ways. If they refuse, the Infinite will pour forth his wrath upon their land and destroy them. Kien sets out on his journey to the sea and thinks that he will only be gone for six days. But like the prophet Jonah from the Bible, Kien sets out to deliver the Infinite's message in his terms and without His guidance and suddenly finds himself being disciplined and cast over a cliff into the sea. Ela had warned him that he needed to follow the Infinite's commands and somehow he failed. Now faced with being swallowed by a giant sea beast, Kien wonders if Infinite will hear his pleas of repentance and forgive his foolishness.

Ela of Parne has received a devastating vision of her home of Parne. If her people will not turn back from their idol worship of the goddess Atea and return their faith back to the Infinite their kingdom will be overrun by their enemies from other lands and they will all be destroyed. Along with their precious gold, their enemies have discovered various ores that have been mined in Parne and with them the ability to weld weapons that will wreck havoc on all who come against them, allowing them to become the dominant kingdom and rule all other lands. But when Ela heads to her home, she finds she is not welcomed as one who has the favor of the Infinite. They are even now plotting to kill her and refuse to turn their wicked hearts away from the desires of their evil hearts. Will Ela also face the same vision she has had of her own death in Parne or will somehow the Infinite seek to save her like the lost cities of Sodom and Gomorrah of the Old Testament?

I received, Judge by R.J. Larson compliments of Bethany House Publishers and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. Having read the first book in the Book of the Infinite Series which became with the story of how Ela became the Prophet, I couldn't wait to see where R.J. Larson would take the series next. Armed with some serious biblical historical facts, the author weaves such a magical story you are completely captivated until the very end. If you love biblical fiction with a bit of fantasy thrown in for some added flavor and excitement, please consider this series. I think my favorite parts of the book deal with the Destroyers, an overly large horse that senses danger in those in protects and can understand their human owners commands. Oh how I would LOVE to see these beasts in picture. That is my only criticism of the books is they lack pictures of how wonderful the world is that R.J. Larson creates but then again, that's what imagination is for. This one rates a stellar 5 out of 5 stars and has me completely looking forward to the next book, King due out soon!

For more information about Judge, R.J. Larson or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Judge by R.J. Larson 

You can also find R. J. Larson on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest books.

To read more outstanding reviews on Judge from the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance book tour, please click here. 

Moonblood

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Moonblood Bethany House Publishers (April 1, 2012) by Anne Elisabeth Stengl
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Anne Elisabeth Stengl makes her home in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she enjoys her profession as an art teacher, giving private lessons from her personal studio, and teaching group classes at the Apex Learning Center. She is married to the handsome man she met at fencing class and lives with him and a gaggle of cats. She studied illustration at Grace College and English literature at Campbell University. Heartless is her debut novel.

Anne Elisabeth is also the author of the Tales of Goldstone Wood, a series of fantasy adventure novels told in the classic Fairy Tale style.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Moonblood Draws Near, and Soon the Dragons Will Wake

Desperate to regain the trust of his kingdom, Prince Lionheart reluctantly banishes his faithful servant and only friend, Rose Red. Now she is lost in the hidden realm of Arpiar, held captive by her evil goblin father, King Vahe.

Vowing to redeem himself, Lionheart plunges into the mysterious Goldstone Wood, seeking Rose Red. In strange other worlds, Lionheart must face a lyrical yet lethal tiger, a fallen unicorn, and a goblin horde on his quest to rescue the girl he betrayed.



With the Night of Moonblood fast approaching when King Vahe seeks to wake the Dragon's sleeping children, Lionheart must discover whether or not his heart contains courage before it's too late for Rose Red . . . and all those he loves.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Moonblood, go HERE.

