Unbound, by J.B. Simmons

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.

Summary:
Recommended Age-Group: 14+
Issues of Violence: sci-fi violence, monster violence

Intimacy Level: kissing

Language: mild

Recommendation: 4 out of 5 stars

Back Cover Blurb:

Elijah Goldsmith has nightmares he needs to ignore. Why would a rich kid from Manhattan dream three straight nights about a dragon and the destruction of St. Peter's Basilica? He's never even been to Rome. 

It's bad timing, too. He's graduating soon and applying to be a spy in the International Security Agency. That's where he meets Naomi. She's the kind of girl who makes boys like Elijah want to share their secrets. Were they brought together to learn what his secrets mean? There's more to their sparks than they think. 

This is 2066, the year the world ends. 

Initial Reaction: *****

I'm kind of over dragon books, so when I was offered an advanced copy of Unbound, I was hesitant. After all, a dragon is on the cover. Like any reader with time-constraints would do, I read the sample chapter before committing. I didn't get halfway through the sample before I replied to the author, "Yes, I'd like a copy!"

And I don't regret it one bit.

It starts out with cool technology -- you know the type: brain implants, simulations...the stuff I drool over, how could I say no? Mix that with some prophecies and crazy dreams, oh yes and traveling. Add some filet mignon, a glass of red wine, and the scene is set. You, dear reader, are a goner.

Characters: *****

The main character, Elijah, is not a believer and he views his friend (the "Christian" [insert dramatic music here]) as I'd expect any non-believer guy who's attracted to a cute Christian girl would -- weird, but attractive enough to help him overlook the weirdness.

Naomi was cool, mysterious, and normal for a character with belief in God. I appreciate these sorts of portrayals in Christian fiction.

Plot: *****

The plot, overall, kept me reading and, when I wasn't able to read, kept me wanting to read. I wanted to know what would happen with the prophecy, who would make it into "spy school" and why Elijah was having dreams of dragons. Elijah remained confused and searching -- but not the type of confused that makes the reader slap a palm to their forehead. I was confused with him and he discovered things at just the right pace.

The only thing that could have brought the plot a bit more to life would have been a little more info on ISA-7. I know it's top-secret and even the training is top-secret, but there was a lot of focus on how awesome it would be, how it was Elijah's dream, etcetera, but I didn't really see the purpose of it all. To my knowledge, that purpose wasn't shared. What did these spies do? Why would this be Elijah's dream? What was their purpose, anyway? I felt like I never really got an answer, which limited the impact that portion of the plot made on me.

However, the entire story moved rather quickly so it rarely felt slow. That's a huge plus in any book.

Spiritual Content: *****

Elijah's spiritual process took a long time and I could understand why. Everything was thrust on him from a lot of people who, frankly, seemed a bit crazy. I appreciated the time it took for him to have a "choice" moment and when that moment happened, it fit perfectly with the story. A lot of times spiritual "aha" moments can feel cliche, overdone, or over-emotional, but Elijah acted just as I would have expected him to. I'm very curious to see how this unfolds in his life in book two, now that everything has settled down enough to allow him to breathe.

The prophetic side of things remained interesting. I don't know my end-times Biblical trivia too well, but that's just it...to understand this story, you don't have to. It's still a story and not a sermon. 

Overall Impression: *****

Intrigued. Impressed. It's one of the better pieces of Christian fiction I've read lately, not afraid to be real or nitty-gritty. The ending got a tad bit confusing for me, but I think that's how it's supposed to be since Elijah was left with questions and confused, too. 

I recommend it to anyone who enjoys Christian speculative fiction, apocalyptic fiction, or advanced technology. It is a quick, clean read that leaves you intrigued. 

*I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Find the book on:
Goodreads
Amazon

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, released September 2014 from Enclave Publishing. 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.

Armored Hearts, by Pauline Creeden & Melissa Turner Lee

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.

Summary:
Intended Age-Group: 12+
Issues of Violence: fantasy violence

Intimacy Level:

Language: none

Recommendation: 4 out of 5 stars

Back Cover Blurb:

When a crippled young lord rescues a girl falling from a tree, it reveals a secret about himself and his mother's side of the family that could put him at the center of a war with beings he thoughts only existed in fairy tales. Tristan Gareth Smyth lived his entire life stuck at home at Waverly Park, left behind while his Grandfather makes trips to London, all because of his blasted wheelchair. Then an American heiress falls in his lap, literally, and he must find a way to keep her at a distance to protect not only his secret, but everyone around him from an assassin sent to kill him.

