Eye of the Sword by Kathryn Henley

Read Chapter 1

Eye of the Sword is the second book in the Angelaeon Circle by Karyn Henley. The Eye of Sword picks up shortly after the end of Breath of Angel and continues the stories of Trevin and Melaia.

The battle has been fought and Lord Reijus has been temporarily defeated but Camrithia is the weakest it has ever been. Her Comains (similar to medieval knights) have disappeared one by one leaving her defenseless and in the depths of despair. After his recent victories the king has decided that Trevin be appointed a Comain, and his first quest will be to seek out the whereabouts and/or fates of the king's other men. Meanwhile, Princess Melaia has her own quest to lay at Trevin's feet. She desperately needs his help in seeking the lost Kypara Harps which she believes will help her restore the stairway to Heaven and the Tree of Wisdom.

Trevin's quests are burdened with trials before they even begin when Prince Varic of Dregamoor (the King's known enemies) arrives to seek peace and Melaia's hand in marriage. Trevin doesn't trust Varic nor does he appreciate the competition for Melaia's affections, but how can he find out what Varic is really up to while he is roaming the countryside seeking lost Comains and harps? Will he be able to finish his quests and return to Redcliff before the King agrees to the marriage? Will he be able to expose Varic's ulterior motives for coming to Camrithia before it's too late?

I thoroughly enjoyed following Trevin on his quest to find himself as well as all the kingdom has lost. Eye of Sword is well written and engaging. It will keep your attention and surprise you again and again.

The hardest part of reading Eye of the Sword is comprehending the different character types, who they are, and how they relate to one another. Henley has created a whole new world in Camrithia, and it includes men, several different types/classes of angel, Nephili and many other creatures. When you are first introduced to these characters it can become a little overwhelming trying to keep them all straight. Eventually it gets easier but some people may find this a real hindrance and put the book down out of frustration. Let me tell you that they would be missing out!

If you love fantasy and adventure, you will probably find grasping a whole new world easy to overcome. I highly recommend this book to you. I even recommend this book to individuals who might initially shy away from it because it is written by a Christian author. Don't let this stop you from enjoying a great quest! Although Henley very loosely bases her ideas of angels and Nephili on some descriptions in the Bible that is where the religion and religious similarities end. She doesn't shove religion down your throat or write a half-baked allegory. Eye of the Sword is an excellently written book!

I look forward to reading further installments in the Angelaeon Circle!

I received a free copy of this book from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing for review purposes.

Other Karyn Henley Books:

Fair is the Rose

Fair is the Rose is the second book in the Lowlands of Scotland series by Liz Curtis Higgs. Fair is the Rose continues following the saga of Jamie, Rose, and Leana as they work through the consequences of their choices.

Leana and Jamie’s son, Ian, came into the world handsome and healthy at the end of book one. He is the glue that has bound their unlikely marriage together. Ian’s birth was a turning point for Jamie as he vowed to God to truly try and love his wife—forsaking his love for Leana’s sister, Rose.

Leana has continued to risk her heart and to love Jamie even though it has meant countless heartaches for her. When Jamie told her about his vow to God, her hope is renewed but can she really trust this man who has loved her sister for so long? Showing grace and the love of Christ Leana is determined to give Jamie the chance to prove himself and to bring his love into their marriage at last.

Rose was none to happy to come home and find her sister had taken her wedding and her husband. She was even less happy when she learned her sister was pregnant—officially sealing her marriage to Jamie. Yet Rose still harbors feelings for him and Jamie has done nothing but encourage her in those feelings. Now that Jamie is determined to honor God, his marriage, and his wife Rose has little choice but to try and take matters into her own hands.

Jamie is finally learning to love his wife and bury his love for Rose when Reverend Brown comes to tell him of an oversight in the kirk records that may jeopardize everything he holds dear. Will he be able to trust God? Can he truly learn to love Leana the way she deserves? What will become of his family?

I truly enjoyed Fair is the Rose. It is interesting to see how Higgs remedies the Biblical pologamy in the midst of her historical Scotland setting. I also enjoy that her characters are flawed and complex. It keeps things interesting. Plus you know that a character is well written when you really, really hate that character and then realize that this is the emotion that character is meant to evoke in you.

My favorite part is the way in which Leana handles the consequences of the choices she has made. Her character accepts responsibility for the wrongs she has committed but most importantly she accepts God’s forgiveness and moves on. This encourages others to follow her example. I know that accepting God’s forgiveness and forgiving myself are the hardest parts of forgiveness and I love how she lives it out well.

I highly recommend the writings of Liz Curtis Higgs to historical fiction lovers, and to those who are fans of Biblical allegory. Her writing, characters, and stories will bring the Biblical accounts to life and help you see them from an entirely new perspective. Another great read!