My Review:

Moonblood is the third book in Tales of Goldstone Wood series by Anne Elisabeth Stengl. I deeply enjoyed the first two books called Heartless and Veiled Rose where the two main characters are a veiled girl named Rose Red and the Prince of Southlands, Leo or Lionheart as referred to in the book. This story takes place after the dragon that has scorched all of Southlands and several other capitals and countryside's. Leo has come back to sort out many of the problems that have plagued his country for the 5 long years of imprisonment. The castle and land have been ravaged by the legendary dragon poison where nothing grows and poison seeps into the land and it’s people. Rose Red has promised to stay by Leo’s side, but will that be enough when another dragon is sighted and Rose Red is seen bringing back the limp and unconscious Prince. How will the story end and will this dragon be slayed, or is there some other plot that is unknown!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end and loved this series. I would rate this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars for although the content was great, there were times when the chapters would drag out a little and I would find myself falling asleep at night. As for the characters, I simply loved the storyline between Leo, Rose Red, the Price of Farthestshore, Una, Felix the Prince of Parumvir as well as many others. Please pick up the book and read the series from first to last.

I received Moonblood by Anne Elisabeth Stengl compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review and have to say this has been an incredible series to have the opportunity to read from beginning to end. It's a definite must read for fans of Christian Medieval Fantasy books and the characters, creatures and lands are well-thought out. The best part about Anne's books in this series, is that they are unpredictable in that she doesn't give too much away to the readers at the beginning that they can sense the direction the story is headed. LOVE that in a writer!

Now the sad part, I am finished with this book and can only hope that Anne continues to write many more books in the future. Her talent as an author is assured by this reader! For more information about this book, the author and where to get in on this exciting series of books, please click on the links below:

Moonblood by Anne Elisabeth Stengl

You can also follow Anne Elisabeth Stengl on Facebook by clicking here and get some incredible insights into her book series.

The Realms Thereunder

Ross Lawhead has taken his first step in fulfilling a fantasy-genre fictional based storyline that I will no doubt have to read the next book called The Fearful Gates according to the advertisement at the conclusion of this book, even though his blog site states that The Hero's Throne is book 2 so on that part I am a bit unclear which will come out first.

In The Realms Thereunder, the first book in the Ancient Earth series, he has a great storyline that you can relate to regarding a secret history of England and the sleeping Knights who protect the realms of ancient Earth before, during and after of any evil doing. I found myself immersed in this book for the first few chapters. I found the characters of Freya and Daniel to be compelling and well written. However, after the first 4 to 5 chapters I found myself being confused on the storyline where Freya is once in a chapter with Daniel and 2 other knights, then is all of a sudden pregnant and has a different story line altogether. I found myself disconnected with how it switched from past to present, one realm to a different realm and one story to another very distracting! I found myself being very confused between which part of the story line I was at and had to skip either back or forward to find myself figuring out where I should be.

Better time frame negotiation and chapter development should be given to better straighten out the story as most readers I feel would be very confused in this book. I feel like Ross who although has a great storyline, needs to define the chapters and stories within stories to better give understanding of where each character is at. I think that while he definitely has a great premise for storytelling, I was let down on many occasions trying to figure out where the characters were going or coming from. Chapter formatting and development needs to be well written and chronological instead of fragmented the way this book is structurally put together haphazardly.Now don't get my wrong, some readers may love the way this book is written but since I process my thoughts logically, I found myself getting lost in what was happening several times through this book and had to go back and re-read sections to see where I might have missed something.

I would rate this book a 3 out of 5 stars for The Realms Thereunder by Ross Lawhead.

For Ross’s first book however, he has a strong writing ability that will hopefully bring more fluidity and structure to his next series of books to come. It's also difficult to not be compared to your father's books and writing styles when you are just starting out as an author. Yet he has been published and I am quite confident that his books will only get better as he continues to write. I received this book compliments of Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy for my honest review.

For more information on this book, the author and where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

The Realms Thereunder by Ross Lawhead

You can also learn more from Ross's website by clicking here.