Initial Reaction: *****
I was skeptical at first. It took me a few chapters to really get in to the story or understand some things, but once I did I read through it at lightspeed! Well...at least it felt fast to me. ;)

Writing: *****
The writing is very simple and it took a while for me to get connected to the characters. The positive side of the simple writing means it was a quick read. After a few chapters, it didn't stand out to me anymore and I was able to fully engage in the story -- simple writing or not. :)

Characters: *****
I hate lies and secrets, especially between a couple. And one of the most infuriating things for me in a novel is when those secrets and plans that will eventually cause hurt and need a "great reveal" last through the whole book. It's like an ominous pendulum ticking down the seconds until relational chaos.

So...imagine my joy when Jessamine and Gareth actually talked out some of their problems. Without waiting until everything crashed down around their ears! They acted like a real couple might. Granted, real couples keep secrets, too, but I was so relieved when they pursued communication instead of secrecy. It surprised me. It surprised Gareth, too, but it was perfect.

The characters, after you get to know them a bit more, become very alive and well-developed.

Plot: *****
There's nothing I love more than watching a character make bad plans and then those bad plans don't work. Truly. Every book in which this happens sticks out in my mind as realistic, engaging, and surprising. Too often we're forced to watch characters play dumber-than-the-average-man (or woman) and then follow awful plans into predictable ruin.

This was my first steampunk novel so I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into. But the plot fascinated me! Steam mechanics and inventions mixed with fantasy. Creeden and Turner delivered it beautifully and I wasn't disappointed.

Favorite part: When Gareth and Jessamine finally became a team.

Spiritual Content: *****
Honestly, it's been a few months since I read this and I can't remember the details. From what I recall, The spiritual content was light, but present. The authors did a great job of bringing in morals and lessons without forcing them.


Overall, the entire story was uplifting, wholesome, and positive. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys clean fantasy.

Find the book on:
Goodreads
Amazon
Pauline Creeden's Goodreads Page
Melissa Turner Lee's Goodreads Page

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, released September 2014 from Enclave Publishing. 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.
 

Dystopian book Giveaway!

You read it right: Who wants a free copy of my book, A Time to Die?

For those of you who follow this blog, you should probably know (if you don't already) that I'm an author. My debut novel comes out September 23rd. It's dystopian -- think Hunger Games or Divergent or Matched only with themes and messages based on Christ. Here's a little blurb:

How would you live if you knew the day you'd die?

Parvin Blackwater believes she has wasted her life. At only seventeen, she has one year left according to the Clock by her bedside. In a last-ditch effort to make a difference, she tries to rescue Radicals from the government’s crooked justice system.

But when the authorities find out about her illegal activity, they cast her through the Wall -- her people's death sentence. What she finds on the other side about the world, about eternity, and about herself changes Parvin forever and might just save her people. But her clock is running out.

This is book one in the "Out of Time" trilogy (subsequent volumes coming in 2015 and 2016).

I got the advanced review copies (ARCs) of my book in the mail a couple weeks ago and am giving out one a week until I run out. To receive an ARC means that a few special readers will get to read A Time to Die early...in real book form! (So old-fashioned.) ARCs go out to readers in exchange for an honest review on Amazon, Goodreads, and all those other great book sites.

A couple notes about ARCS:

• These are a little different than the final copy of the book. The back of the ARC has all sorts of marketing info. Meaning...it doesn't make a great birthday gift, 'cause it's kind of ugly. ;-)
• The ARC may have some last little typos in it (author nightmare!) but the final book won't have said typos.

Enter to win an ARC through the Rafflecopter entry form below. Or, go here to enter and follow me on my author website! You have at least two more chances to win! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dreamtreaders, by Wayne Thomas Batson

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.

Summary:
Intended Age-Group: 10+
Issues of Violence: fantasy violence

Intimacy Level:

Language: none

Recommendation: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Back Cover Blurb:

Fourteen-year-old Archer Keaton discovers he has the ability to enter and explore his dreams. He is a "dreamtreader," one of three selected from each generation. Their mission: to protect the waking world from the Nightmare Lord, who wreaks chaos in the Dream World. But as Archer's dreams become more dangerous and threatening, so too does his waking life. 

Rigby Thames, the new kid from England, builds a suspicious rock star-like following at Dresden High School a little too quickly. Even Archer's best friend and confidant, Kara Windchil, seems taken in by the cool guy with the wild blond hair, which definitely rubs Archer the wrong way. Archer must face two foes in two worlds, but he cannot succeed alone. Archer sets off to find other dreamtreaders in a desperate attempt to defeat the enemy terrorizing his friends and family.

