Jan 23, 2012

To Darkness Fled, by Jill Williamson (book 2 -- Blood of Kings Trilogy, re-review)

Disclaimer: All reviews are the result of my personal opinion from a Christian stand-point. These reviews are provided for those who share my beliefs and morals, to help guide what fiction a reader may wish to pick up. For those who do not share these beliefs, please refrain from hateful comments. It is due to rude commenting that I must now include this note prior to all reviews. For more information, visit my purpose behind this blog. Thank you for your understanding.



Intended Age-Group: 16+
Issues of Violence: appropriate for teens and up. Battles, wars, sparring matches, life-threatening situations, yet all descriptively clean.
Intimacy Level: Some passionate kissing
Swearing: none!
Recommendation: 5 out of 5 stars

If I could, I'd just sit and breathe in Christian fantasy. It's glorious and To Darkness Fled contains every positive aspect to Christian fantasy I could ever want. This is my second time reading this book and I enjoyed it even more than the first time. (For the first review of the novel, go here)

Blurb:
Achan, Vrell, and the Kingsguard Knights flee into Darkness to escape the evil prince. They head for Ice Island--an abandoned prison and frozen wasteland holding what Achan hopes will be his future army. He's been called by Arman to lead the world of Er'Rets to freedom--to light. That calling brings him face to face with death threats, poison attempts, kidnappings, dark fears, battles, and leadership positions Achan never dreamed of. Meanwhile, Vrell is torn between her growing love for Achan and her desire to serve him as a faithful healer and friend. How can she juggle the two when Achan believes her to be a boy? 

Initial Reaction: *****
Jill Williamson continues to show her skill in writing through making a 600-page novel of mostly traveling full of suspense and thrill. I would recommend reading it over the course of several days--not in one sitting. The characters are traveling through Darkness over a matter of months and it can get very mentally draining for the reader to cover so much ground in just a few days (though I'd love to see someone try!)

Characters: *****
All the characters enter new depths of believability, which made it very easy to join them in their fears, morals, triumphs, desires, motives, and life priorities. Bonds are made between characters through their travels and trust is formed--focusing on faithfulness and friendship.

Spiritual Aspects: *****
Arman continues to seek out Achan and Achan's faith is turning into his own. His belief is deepening and you see it become part of his character. He continues to address difficult questions like, "Why does evil have power if Arman is God?" and "Why are Arman and His Son both worshiped if there's only "one" God?" It stimulates thinking and growth in the reader--at least it did for me.

Other:
The violence in this book is appropriate for teens and up. It's a bit higher than the first book. Achan and Vrell both enter several life-threatening battles that often leave them stabbed, bruised, beaten, or tortured. Again, the author keeps the descriptions at a decent level while continuing a realistic write-up of events. The novel addresses the feelings that may arise after killing someone--even if it's in self defense. The sacredness of life is emphasized greatly in this novel particularly.

On the romance front, there are some on-the-mouth kisses and a character who is a bit brazen with his attraction to women. Achan is forced to seek a bride as the upcoming leader of Er'Rets and encounters love potions, which lead to some passionate kisses. On the more severe side, twice, women are chased and/or kidnapped by ill-seeking men who want to take advantage of them physically. Their evil intents are alluded to and never gone into detail--older readers (teens and up) may understand the insinuations whereas younger readers may miss them. Both instances are resolved through rescue and strong lessons are learned from them of protection and caution. All scenes are still appropriate, but i would recommend that these books are only read by teens and older.

Overall Recommendation:
I highly recommend this book. It's well-written, a brilliant continuation to the first, and encourages the reader grow more in his or her thinking and faith. It's such an encouragement to see these strong Christian fantasy novels hitting the electronic bookshelves. They're exactly what young Christian readers need. I can't wait to post the review for the third.