Here are more reviews from readers participating in this book tour:

Gillian Adams
Red Bissell
Keanan Brand
Beckie Burnham
Melissa Carswell
Jeff Chapman
http://csffblogtour.com/"> CSFF Blog Tour
Theresa Dunlap
Emmalyn Edwards
April Erwin
Victor Gentile
Tori Greene
Nikole Hahn
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Timothy Hicks
Christopher Hopper
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Rebekah Loper
Marzabeth
Shannon McDermott
http://rebeccaluellamiller.wordpress.com/"> Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirriam Neal
Eve Nielsen
Nissa
John W. Otte
Donita K. Paul
Joan Nienhuis
Crista Richey
Sarah Sawyer
Chawna Schroeder
Kathleen Smith
Donna Swanson
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Shane Werlinger
Nicole White
Rachel Wyant

The Song of Unmaking

We have an author to introduce to you and the kids in your life - young-adult fantasy novelist Dean Barkley Briggs. After losing his wife of 16 years, Dean created a tale his four sons could relate to in their own journey through loss - thus was born The Legends of Karac Tor, a sweeping epic of four brothers enmeshed in the crisis of another world. In God's timing, Briggs remarried Jeanie, who'd lost her husband in an auto accident. Together with her four children, they spend each day grateful for their eight blessings. This series is great for teens and pre-teens.

He was once the greatest champion in the land. Then he disappeared. With Nemesia's defeat, the Barlows have helped turn the tide in the Hidden Lands. But the victory is short-lived. An even greater evil stirs in the north with a fierce new army bent on destruction. As the twins, Gabe and Garret, discover their own special powers, a thin thread of hope emerges: long ago, a fabled king was rescued from death on our world and hidden on Karac Tor. Who is he? Each brother has their part to play. Hadyn must travel north to warn the land rulers, which leaves Ewan with a bitter choice. Will he sacrifice what is most precious to discover whether Corus lives? Even more important, if Corus is alive, can he wake the Sleeping King of legend...before it's too late?

About The Author:

D. Barkley Briggs is an author with a background in radio, public relations, product development, and-for eleven years-pastoring. He and his wife Jeanie, both previously widowed, live in the Midwest along with their eight children. (Yes, we are regularly amazed, too.) Learn more at hiddenlands.net.

My Review:

As I turn the first page past the prologue and start reading, I am immediately taken back to ancient times in another world with gnomes, viks, witches, champions and dare I say an old King from legends long ago! This story bases itself upon the 4 young Barlow Brothers and their father who have somehow come through a portal into this new unforgiving and brutal land. The king of legend must awaken and decide if he shall rule of if Odessa the Vanir who rules over the existing country will rule and he will follow. What of this mysterious Sound machine that threatens all of the world into darkness, and who will stop it before it is completed?

This novel is one in the Legends of Karac Tor series and is a great read by itself! I would recommend that you purchase the first books and read the entire series as at first it took me a while to acclimate to the characters and the story line since it is not the first book in the series. I did love the relationships of the 4 brothers who learn how to come together and take care of each other when times get rough and really bond learning their new gifts as a result of going through the portal to a new time and place. Definitely a gripping story taking you through twists and turns at every page! I loved the book and cannot wait to get the rest of series in the novel to read up on the beginning and the end.

I rate this book on a scale of 1 to 5 stars, a 5 out of 5! Thank you D. Barkley Briggs for creating such a wonderful series and book! I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is a fantasy and mythical lover!I received this book from Glass Roads Public Relations at no charge for my express review only.

Huge Prize Pack Giveaway:

D. Barkley Briggs is offering one of the largest giveaways of Christian Books that I have ever seen on his Facebook page. You can click here for the details of what you need to do to enter this giveaway for a chance to win 48 books from 15 different Christian authors and it's so easy to do. The giveaway will end on November 30, 2011 so make sure you hop on over there and get all the details! You won't want to miss this one!