Initial Reaction: *****
I delight in books about dream worlds for many reasons that I won't waste time listing here. Dreamtreaders immediately caught me in its delicious web with its concept and cover art. I'll be forever drooling over the cover. FOREVER. (I mean it!)

But once I cracked open that cover, I didn't remain as hooked as I'd hoped. The writing style was very simple, even for the young age group.

Writing: *****
I try to lock my author/editing brain in a trunk while I pleasure read, but sometimes it peeks through the keyhole, sees what I'm reading, and screams a little.

It's very distracting.

That being said, there were some writing patterns that broke the pace of the story for me. I've lost the ability to know if it's just me, or if it's something that might distract the average reader, too. On occasion, it left me lost.

Characters: *****
The characters were, at best, average. I didn't connect with Archer at all, but that could be based completely on my subjectivity. Some of his choices didn't make sense to me, but I didn't get to know his character well enough in this book to know if these choices even matched up with who he was.

I have full faith that the characters will deepen as the series continues. :)

Plot: *****
I liked how Archer Keaton was chosen to be a dreamtreader, to be set apart for a specific calling. I also liked how we didn't know too much of when or how that started. We entered into the middle of the action and didn't have to sludge through a bunch of backstory and discovery.

While the characters were school-age and Archer had to deal with some real-world drama at school, it didn't bog down the story. We spent more time in the dream world than the real world, which pushed the action forward. But the real-world action was still hugely applicable to the entire story. Side characters had mysterious roles that kept me guessing the entire time whether or not she was so-and-so or if he would do such-and-such. I like having to guess and wonder as I read a book and the author really painted quite a bit of mystery.

The end battle really surprised me. If you read it, you'll know where I was fooled. It was brilliant. The rest of the story eventually concluded while leaving an enormous opening for book two. What a delightful mixture! :-)

Spiritual Content: *****
I know the author and publisher create books with Christian worldviews, but I didn't see any mention of God or evidence of belief. Maybe it was all figurative and I just didn't put it together. I can appreciate the clean content and safe humor, but I wasn't sure what the enormous takeaway was for the teenage believer. Keep fighting? Obey the rules? Trust in friends? I'm not sure...and I would have liked to know.


Overall, it was a good read. it was quite different than what I'd expected, but it is going in my stack of "Books for my Future Kids." [grin] Pick it up and give it a try! And revel in the glorious worldbuilding.

This was my first Batson book and I'm excited to read more. I give it a 3.5 mainly because of limited draw to keep reading. But for appropriateness and clean content, it definitely gets a 5-star.

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, released September 2014 from Enclave Publishing. 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.

The Word Changers, by Ashlee Willis

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.

Summary:
Intended Age-Group: 13+
Issues of Violence: fantasy violence

Intimacy Level: kissing

Language: none

Recommendation: 4.5 out of 5 stars 

Check out the giveaway author Ashlee Willis is hosting for this book until its release date!

Back Cover Blurb:

Her parents' marriage is falling apart. Fifteen-year-old Posy feels her life is falling apart with it. Retreating to an old library down the street, she selects a mysterious book in a secluded corner and is magically drawn into its story...

Posy finds herself in a kingdom ruled by a cruel and manipulative king and queen who have attempted to usurp the role that belongs only to the Author of their story. The princess has fled and the kingdom is teetering toward rebellion. Posy is joined by the Prince Kyran as they fight with the characters of the story against their slavery to the Plot.

Posy and the prince search beyond the borders of the story for the runaway princess. They visit mysterious places, face horrifying monsters, and fight fierce battles. They make both friends and enemies as their journey leads them into many dangers. But some of the worst dangers, Posy soon finds, lie deep within her own heart.

Now Posy must find the courage and forgiveness needed to save the story and, most important, heal the heartache she knew in her own world.

Initial Reaction: *****
The concept of The Word Changers was exquisite.

Some people fall in love with characters, or with the plot, but I'm grabbed first by the concept or world. Maybe I just didn't read the blurb thoroughly enough, or perhaps I just forgot it by the time the book arrived. Either way, I opened the book with a blank mind and no expectations. That's the perfect recipe for being blown away.

It starts in the thick of action: Posy is in a new world, she's the main character of an intimidating Plot, and she has to pretend she's the princess. Oh yeah, and she's supposed to act as the sister to a handsome, dashing, sword-wielding, war-ready hunk named Kyran.

