Fiction

Review of The Realms Thereunder by Ross Lawhead

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Genre: Fantasy

Series: Book One of the Ancient Earth Series

Loosely Recommended.

I only rarely enjoy fantasy, so I was trying to be extra open-minded as I read this. Actually, I was hoping it would be more about the Old English language and culture and less true fantasy, since the premise is that two students in England find their way beneath the streets of Oxford into a hidden city filled with Old English mythology and folklore. I studied Old English in college and was excited to revisit it; but this story is purely fantastic (as opposed to historical with fantastic elements).

I also felt that the story was trying to cover too much at once (multiple characters in the past and present), which made it a bit hard to follow. I dreaded finishing it until the very end because I wasn’t caught up in the story or characters. But the story ended in a way which actually caused me to want to keep reading. Perhaps I will check out the later books in this series. I imagine the upcoming books will be better now that the background has been thoroughly laid. A true fantasy fan would likely enjoy the book the full way through.

I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of the Thomas Nelson Book Review Blogging Program through booksneeze.com.

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Review of The Scroll by Grant R. Jeffrey and Alton L. Gansky

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Genre: Fiction/Suspense

Not Recommended.

The majority of this story I actually did enjoy reading. It’s about a team of archaeologists uncovering ancient biblical artifacts in Israel–and that part of it was really interesting.

The lead archaeologist and story hero, Dr. David Chambers, is introduced as a heart-broken agnostic, who has recently given up biblical archaeology to study in South America after losing his fiancée and Christian faith. When the opportunity of a lifetime forces David to dig again in Israel with his ex, he hesitantly takes it. And thus begins the potential for a suspenseful journey into emotional wounds, a search for God, and many physical obstacles–except that these things didn’t happen; at least not in a way that catalyzed feelings of suspense, introspection, and empathy. The archaeological side of the story remained relatively interesting as the book progressed, but unfortunately, the character development stayed pretty basic, and the story became predictable and didn’t really climax.

The final chapters were so bad (rushed, poorly developed, and trying to do too much) that my image of the book went quickly from “this is okay” to “this is terrible; what were they thinking!” There was so much potential in this story, but it just didn’t work.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from WaterBrook Multnomah.

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Review of The Betrayal by Jerry B. Jenkins

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Genre: Mystery/Crime Fiction

Recommended.

This is a lighthearted, easy read and would be appropriate for teen readers as well as adults. Detective Boone Drake of the Chicago Police Department is celebrated as a hero after leading a sting that will take down the leaders of some massive street gangs. But a couple days before the case goes to trial, their star informant and witness is nearly gunned down (Boone playing the hero again by taking the bullet). It seems there must be a leak within the Police Department and Boone is determined to find the mole even though the culprit is likely amongst those he most respects. In the midst of his investigation, recovery, and personal life, Boone must decide who he can trust.

This book has just the right amount of suspense, mystery, and innocent romance. The characters are personable, and the story line is believable. My only criticism is that the story begins after the sting and readers are given only a short prologue to the history of the case at hand. I would have liked more development of the crime scene and the gang characters–especially of the prime witness, Pascual Candelario. The story moves smoothly once it is underway, but I did have some questions in the beginning. I later discovered that this is the second book of a trilogy, so perhaps it would have been helpful to read The Brotherhood first. But, even on its own, I found The Betrayal relaxing and enjoyable; it’s great reading for a rainy day, or any other time!

I received a complimentary copy of this ARC as a part of the Tyndale Blog Network.

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Review of Safely Home (10th Anniversary Edition) by Randy Alcorn

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Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Highly Recommended!

American business executive Ben Fielding seeks out his Chinese college roommate Li Quan in order to gain business strategies by living amongst the Chinese people. But Li Quan is a Christian involved with illegal house churches and Ben Fielding does not understand his former roommate’s faith or the lengths he goes through to keep it. The story closely examines persecution and the gospel message while painting a comparison of the American and Chinese churches and lifestyles.

This is both an exhilarating story and a challenging glimpse into spiritual realities. I was encouraged and provoked by the story and especially valued the new insights emanating from the dialog. Safely Home is beautifully written and strongly felt.

I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of the Tyndale Blog Network.

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Review of The Final Hour by Andrew Klavan

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Genre: Juvenile Fiction/Action & Adventure

Series: Book Four of the Homelanders Series

Recommended.

I’ve really enjoyed Klavan’s Homelanders Series and this final book is an excellent end to a suspenseful and action-packed story. Teen super-hero Charlie West is in one of the most dangerous prisons in the country for a crime he didn’t commit. And amidst his struggle to stay alive in prison, he is also one of the only people left with knowledge of an upcoming terrorist attack on America. He struggles through his fear and circumstances in order to save the people in this creative and fantastic adventure.

Each book in this series brings a piece of the mystery and character of Charlie West. It’s not a “deep” story so much as it is action-packed, but many important issues are brought up in the realms of faith, politics, violence, war and terrorism, patriotism, good versus evil, and even identity. As a mother, this is the kind of story I’d want to discuss with my teenagers after each book, and I am pleased that The Final Hour does have a Reading Group Guide for further reflection.

I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of the Thomas Nelson Book Review Blogging Program through booksneeze.com.

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Review of The Truth of the Matter by Andrew Klavan

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Genre: Juvenile Fiction/Action & Adventure

Series: Book Three of the Homelanders Series

Recommended.