Monster In The Hollows

Sneakery, betrayal, and the deadly secret of Chimney Hill. How could you not be hooked by a simple sentence on the front of the book? Well, the sentence that hooked me, kept me intrigued and on the edge of my seat for the entire book. This is a great novel and I can’t wait to sink my teeth into book four of the series. Scratch that, I think I need to start at the beginning and read the first two other books to really know the entire Wingfeather Saga! This book is definitely a stand alone book even though it is the third book in the series. Janner (Throne Warden) and older brother to Kalmar, (Next High King in line) find themselves mixed up in so many adventures and mysteries that you just have to read for yourself to see whether they come out dead or alive!

The main Characters are the three children of Esben Wingfeather, great and high King of Anniera, problem is, there is no more Anniera as it has been set afire for over nine years and is still burning. This magical island that holds many keys to the three children and their family’s heritage. The mother, Nia, Queen of Anniera has been on the run and keeping her children out of the dreaded hands of Gnag the Nameless! She has been running for so long that they family has no where else to turn other than to set sail across the Sea of Darkness if they can cross it alive to the Green Hollows, where there fellow Hollowsfolk have been keeping their borders clear of the Fang! When Nia, Janner, Kalmar and Leeli finally get to the Green Hollows, they soon find themselves more in fear of the townsfolk are saying about them then the Fang! The story line is so chalk full of mystery, sneakery, betrayal and treachery that you will not want to put the book down once you start.

I loved this book! It is a great read especially for the young reader between 12 and 21. This fantasy book really stretches your imagination and takes you into the world of the writers mind! I would rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to anyone and everyone! Thank you Andrew Peterson for such a great story!I received this book compliments of Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy Blog Tours for my honest review and can't say enough positive things about it, then to pick up a copy for yourself and read it! You won't be disappointed!

For more information about this book, the author and where to check out other reviews on this book, please click on the links below:

The Monster In The Hollows by Andrew Peterson

You can visit the series website by clicking here.
You can also visit the author's website by clicking here.

More reviews can be found by clicking on any of the links below:

Gillian Adams
Red Bissell
Jennifer Bogart
Thomas Clayton Booher
Beckie Burnham
http://csffblogtour.com/"> CSFF Blog Tour
D. G. D. Davidson
http://in--and--out.blogspot.com/"> Cynthia Dyer
Amber French
Nikole Hahn
Ryan Heart
Timothy Hicks
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Shannon McDermott
http://rebeccaluellamiller.wordpress.com/"> Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirriam Neal
* Eve Nielsen
Joan Nienhuis
Donita K. Paul
Sarah Sawyer
Chawna Schroeder
Tammy Shelnut
Kathleen Smith
Donna Swanson
Rachel Starr Thomson
Robert Treskillard
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
Nicole White
Rachel Wyant

Halith

In Aessyra, war is imminent. The wise ponder the meaning of an ancient prophesy of destruction. Scattered across the land on fragments of parchment, these cryptic words consume them, spurring them into action...

But what if the wise are wrong?

Sixteen year old Halith only wants to meet her father, the High King, but her mother and a strange man have other plans for her. She is sent away for fosterage, 'for her own good'. Plans go astray, and Halith rails against her fate, longing to know who she really is in this world. As she begins her journey along the Way of the Warrior, she becomes entangled in the Third Great War, and learns the meaning of both friendship and betrayal.

In the novel, Halith by Kirsten Kelly, the adventure begins when Halith leaves her mother after learning they plan on marrying her to someone that she does not love. Fleeing in the middle of the night, taking nothing with her, she heads into the deep forest in hopes of remembering her way back to the Abbey that was home to her long ago.

Upon arriving she learns that if she does not want to go back to her mother and marriage plans then the Sister gives her the option of becoming a warrior. She aims to make her father proud and even though she is inexperienced under Captain Garrin, she hopes to earn her way in the world ridding the land of thieves and goblins to pay for her training. She is alone and though she remains strong, she still has a lot to learn before the war begins.