Writing: *****
At first, the writing style struck me as geared toward a middle-grade reader. Then, as the plot progressed, it tightened the story to a YA/teen level. Sadly, I didn't have the luxury of reading this in one sitting, though I wanted to because it kept me surprised. Nearly everything I predicted turned out to be wrong, which kept the storyline intelligent and thought-out.

Characters: *****
I'll admit, I don't really like romance. I wouldn't call myself a cynic, I'm just a lot more picky about how romance is portrayed in books now that I've experienced it first hand and learned that most book versions are huge fakes.

However, I definitely got sucked into Kyran and Posy's relationship. Some other reviewers have said that Posy's age -- fifteen -- made the romance feel like a stretch, but I thought it fit exactly how a fifteen-year-old might think. She's at that stage where she wants to be an adult, she wants to be in love, and she's in a story where age doesn't mean much because everyone's been the same age forever thanks to the Plot.

The romance side of things was one area where Posy got to step forward and try to grow up. Not just that, but she also found herself in situations that forced her to grow up -- war, battles, choices that challenged wisdom, etc.

Kyran, while on occasion a little harsh toward Posy, dealt with his personal issues as I imagined a young conflicted prince would. His mixture of care and loathing for his father made him even more complex. I especially liked his tender treatment of Posy when he finally decided to accept her.

Both characters learn a great deal about maturing and addressing life issues with wisdom and faith.

Plot: *****
The Word Changers felt very Narnia-esque to me with a beautiful arc. Not sure what that means? An arc means the characters started out one way and ended up another after 328 pages of growth and trials. It also means the story progressed and moved toward the climax beautifully.

Spiritual Content: *****
The allegorical spiritual message came softly and the characters asked real questions about the Author. Everything about it had a natural, believable, and refreshing feel to it. I liked that the characters didn't get all the answers yet they still sought truth. Nothing was preachy.

The characters were challenged to think beyond what the world/king is telling them to do and believe. They are challenged to ask whether or not they believed in the Author and whether or not they wanted a relationship with Him. It was presented fully, completely, and in an engaging manner.

Cons:
There really wasn't anything I would label as a con, there are only small aspects that I think could have been presented a little differently.

1. The start of the book really struck me as a middle-grade story, which isn't bad, but when I finished the book the early chapters just didn't seem to match the style or intensity in the rest of the book.

2. I would have liked to understand The Plot more. it was a fantastic ticking time bomb -- particularly the princess's role -- that only got partially answered. In order for the characters to escape The Plot, I needed to see more of the threat. Instead, it was a blurry fear that I had to trust was bad enough to warrant the war. The entire story was still delivered magnificently, but my personal preference would have been some more insight into The Plot -- why it had taken control of the King, the bad guys, and overall the world as they knew it.



Overall, this book was spectacular. I recommend it without a single reservation to anyone who likes fantasy. Sometimes it's an unkindness to compare an author to an author, but I pay it as the highest complement to Ashlee Willis when I say I place this book on the same shelf with The Chronicles of Narnia.

If you read the Narnia series and found yourself wanting more of it -- more of that feel and fantasy -- then The Word Changers is for you. I'll definitely be reading it again. (And crossing my fingers for a sequel!)

If you want to connect with the author, Ashlee Willis, you can find her here:

Her Blog
Facebook
Goodreads
Twitter
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

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, released September 2014 from Enclave Publishing. 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.

 

A Giveaway is Worth 50,000 Words

If you couldn't tell from the title, this isn't a book review.

This is a GIVEAWAY!

For those of you who don't know, I not only review books, but I write them. My first book, A Time to Die, is the start of a dystopian trilogy and comes out in September. You can read a little about it on my website. There will also be a cover reveal soon!

But enough about that. Let's get to the good stuff: how do you win a free book?

Last week, I broke the 50k word count mark on my second book. I know this doesn't mean much because book one isn't even out yet (September! September, people!) But everyone likes an excuse to celebrate. I'm celebrating with a giveaway.

I chose three books that influenced my writing in some way. The winner of the giveaway will get to choose which of the three books he or she would like. Here's a little bit about each one:

Love Does, by Bob Goff: this is a non-fiction book that inspired me to pursue life actively. My husband and I started doing the things we always said we'd like to do someday. Active living and active thinking for God is a main theme in my books.