Nadine Brandes is an adventurer, fusing authentic faith with bold imagination. She writes stories about brave living, finding purpose, and other worlds soaked in imagination. Her debut dystopian novel, A Time to Die, releases 2014 from Marcher Lord Press, the premier publisher of Christian speculative fiction. When Nadine's not taste-testing a new chai or editing fantasy novels, she is out pursuing adventures. She currently lives in Idaho with her husband. You can find out more about Nadine and her books at http://nadinebrandes.com.

Jan 12, 2012

Thanksgiving Epidemic

This may have nothing to do with reading or reviewing books, but it explains a lot about my life, absence, and joys in the past month. It's taken from my writer's blog and I wanted to share it with you. 

In the past four weeks, I have been in 12 different states, I've taken four different plane flights, driven over 4,400 miles, I've gotten married, survived finals in graduate school, celebrated Christmas, turned 25, celebrated a new year, attended Passion Conference 2012, and moved into a new house. Yet, I am still breathing.

If I were to list all the lessons God has scribbled on my slushy brain in the past month, I'd have to write a novel--but wait! I'm already doing that! Instead of adding to my workload, I'll just touch on the more impacting lesson of generosity and giving.

I never realized how un-generous I was until I got married. When nuptial announcements and invitations invaded the mail mid-October, friends and family came out of the woodwork, exuding generosity and blessings like I've never witnessed (or given) before. Conversations between my husband and me were reduced to endless exchanges of, "We are so blessed." There's no way to comprehend the generosity of others that we've experienced since knowing each other. People willingly handed us their time, traveling 15+ hours to attend our wedding and talk with us for 13 minutes. They blessed us with monetary gifts of all forms and ranges. They scouted our registries like they were on a shopping spree. They gifted us with creativity to enjoy until we lose our eyesight--Julie creating a masterpiece woven with heritage and favorite colors, Kathryn designing and painting a "guest book" platter, Megan making a frame to remind us of God's definition of love, Colin building us a wooden chest, his lovely wife, Dori, making us the most beautiful wedding cake you've ever seen,   Melanie painting our "Just Married" sign for the sleigh...it never ends.

Created and designed by the beautiful Julie Kocher

Designed and painted by Kathryn Finn
Designed and painted by Megan David
Chest designed and made by Colin Hein. "Just Married" painted by Melanie Shea


Cake created by Dori Hein. Photo skillfully captured by Drew Woolery


A professor at Biola University once said to me, "Give until you feel it."
At the time, he was responding to a question regarding tithing. I mentally translated it as, "Give until it hurts." I've applied that statement to my life since then, but eventually encountered no painful limits--it didn't hurt anymore. Instead, it brought me joy
I thought, What now? I can't make it hurt.
After our wedding, the true words of what Dr. Thoennes said to me returned. Give until I feel, not until I hurt. Joy is a feeling. 

"Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Cor. 9:7)

The people in my inspiring family, the people of my valley, the people in Daylen's family, the friends of myself and Daylen, and our parents--from every stage in life--clearly have this verse etched into their hearts. Their joy in giving and celebrating with Daylen and I is still sending ripples a month later throughout this country. My understanding of "generosity" is shattered and re-constructed. To those who blessed and continue to bless Daylen and I with prayers, gifts, thoughts, joy, and smiles:

"You will be enriched in every way for all your generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God." (2 Cor. 9:11-12)

We are overflowing. We are so thankful. We will always cherish and strive to spread this epidemic of God's joy. Thank you for your examples.

Photo skillfully captured by Drew Woolery




Nadine Brandes is an adventurer, fusing authentic faith with bold imagination. She writes stories about brave living, finding purpose, and other worlds soaked in imagination. Her debut dystopian novel, A Time to Die, releases 2014 from Marcher Lord Press, the premier publisher of Christian speculative fiction. When Nadine's not taste-testing a new chai or editing fantasy novels, she is out pursuing adventures. She currently lives in Idaho with her husband. You can find out more about Nadine and her books at http://nadinebrandes.com.