I received this book compliments of Pump Up Your Book Tours and Kirsten Kelly for my honest review and was hooked from the very beginning. Reminiscent of Lord of the Rings but dealing with a young girl named Halith, trying to make it in a difficult world that is preparing for war among thieves, goblins, orcs, dwarves and elves, she will learn who she can trust and who will ultimately betray her. What makes the character unique is her strength, bravery and courage in the face of all that she comes up against. At sixteen, I know just leaving for a long journey alone not knowing what I would face, would have challenged me. Halith is a great character for young women to look up to.

This book is available in paperback and eBook formats and in my opinion rates a 5 out of 5 stars. The content is amazing, filled with detail and action on every page, you feel you are a quiet observer along for the ride of your life. For even more information about the book, the author and where to purchase a copy for yourself, click on the links below:

Halith by Kirsten Kelly

Kirsten Kelly lives in Miami, Florida where she enjoys kayaking, fishing, and travel. Like her characters, she lives for good friends, good food, and the next adventure. You can visit Kirsten Kelly’s website at www.pcwbooks.com

Veiled Rose

In fairy tales not all of them end with a happily ever after. Sometimes there are parts of the story we never really get to know. There are people that seem like the supporting character in the story, but once we learn their part of the story, it really does change how we view the story.

Leo at only eleven had been told what to do, when to do it and how it should be done. Yet what a boy at eleven really wanted was adventure. Adventure the was best lived outside the fairie tales of books, once that existed in the real world. When he learned that a monster lived in the deepest, darkest woods just outside his home in Hill House, he began in earnest to seek out its secrets despite his overwhelming fear.

Armed with a beanpole as a sword given to him by the old gardener on the property and a warning that what he seeks isn't always what it appears, he tries to hold on to bravery as he searches for a path in the darkness of the forest. What he finds there is just an old nanny goat, who scares him more than any monster would. But the goat isn't alone, it belongs to Rose Red, a girl cloaked in rags from head to toe and veils that show only her kindest eyes.

Seeking true friendship for both is what unites them and keeps them company during the long, hot days of the summer, until the day Leo mentions hunting the monster once more. When she leads him to the cave where the monster dwells it will lead them both on an unforgettable journey into the lands of legends and fairie tales.

In the sequel to the Tales of Goldstone Woods series, Veiled Rose by Anne Elisabeth Stengl, picks up as a prequel of sorts to Heartless. You won't figure it all out until the end, and just when you think you have uncovered the secrets that lay hidden in the darkness, you'll be surprised once more. For those that love fantasy in dealing with dragons, dreams and mythical creatures, like Lord of The Rings Trilogy or the Chronicles of Narnia, then this one is perfect for you. Set amid the hope of romance and love, some things will never be the way we want them to be and for this reason, I loved this book. It's unpredictable in so many ways and thus rates a perfect 5 out of 5 stars.

I received this book compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review.For more information on this book, the author including where to purchase a copy for yourself, please click on the link below:

Veiled Rose by Anne Elisabeth Stengl

You can also follow her on Facebook by clicking here.

Her first book Heartless is available for those of you that have a Nook for free right now. Trust me you won't want to miss it. Great new series!

The Ale Boy's Feast

Sometimes the best thing about getting to book number 4 is that you don't have to wait long before picking up a great series and reading it through from beginning to end. That's just where The Ale's Boy's Feast comes into play from author Jeffrey Overstreet. This is the final book in the Auralia Thread fantasy series and you won't want to miss how each book links to the previous one through each characters developments and how they arrived at where they are in this one.

Here is the summary just in case you have already read the previous three or want to see what direction this one goes:

The king is missing.
His people are trapped as the woods turn deadly.
Underground, the boy called Rescue has found an escape.

Hopes are failing across The Expanse. The forests, once beautiful, are now haunted and bloodthirsty. House Abascar's persecuted people risk their lives to journey through those predatory trees. They seek a mythic city - Abascar's last, best hope for refuge - where they might find the source of Auralia's colors.

They journey without their king. During a calamitous attempt to rescue some of his subjects from slavery, Cal-raven vanished.

But his helper, the ale boy, falling through a crack in the earth, has discovered a slender thread of hope in the dark. He will dare to lead a desperate company up the secret river.