Amazon link

Goodreads link

Cinder, by Marissa Meyer: a dystopian, sci-fi, fairytale retelling. It's absolutely fantastic and one of my favorites. It showed me that, if you're a good writer, you can even take a cliche storyline and make it uniquely astounding. (You can read my book review on Cinder here.)

Amazon link

Goodreads link

Plot vs. Character by Jeff Gerke: One of my most invaluable writing help books! This digs into all aspects of the book and reaches the plot-first and character-first writers. Whatever your weakness is, this book will help.

Amazon link

Goodreads link




Everyone is welcome to enter. All fellow authors who I do or don't know. Friends, family, non-writers, readers, you name it. if you want one of the books then go for it! There will be one winner and that person will be notified via e-mail. Then they will choose which book they'd like me to send!

Which of these three books interests you the most?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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. 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.

Monument 14: Savage Drift (book 3), Emmy Laybourne

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.

Click to read my review of book 1 -- Monument 14.
Click to read my review of book 2 -- Monument 14: Sky on Fire

Summary:
Intended Age-Group: 9th grade & up
Issues of Violence: stabbing with knife to the point of mutilation, gun fights, deaths from post-apocalyptic disasters, fist fighting, murders in various way (neck breaking, ripping out someones guts with their hands)

Intimacy Level: kissing, sex

Language: Use of "God," "Christ", and "Jesus" for exclamations. Hell, SOB, b****,  a**, d*mn.

Other: Underage drinking/intoxication, drug use, conversations revolving around sex, drugs, getting high, violent animal-like behavior from air toxin.

Recommendation: 3.5 out of 5 stars with high reservations (see end of entry)

Back Cover Blurb:
The survivors of the Monument 14 have finally made it to the safety of a Canadian refugee camp. Dean and Alex are cautiously starting to hope that a happy ending might be possible.

But for Josie, separated from the group and trapped in a brutal prison camp for exposed Type Os, things have gone from bad to worse. Traumatized by her experiences, she has given up all hope of rescue or safety.

Meanwhile, scared by the government's unusual interest in her pregnancy, Astrid (with her two protectors, Dean and Jake in tow) joins Niko on his desperate quest to be reunited with his lost love Josie.

Initial Reaction: *****
This book was so predictable.

I predicted a tense, tight plot: bingo!

I predicted that it'd be a page-turner: check!

I predicted that strong characters would steal my heart: tada!

Are there no dull boring plot-writers left in this world? *Sigh* I suppose I will have to succumb to the mind-blowing, gut-wrenching aftermath of reading a fantastic book. My emotions are in upheaval.

If you haven't figured it out yet, I loved Savage Drift. It was just as strong as the first two M14 books and I expected nothing less from Laybourne.

Characters: *****
This time, we followed Dean and Josie's points of view (POVs.) At first I was hesitant entering Josie's head. I wasn't sure how it would fit with my current view of her. But it worked. In fact, it worked really well. I never once, in all three books or POVs, got confused as to who's head we were in. That's tough to pull off with first-person.

Josie's story broke my heart. At one point, a character refers to the "O Camps" as a concentration camp, and that's almost what it was like. Her struggles with figuring out who she was internally -- monster or human -- were realistic and bittersweet.

Dean's POV was also gripping, even though we've been with him through all three books. A favorite part about Savage Drift was watching him grow up. Dean became such a leader in this book, which was a true miracle when you think back to who he'd been at the start of this whole story.

Plot: *****
Okay, we've established the characters are strong. Now, what about the plot? Weren't we all happy and safe at the end of book two?

Well, not all of us. Josie! We had to rescue Josie! Not just that, but Astrid's about to pop out a baby and that's a scary thing for a seventeen-year-old to handle, especially when the government is kidnapping pregnant women.

I never got bored with this book. I read it in a day. I admit, when I first picked it up I thought it would be hard to make the plot as tight or interesting as the first two. But Savage Drift gets into the government's reaction to all the chaos. What are they doing about it? What are they hiding? And what are all these experiments they keep stealing people for?


Spiritual Content: *****
This obviously isn't a Christian series, but the faith aspect and turning to God grows with each book.

Josie kept praying and praying for a sign that she should end her life. Almost wanting confirmation that it was okay with God for her to give up and die. Finally, frustrated with His silence, she prayed for a sign that she shouldn't end her life. A sign that she should keep fighting.

And that's when He answered.

It was sweet. It was perfect. And it completely fit.

There are also other examples of characters praying and turning to God. It was neat to see this progression and how it affected their choices.