More Books by Liz Curtis Higgs:

The Final Summit is Great for Historical Fiction Lovers

Overview:
The Final Summit is another great work of fiction by Andy Andrews. In The Final Summit, you will counter a cast of familiar historical figures as well as David Ponder from The Traveler's Gift. The basic premise of the book is that the world has been on a downward spiral for some time now and it’s time is nearing an end unless a solution can be found to reverse this spiral. Ponder, who is recently widowed and is now questioning his will to live, is summoned by the angel Gabriel to lead a council of the most powerful and world changing minds from the past. Members of this council include biblical figures such as King David all the way to more contemporary figures like Mister Rogers—even Amelia Earhart makes an appearance. Together these individuals must come up with an idea to reverse the downward spiral of the world. They have five chances to solve the problem, and they must do it before the sand in the world’s hour glass runs out. Will they be able to save the world? Only time will tell.

Author Andy Andrews

My Thoughts:
When I first learned that David Ponder was a returning character from another Andy Andrews book I was a little worried that I would be lost. I was pleasantly surprised that I could follow and enjoy The Final Summit without having read The Traveler's Gift. I also liked the cast of characters whom Andrews includes in his heavenly council—especially some of the lesser known individuals like Eric Erickson (never heard of him before this book but he’s real!).

I thought that the story line was interesting. The varied cast of characters from different cultures and eras provided some interesting interactions, and I had to chuckle to myself when he described some of the scenes taking place in the council chambers. In the end the solution the council decides upon isn’t all that new or radical but it still is true and holds important meaning. The best part is that this self-help answer comes to you in an easily digestible fiction form. How nice! All in all I thought The Final Summit was great. I recommend it to individuals who enjoy historical fiction and to those who are looking for uplifting and encouragement in their own lives.

This book was provided to me at no cost by Thomas Nelson Publishing for review purposes.

More Andy Andrew Books:
  

A Well Written Allegory

Overview:

The Chasm by Randy Alcorn tells the story of Nick Seagrave. Nick is a traveler on the paths of life—only his life story is told through allegory. You experience epic battles, struggles, and vivid pictures of what our average life looks like in a less than average land. Along his journey Nick reflects on the good and bad times he has had in his life. He also meets many different travelers, some of them good for him and others not so much. Nick encounters a picture of Christ in the woodsman and a picture of the devil in the tempter Joshua. Will he ever get across the Chasm?

Review:
From the first pages you are drawn into Nick’s story. It’s important to know that The Chasm is a partner story to Alcorn’s Edge of Eternity. So if the book leaves you wanting to know more about Nick Seagrave you can find the information you seek there. The Chasm deals specifically in Nick’s journey to cross the chasm that separates travelers from the city of Charis. The story is extremely well written. It’s hard to put down and pretty fast paced. The book is only 110 pages long but it is truly action packed. The Chasm is written in an allegorical style so there are obvious allusions and comparisons between characters in the book and important Christian figures like the devil and Jesus. The allegory is easy to follow which is a blessing. I recommend this book to readers ninth grade and above. It will be a journey that’s hard to forget.

This book was provided to me by Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing at no cost for review purposes.



Other Books by Randy Alcorn:
  

Lady in Waiting Book Review: A Tale of Two Janes

Overview:

Jane runs a family antique shop in New York, loves old things, and after 22 years of marriage now finds herself alone because her husband (Brad) needed some “space”. As she is coping with Brad’s abandonment and the possible end of her marriage, she finds a treasure hidden in the spine of an old book. It’s a ring, and not just any ring! It’s pre-Elizabethan and has a Latin inscription in it which includes one word she instantly recognizes—Jane. As present day Jane works through the problems in her life, she seeks to discover what became of Jane and the man who gave her this ring.

My Thoughts:
I’ll be honest, when I first picked up this book I wasn’t 100% sure that I was going to like it. I do love historical fiction—especially romance—so it did have that going for it. This is the first book by Susan Meissner that I have ever read. I wasn’t sure about reading a book that centered around possible romantic tragedy but the story telling and the plot were fantastic! They drew me in quickly and kept me entranced until the very end. I highly recommend Lady in Waiting, and it has inspired me to read more of Susan Meissner's work. Lady in Waiting is an engaging and rich story about two Jane’s and how their stories intertwine. Don’t miss out on this amazing book! And believe me, you’ll want to find out how it ends…

I give Lady in Waiting and recommend you buy it immediately! :)



See Other Works by Susan Meissner

     


I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review

Dragon Spell is Spell Binding

When I was browsing the shelves of my local bookstore, I was first drawn to Dragonspell because of the cover art. I love enchantments, fantasy, dragons and adventure. This book looked perfect for me! Within the first few paragraphs I knew I was right. I was going to love this book and I do!

The Dragon Keeper Chronicles, the first of which is Dragonspell, by Donita K. Paulcenters around a former slave girl named Kale and the many friends she meets along her journeys. This book was originally written for grades 4-8, but I was 23 years old the first time I read it and enjoyed it just as much. I just couldn't put the book down. I have since read all of the Dragon Keeper Chronicles and I was very sad when the series came to an end.

The adventures are legendary! The characters are easy to relate to, and you just can't wait for more. The best part is that the books also teach you valuable lessons about faith and purpose as you follow the will of your master and creator.

This book is a must read for the entire family!