This third book of the Homelanders Series opens as Charlie West finds the man he’s been looking for–the one he believes will be able to fill him in on the gaps in his memory. But as Charlie is slowly able to piece together his memories, the plot thickens, and the adventure grows even more intense.

This series is really intended for teenage boys or tomboys (middle school-high school), but as a woman and mother, I found it to be enjoyable light reading. The stories should really be read in order as they build on each other, and I’d also recommend that parents of teenage readers use the Reading Group Guide to discuss the book further with their young adults since the stories provide an easy and excellent opportunity to talk about some very important issues including faith, morality, and patriotism.

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Review of The Long Way Home by Andrew Klavan

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Genre: Juvenile Fiction/Action & Adventure

Series: Book Two of the Homelanders Series

Recommended.

The Homelanders Series continues with this second book as teen hero and fleeing fugitive Charlie West makes his way home to investigate the murder he was falsely charged with and to re-connect with his girlfriend, Beth. The action and suspense climax along with the character development as the confused and amnesic Charlie tries to figure out who he is, who the good guys are, and what he should do next.

This was one of my favorite books of the series because the budding romance added another layer to the story, and also because it ended neatly with some resolutions despite the remaining mysteries.

This book, unfortunately, didn’t have a Reading Group Guide as the previous and latter books do. With all the books in this series, I think there is an excellent opportunity for parents to discuss the book and it’s elements with their teenage readers. And certainly, this book, which delves deeply into questions of identity, morality, faith and patriotism, is an important one not to overlook.

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Review of The Last Thing I Remember by Andrew Klavan

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Genre: Juvenile Fiction/Action & Adventure

Series: Book One of the Homelanders Series

Recommended.

Teenager Charlie West wakes up strapped to a chair after being tortured by terrorists and can’t remember how he got there. As he tries desperately to escape, he replays his final memories, looking for clues to how his normal teenage life transformed so suddenly.

This all-action book reads like a nightmare where the bad guys chase the good guy from one terrific scene to the next. There’s not much character development and the story is quite fun but a bit outrageous. If all the books were like this one, I’m not sure I’d recommend the Homelanders Series, however, it does set up a great mystery which carries on with more strength in the next three books.

As a parent of (so far) one young boy, I was constantly considering how I’d feel about my son reading this as a teenager. I imagine that to a teenage boy (or girl), this book would be quite thrilling and suspenseful, though as a Christian parent I would want to discuss the violence, possible eastern religious influences of karate, the character’s faiths and spiritualities, and a few of the other plot elements. There is a Reading Group Guide included, which I think would make an excellent start to these discussions.

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Review of A Reluctant Queen: The Love Story of Esther by Joan Wolf

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Genre: Romantic Historical Fiction

Not Recommended.

Joan Wolf offers a fresh perspective on the story of Esther, and she gave me a lot to think about. But this story takes too many liberties with its historical account–let alone its biblical one. There were small errors, like Esther being called Esther before the contest to become queen, rather than by her Hebrew name, Hadassah, and Haman being portrayed as an Edomite when he was actually an Agagite, and the use of the Hebrew calendar in setting Persian decrees. But there were also larger issues: changes to the royal line, like with King Ahasuerus having a brother Xerxes (most scholars believe they are one in the same), and the Prophet Obadiah attempting to stir up unrest in Palestine (while the biblical Obadiah was not prophesying at the same time as Esther’s reign and the stories do not naturally fit together).

As a story, I also felt that many places–especially in the beginning and end–were a bit rough. The first few chapters were especially awkward as the historical setting was laid through the dialog rather than the narration. I was also hoping it would have a bit of a Jewish feel, which it did not. And the end was, unfortunately, anticlimactic–certain deviations from the original story took away from the drama and suspense of the plot. Frankly, I’m surprised that some of the best moments of Esther’s story were omitted!

Overall, I’m glad I read A Reluctant Queen because it did help me to think about Esther, and myself, in a new way. But I also can’t recommend it; it’s in need of some serious editing!

I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of the Thomas Nelson Book Review Blogging Program through booksneeze.com.

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Review of The Final Summit: A Quest to Find the One Principle That Will Save Humanity by Andy Andrews

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Genre: Allegorical Fiction/Motivational

Not Recommended!

The Final Summit is an interesting read. It fails, however, to offer a biblical perspective, and when I read Christian literature that’s the one thing which matters most.

The premise of the story is that God is mad at the world and planning to destroy it unless humanity can restore itself. There is a summit held in the heavenlies where prominent historical figures from all time (not necessarily Christian) and our ordinary hero, David Ponder, meet to “find the one principle that will save humanity.” I love the concept of historical figures coming together to discuss and learn from each other, and some (but not most) of the dialog was really interesting. The writing itself, unfortunately, was only okay: not riveting, not well researched, and predictable. And the theology was–well, it was like asking random people on the street what they think of God and recording its essence without ever having read the Bible.

These were the major theological problems I saw: 1) the nature and character of God in the story do not line up with the God of the Bible, 2) the characters are in heaven and yet God is not central to their thoughts or conversation–even after meeting God at close physical proximity they engage in humanistic, self-centered, thinking, and 3) there is only one thing that can save humanity–Jesus!–but this is not what the story’s heavenly summit found.

Even as a secular book, The Final Summit is only mediocre, but as a Christian motivational message it completely misses the mark.

I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of the Thomas Nelson Book Review Blogging Program through booksneeze.com.

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