Cons:
There was some violence I could have done without. You know, ripping out guts by the handful and repetitive stabbing. That sort of thing. Also, certain steps of intimacy bother me in YA books. A couple has sex, but the writing is not gratuitous. I just don't agree with the message that sixteen-year-olds should sleep together if they're in love.

There is also attempted rape and older men demanding sex in return for protection (so, manipulative rape)

The language is pretty strong, but that was the same in the first two books. I caution all readers against the mature content and some undesirable elements, but if those don't bother you I think you'll really enjoy the series.



Overall, the book was fantastic. The entire series has left me impressed. And what a sweet ending! I won't give anything away, but it concluded everything that needed to be concluded and left me sad to say goodbye, but fully satisfied. I recommend it for older teens and up.

I rate this a 3.5 star mostly because of the mature content. But the story, underneath all that, is worth reading if you're a fan of dystopian or post-apocalytpic.

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, released September 2014 from Enclave Publishing. 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.

Allegiant, by Veronica Roth

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.

Summary:
Intended Age-Group:  16+
Issues of Violence: shooting, poison, killing, explosives
Intimacy Level: kissing/making-out, implied sex
Swearing: b*st*rd, h*ll, d*mn, using God's name for exclamations
Recommendation: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Other Reviews of the Series: Review of book 1: Divergent & book 2: Insurgent

Blurb:

"The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered -- fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she's known, Tris is ready. perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris's new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature -- and of herself -- while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Initial Reaction: *****
Reaction after reading the first few chapters: This is going to be good
Reaction about 1/3 through the book: This book is...long.
Reaction through the last 2/3 of the book: This book is looooooong!

I hate to say it, but I had to push through this book. The beginning and a chunk of the ending were the strongest point. Everything in the middle felt drawn out, long, and same ol' same ol'.

Plot: *****
In Allegiant, Tris and Tobias finally discover what's outside of the fence. Not jsut that, but they discover why they were inside the fence in the first place. The answers were well-developed and thought out, but the long bouts of information just didn't keep my interest. Okay, now I know why Tris is Diverent, so let's move on. Bring on the action!

But the action didn't come that much. This book passes at a much slower pace.

The theme of a people group oppressed by false information is a strong plot. It gets even stronger when there's another people group resisting this false information and trying to bring truth and equality into the world. Then it gets even stronger when you have a heroine or hero in the thick of it.

The problem with the Divergent series is that the plot is repeated in every book.

Book 1: Erudite take over and control different factions to eradicate the Abnegation. The underdogs -- the Divergent (Tris and Tobias) -- must rise up and save everyone.

Book 2: Erudite are still taking over and causing chaos so the underdogs -- the factionless -- start rising up against an unstable faction system. Tris and Tobias must join and help lead the fight against the injustice of Erudite's control.

Book 3: People with supposed bad genes don't like being told they have bad genes by the people who supposedly have good genes. So they rise up (as underdogs!) to bring equality and justice back to the broken system.

It was okay to repeat that plot line in two books because the growth of the characters balanced it out. But to use the same plot base with book three, bringing in completely new people and cultures and government groups, got a little old. I eventually didn't care about the fact there was injustice because it seemed no matter how many books tackled this problem, it would just still be there. WHy should Allegiant be any different?

Characters:  *****

Oh, can we talk about point-of-view (POV) for a second? This book brings in Tobias's POV...okay, I can handle it.

But I couldn't. He sounded identical to Tris. In his first few chapters, he held his own, but eventually it melded into Tris's voice. I felt confused and flat-out frustrated that I couldn't stay in Tris's head the whole time.

In this book, Tobias seemed to completely change characters. I know he was trying to handle having his entire world shattered by new knowledge, and that can shake a guy up, but he turned into a weak, manipulable follower. I couldn't admire him anymore and I couldn't see why Tris liked him at all.

Tris, on the other hand, grew back into a favorite character. She seemed to go through the difficulties in Insurgent and come out stronger, smarter, and enlightened. Now, let me get into a small spoiler section. If you've read the book or already know about "the big ending" then I talk about it in the space below. The font is in white so that you can highlight and read it. If you don't want the ending of the book ruined for you, then just skip this white space!

Tris dies. There you have it. She dies. 

It was perfect.

I know that sounds a bit morbid, loving the death of the favored main character, but it brought together all of Tris's character traits into a climactic moment of completion. It made sense and fit her personality perfectly. I'd grown to re-love her so I didn't want her to die, just like I dont' want anyone I'm attached to to die.