Meanwhile, with a dragon's help, the wandering mage Scharr ben Fray is uncovering history's biggest lie - a deception that only a miracle can repair.

Time is running out for all those entangled in The Auralia Thread. But hope and miracles flicker wherever Auralia’s colors are found.

The characters are brilliantly well written and you find that they themselves have the same character flaws as we do but have the ability to summon up heroic abilities when they need to.

In this conclusion to the series we have the answers we have been searching for since book one. The mystery between Deathweed and the Essence is finally revealed, love between some of our favorite characters are finalized, and in the end justice is dispensed and redemption comes at a cost. The books in the series are Auralia's Colors (1), Cyndere's Midnight (2), and Raven's Ladder (3).

I received this book compliments of Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy Blog Tours in conjunction with Jeffrey Overstreet for my honest review. I am looking forward to reading this series from beginning to end to see how the story lines develop and how each characters journey changes from beginning to end. Picking this one up strictly by itself would be like picking up the final book in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and trying to make sense of it. Yet if you love mythical novels along the lines of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, then this is a great series to pick up. This one rates a 5 out of 5 stars. This book is available in paperback and eReader formats.

For more information about the author, check out his website, by clicking here.

If you want to order not only this book, but the others in the series as well, visit Amazon by clicking here.

For even more great reviews, check out this amazing reviewers:
Gillian Adams
Red Bissell
Grace Bridges
Beckie Burnham
Morgan L. Busse
Valerie Comer
http://csffblogtour.com/"> CSFF Blog Tour
Shane Deal
Chris Deane
http://in--and--out.blogspot.com/"> Cynthia Dyer
Andrea Graham
Katie Hart
Ryan Heart
http://www.613media.com/"> Bruce Hennigan
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Dawn King
Inae Kyo
Shannon McDermott
Shannon McNear
Karen McSpadden
http://rebeccaluellamiller.wordpress.com/"> Rebecca LuElla Miller
Eve Nielsen
John W. Otte
Sarah Sawyer
Kathleen Smith
Donna Swanson
Rachel Starr Thomson
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Phyllis Wheeler

Breath of Angel

Legend has it that the within the Tree of Wisdom held a great stairway. This stairway would allow angels and the souls of those who passed on to make their way to heaven. Yet the story would reveal that the protector of the Tree, an angel called Dreia, who gave the juice of one of the fruits from the tree, that held knowledge and cleverness to a man in despair searching for a perfect gift. What she did not intend was for this handsome man to ask for a fruit from the tree, but with his insistence and begging, she relented.

However their was a bargain to be made in exchange for the fruit, that the first living thing that the man should come across on his way home would be the payment for the fruit. Deep within the man's mind, he knew right away without fail that the first thing to greet him when he returned home would be his hunting dog. So with a smile, he agreed and took the fruit.

When he was just about home, his young niece came running out to meet him with news of his hunting dog had died. The man was grieved to know that she would be the payment for his foolish decision,

Now legend has it that the Tree was destroyed and that the angels are earth-bound here until the stairway is restored. Not only that it's not just the angels from heaven that are bound here, but also the ones called malevolents, whose goal it is to keep the stairway from being restored. This way, all the souls that pass on are kept in the underworld.

I received the first book in the newest series, The Angeleon Circle, called Breath of Angel by Karyn Henley compliments of WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers for my honest review. I can tell you that I LOVED this book. I can't wait to read each and every single one that follows this because the story was amazing. The battle that is being waged between the Angeleon (good angels) and the malevolents (evil angels) ties in with the creatures that live in the various kingdoms looking to retrieve three magical harps and the son of the guardian of the Tree. With those tools and the perfect alignment of the stars, the stairway may be able to be restored.