But we all die. And Tris's death was worth so much. I cheered her on, almost cried, and then felt a little lost without her through the conclusion of the story, but for her character...it was worth it.

At the end, when I closed the book, all I could think was, "I miss Tris." But I was proud of her. I was proud of Veronica Roth for delivering such a strong ending to a strong series.

Intimacy Issues:
Because I lost interest in Tobias through this book, it made the intimacy feel...weird. The kissing felt awkward and then we reached a scene near the end where they have implied sex. I saw something like this coming from a mile away. It happens in most of the YA books now, so I won't repeat my stance on that, but I would like to point out how odd it felt.

They were preparing for a giant mission the next day! People are dying and plots are thick and suddenly Tris and Tobias retreat to an empty room with a couch and sleep together. It just...didn't fit. It was presented in a very relaxed, "let's-just-stay-in-each-other's-arms" way, but I'm sitting there on the edge of my seat thinking, "You need to be alert for tomorrow's mission! Focus! Wake up!"

It didn't fit their characters, at least not in that moment. And because it stood out like a sore thumb, it felt like a giant beacon in the darkness that something was going to happen to one of the characters. It felt a little like, "We need to have sex before we lose our chance."

I don't see why it was necessary. It sends the message to all teenagers that one's love isn't complete until they have sex.

I hate that message.

While the writing stayed appropriate (albeit a bit steamy), I was disappointed that it had to be there at all.

Spiritual Content: *****
Tris thinks more and more about God in this book, but never reaches much of a conclusion. I still liked her searching and hoping, but it would have been nice to see her take that on in a more serious way.

Overall Recommendation:
I wasn't a die-hard Divergent Series fan to begin with, but this last book left me disappointed for different reasons:

1. It felt slow and long
2. The plot didn't capture me.
3. I didn't like Tobias through the entire book except the moment when he confronts his mother at the end. That moment was very powerful, at least for me, and was the one time I enjoyed his POV.

The positives of this book were:

1. The strong and conclusive ending to a very intricate plot. No, not all the ends were tied, but I don't think they could have been. In fact, I'm glad they weren't.
2. Tris! Her character was completely redeemed. I've always been on her side more than Tobias's, but Allegiant topped the cake. I loved her and her motivation, her goals for things and her view of life.

So give it a try if you're not concerned about being a little bored or pushing through some questionable content.

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, released September 2014 from Enclave Publishing. 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.

Insurgent, by Veronica Roth (Divergent #2)

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.

Summary:
Intended Age-Group:  16+
Issues of Violence: some graphic images (shooting, stabbing, torture)
Intimacy Level: kissing/making-out
Swearing: b*st*rd, h*ll, using God's name for exclamations
Recommendation: 4 out of 5 stars

Blurb:

"One choice can transform you -- or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves -- and herself -- while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable -- and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and fuilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so."

Initial Reaction: *****
Insurgent grabbed me from the beginning when Tris started exploring different factions and finding out their stances on the war. The only downside to this was confusion since I hadn't read Divergent for a while. I had trouble keeping straight the new characters, locations, newly developed serums, and who led which faction. BUT, that's my own weak memory's fault. It just means Roth wrote a multi-layered story and I can't complain about that.

Plot: *****
Such a strong plot! Veronica Roth doesn't dumb anything down. The story picks up from where Divergent left off without even a blink between scenes. As the plot progresses, so does the depth, tension, growing uprisings, and action. What I loved most about this plot was looking at how different factions respond to the same problems. It was absolutely fascinating.

I greatly appreciated the lack of love triangle or dystopian-turned-romance. So often in YA, the girl just obsesses over the boy (or vice versa) and we read a lot of kissing and inner turmoil. Thankfully, Tris and Tobias seemed to realize that saving the world trumped their romantic turmoil and stuck together through it all anyway.

Characters:  *****

To be frank, Tris annoyed me a little, but she had a good excuse. She was going through a lot -- dealing with the regrets of murder, the loss of loved ones, the danger of being Divergent, the uprising of her faction, etc. I thought she handled these in a very...human manner. I felt her pain and understood why she made the decisions she did.

Okay, let's move on to Tobias. NOT my favorite person in this book. The strong mysterious leader we met in book one has been replaced with a man who doesn't seem to understand Tris (or care about understanding) or care that she's struggling with so much. He struck me as a whiner who threw out ultimatums to the girl he's supposed to love. He lost my affection.

HOWEVER, these reactions from Tris and Tobias are realistic to how I would expect normal people to react to their lifestyle being destroyed. I can't fault either of them, but I also loved them a little less. ;)

Spiritual Content: *****
Tris starts questioning "her parents' faith" more and more. She sees a different display of relationship with God when she visits Amity and I felt it shows the multiple ways we can relate to our Creator. I liked watching her ask these questions, even though the story didn't dig too deep into them.

Overall Recommendation:
I enjoyed Insurgent, especially reading it right after Divergent. It picks up the story without even a blink between scenes. I recommend it as a very strong sequel in a great dystopian series. It stays clean with mild language, some kissing, but overall driven by thick plot.

Do it, my friends. Read it. And tell me what you think.
 

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, released September 2014 from Enclave Publishing. 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.

Mortis, by Hannah Cobb

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.

Summary:

Intended Age-Group: 13+

Issues of Violence: knife fights, poisoning, falling into a pit of spikes 

Intimacy Level: One kiss

Language: none!

Recommendation: 4 out of 5 stars

Book blurb:

In an underground school rife with duels and deadly classes, Jane hides in the shadows to stay alive. She is the invisible assassin. But as she prepares to graduate from Mortis and take her place in the world as a fully-trained killer, Jane stumbles over shadowy secrets revealing dark truths that affect more than her world. Will she embrace the darkness, or betray the school that raised her -- and the boy she loves? Once Jane sets herself against her school, there is no turning back because in Mortis, failure always means death.

A clean book about a school of assassins? Why yes, it can be done. Just ask Hannah Cobb -- she's the master (though not a master assassin...I hope.)

Initial Reaction: *****
The premise of this story had me instantly hooked. The writing was tight and fast-paced, but about 1/4 of the way into the book, I kept wondering, "Okay, what's the threat/goal/driving force going to be?" The worldbuiling and culture were very intriguing, but not enough to carry the story. Thankfully, right about when I asked that question is when purple-eyed Nathan Wade stepped up. Nothing like a handsome enemy sneaking into the main character's story. I didn't mind one little bit.

Characters: *****
We follow main character, Jane, through most of the story. It didn't take me long to like her and root for her like a baseball fan at the World Series. She had many admirable factors -- her morals, her determination, her stealthiness, and the fact she was an observer, which meant she was a thinker.

I like thinkers. It makes the character smart, which then makes me feel like it's worth investing my time in her.

Her growth through the story felt very natural. I could understand why she made the choices she did and why she cared about certain things (and people.)

Plot:  *****
The intensity of the story escalated the further I read until I absolutely couldn't put it down unless I finished. On occasion, the story moved too fast for me and I wasn't sure what was happening. I figured out most of it by the end, though.

The plot in general is solid. It's a great mixture of character struggles, creative worlds, and twists. I liked Jane's choices and what she learned about her school. I especially liked that she decided action must be taken. But now I'm getting back into the character side of things. [grin]

Good solid plot.

Spiritual focus:  *****
While there was no spiritual focus, the morals were good and the book was 100% clean. No swearing, no alternate gods, no excessive gore.

Likes:
Um...the ball. Need I say more? What's more fun than wearing a gorgeous dress covered in jewels with knives hidden in your hair? (Or, for the men, with a glittering sword at your side?)

The artwork at the start of each chapter. Very rustic, simple, but intriguing all at the same time. It really added to the feel of the book.

Jane's friendship with Willy. Both of their personalities were conveyed in a way that, within pages, I knew what to expect from them. Their friendship was sweet, deep, and very touching. Strength to the BFFs!

Dislikes:
Romance -- I'm not a huge one for romance, but when a book is telling me there's supposed to be chemistry, then I start looking for it. I didn't feel a single flicker of chemistry between the chosen couple until about 3/4 of the way through. When it did come, I was quite pleased, but there could have been more to it to make it feel natural. I expect to see this build in book two.

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Description -- I could have done with some extra description. Some readers don't like the paragraphs of visuals. I, however, thrive off them. I felt like I could only visualize parts of the story and characters. But that's subjective reading for you. ;)

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Setting (and this may go hand-in-hand with description) -- I didn't realize the world had a fantasy element to it until Jane talked to a horse and it talked back. Prior to that, I thought maybe it was very similar to our world. But it didn't take me long to catch on.



Overall Recommendation:
Overall, I was pleased with this book. It was well-written and the plot built beautifully. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy, sword-fighting, and adventure.

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, released September 2014 from Enclave Publishing. 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.