This book rates a perfect 5 out of 5 stars for it's amazing ability to hold the readers attention to the storyline and provide a great Christian Fantasy story that deals with the unseen world. This book is available in paperback and eBook formats. Trust me, you'll want to get hooked on this series. For more information about this book, the author and where to purchase a copy of the book, please click on the link below:

Breath of Angel by Karyn Henley

Dragons of the Valley

In the peaceful land of Chiril, ruled by King Yellat, he is informed of a plan to take over the lands and his kingdom by his rival King Odidoddex.

The only thing that hold his kingdom together are three mystical statues called, the Trio of Elements. When they are together and aligned as originally designed, nothing went awry. But when separated, physical changes erupted in the countryside, the ground sinks into deep holes, trees fall over and other disastrous anomalies occur.

Not only that but the artist, Verrin Schope, that created them from one stone, the same stone that Wulder had used the marvelous piece of marble as a cornerstone for the world He created. He too would literally come apart, his being dissipating and scattering. And each fracturing and reassembly took a toll on the artist's health.

So plans are laid forth to remove the statues and keep them from the enemies that would seek to use it's powers to their own purpose. The kimens, a small race of creatures no larger than a few inches tall, are enlisted to help the sculptors daughter, Tipper Schope as well as her friend, an artist named Bealomondore to guide them to their village to keep the statues safe.

When a large, seven foot tall leathery creature who is a hunter called the Grawl is hired by King Odidoddex to locate the kimen village and secure the statues, not all will be as easy to keep the land of Chiril safe.

In the latest book Dragons of the Valley by Donita K. Paul, we join forces with Tipper and Bealomondore to save the statues from falling into the enemies hands. Along the way the reader is taken into the enchanting realms and magical creatures that only the imagination of Donita K Paul could create on the pages of her novel. I received this enchanting book compliments of Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy for my honest review and was held spellbound from page one right til the end.

This one rates a magical 5 out of 5 stars and I can't wait to go back and pick up her Dragon Keeper's series of books. This series of books is for all age groups from 10 and up. For more information on this book, the talented author and where you can purchase a copy of the book, please click on the links below:

Donita K Paul's Website

Donita K Paul's Blog

Dragons of the Valley by Donita K Paul at Amazon.com

For more amazing reviews from some talented readers check out any of the links below:

Gillian Adams
Noah Arsenault
http://the1amster1.wordpress.com/"> Amy Bissell
Red Bissell
Justin Boyer
Keanan Brand
Grace Bridges
Beckie Burnham
Keanan Brand
Morgan L. Busse
http://csffblogtour.com/"> CSFF Blog Tour
Amy Cruson
D. G. D. Davidson
April Erwin
Amber French
Andrea Graham
Katie Hart
Ryan Heart
http://www.613media.com/"> Bruce Hennigan
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Dawn King
Emily LaVigne
Shannon McDermott
Matt Mikalatos
http://rebeccaluellamiller.wordpress.com/"> Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
John W. Otte
Donita K. Paul
Sarah Sawyer
Chawna Schroeder
Tammy Shelnut
Kathleen Smith
James Somers
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
Dave Wilson

The Wolf of Tebron

The Wolf of Tebron

A Fairy Tale by C.S. Lakin from the Gates of Heaven Series.

This was a Great Read! 5 out of 5 stars!

This should be a classic fairy tale that all children and adults should read!

The books starts out in the Prologue by pulling you into a magical world of wizardry, good and evil before the book even begins! Enchanted by the story I found myself reading for hours without even realizing what time it was. I absolutely was riveted by the story of a young man named Joran who is newly married to Charris, a woman from another village. He believes he has seen his wife with another man and starts down a long perilous road of anger, forlorn, misery and suffering.

He somehow has found out that his wife whom he sent back to her village after he confronted her about the other man magically disappears and is trapped by his own nightmare! He soon learns by the Goose Woman that he has to travel to the farthest regions of the Earth and beyond to find her and rescue her from his own nightmare where he can only see her in his dreams. From the House of the Moon in the North, to the Palace of the Sun in the East and the Cave of the South Wind, Joran must wear out three pairs of shoes before he is ready to truly find his one true love and be free forever of his anger and fear.

As he travels, he finds a few companions who help him in his soul searching journey to find not only his wife, but himself along the way. These new found friends end up being more than he could ever ask for in a friend and companion. There is so much conflict between good and evil that you find yourself identifying parts of the Bible in almost every chapter! You must read this book to find out what happens to Joran, his wife Charris and his life after such a long journey. I am so glad that I had the chance to review this book for Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy. To visit the authors website, visit the link below:

Author’s web site - http://www.cslakin.com/
Author’s blog - http://cslakin.blogspot.com/

To purchase a copy of this book, you can find it at Amazon below:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0899578888

Thank you for such a great Fairy Tale! For more reviews on this amazing title, click on any of the blogs listed below:

Noah Arsenault
http://the1amster1.wordpress.com/"> Amy Bissell
Red Bissell
Justin Boyer
Keanan Brand
Grace Bridges
Beckie Burnham
Jeff Chapman
Christian Fiction Book Reviews
Carol Bruce Collett
Valerie Comer
http://csffblogtour.com/"> CSFF Blog Tour
D. G. D. Davidson
April Erwin
Andrea Graham
Nikole Hahn
Katie Hart
Ryan Heart
http://www.613media.com/"> Bruce Hennigan
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Becca Johnson
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Dawn King
Shannon McDermott
Matt Mikalatos
http://rebeccaluellamiller.wordpress.com/"> Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
Nissa
John W. Otte
Chawna Schroeder
Tammy Shelnut
Kathleen Smith
James Somers
Rachel Starr Thomson
Robert Treskillard
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler

The Charlatan's Boy

The Charlatan's Boy by Jonathan Rogers caught my interest right from the cover and continued to entrance me until I finally finished it! I loved it so much I finished the novel in a day! The Charlatan's Boy is about an orphan named Grady, who has been traveling around with a charlatan named Floyd who supports them by coming up with quick scams or sideshows, since as far back as he can remember. The problem is that Grady can't remember even the slightest detail of his childhood and doesn't know who he is or where he came from. The only answers to his past come from Floyd, who withholds most of what he knows from Grady.

These two struggle to make a living, made harder by the memory of better times when people from all the towns would flock to see Grady perform as “The Wild Man of Feechiefen Swamp.” But to their dismay, no one believes in " feechies" anymore. But not if Grady and Floyd can help it.

Together, these two extraordinarily colorful characters set out on the adventure of a lifetime and try to devise a plot to create another Great Feechie Scare which Floyd is convinced will make them rich again. Grady is more than enthusiastic about playing his part as a "feechie" once again, but he also can’t stop wondering after living a life full of unknowns, if he will ever know who he really is.

I received this book compliments of Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy for my honest review and have to say I have uncovered a 5 out of 5 stars within it's pages. For more information about this book, the author and where to purchase a copy of this book can be found by clicking on the links below:

The Charlatan's Boy

Jonathan Roger's Website

For more reviews on this amazing book, visit any of these blogs below as well:

Sally Apokedak
http://the1amster1.wordpress.com/"> Amy Bissell
Red Bissell
Jennifer Bogart
Thomas Clayton Booher
Keanan Brand
Beckie Burnham
Jeff Chapman
Christian Fiction Book Reviews
Valerie Comer
http://csffblogtour.com/"> CSFF Blog Tour
D. G. D. Davidson
April Erwin
Andrea Graham
Tori Greene
Katie Hart
http://www.613media.com/"> Bruce Hennigan
Christopher Hopper
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Shannon McDermott
Allen McGraw
Matt Mikalatos
http://rebeccaluellamiller.wordpress.com/"> Rebecca LuElla Miller
Nissa
Donita K. Paul
SarahFlan
Sarah Sawyer
Chawna Schroeder
Tammy Shelnut
Kathleen Smith
James Somers
Donna Swanson
Robert Treskillard
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
Nicole White
Elizabeth Williams
Dave Wilson