Posts Tagged ‘science fiction’

Starlighter

by Bryan Davis

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Okay my first question is when is this going to be a movie? I enjoyed this far more than  Diamond of Darkhold or even Harry Potter.  I loved loved this book!  Starlighter is the first book in the Dragons of Starlight series. If it’s any indication of what’s going to happen in the rest of the series I’m sold!  I am pretty sure I’ve found an author worth following.  If you’re a fan of “The Seeker” or “Merlin” you’ll enjoy this book!

At first I only wanted to read about Jason.  Jason is a young warrior who gets dubbed into searching for a secret portal.  Between that, his missing brother and the crazy guy named tibber who talks in riddles I was sucked right in , but soon was enchanted by the redheaded, green eyed starlighter named Koren. Koren is a slave on Starlighter; she is enslaved to dragons.  She discovers she has powers that the dragons aren’t too keen about.  As Jason and Koren’s worlds collide can she be rescued or will he just get sucked in and become a slave as well?

This masterfully crafted story will have you dreaming of dragons and other talking animals and the hidden meanings behind every turn. There are so many wonderful characters in this book and interesting subtleties.  Starlighter can be enjoyed on two different levels ~ one as a great work of fiction and two as an allegory.  You can easily hand this book over to a non-christian, but if you look at it as a Christian you’ll get twice as much out of it!  It’s not preachy at all, but boy it makes some powerful points.   I mentioned better than Harry Potter in my earlier comment because it has that magical element to it, but on a whole new level that just draws you in!  And I would definitely have it in that category!

Bryan keeps the book entertaining all the way through.  Starlighter is a YA fiction, but I think Adults alike will thoroughly enjoy this book!  I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series!  Uprising isn’t out til January 2011, so I’ll have to be unwillingly patient for it to come out!

Curious about it? Check it out here:

** review copy provided by harpercollins canada

Jeffrey Overstreet’s Raven’s Ladder

Following the beacon of Auralia’s colors and the footsteps of a mysterious dream-creature, King Cal-raven has discovered a destination for his weary crowd of refugees. It’s a city only imagined in legendary tales. And it gives him hope to establish New Abascar.

But when Cal-raven is waylaid by fortune hunters, his people become vulnerable to a danger more powerful than the prowling beastmen––House Bel Amica. In this oceanside kingdom of wealth, enchantment, and beauty, deceitful Seers are all too eager to ensnare House Abascar’s wandering throng.

Even worse, the Bel Amicans have discovered Auralia’s colors, and are twisting a language of faith into a lie of corruption and control.

If there is any hope for the people of Abascar, it lies in the courage of Cyndere, daughter of Bel Amica’s queen; the strength of Jordam the beastman; and the fiery gifts of the ale boy, who is devising a rescue for prisoners of the savage Cent Regus beastmen.

As his faith suffers one devastating blow after another, Cal-raven’s journey is a perilous climb from despair to a faint gleam of hope––the vision he sees in Auralia’s colors.

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I read Cyndere’s Midnight by Jeffrey Overstreet last year.  You can click HERE to read my review on that book.  I remember struggling a bit with it, but enjoying it – a highly intellectual read!

Raven’s Ladder, however I enjoyed much more!   As soon as I opened the book I felt my mind conjuring up images that Overstreet presents in this book and being taken to a far away land.  I felt this story flowed more smoothly than the last one.  (I always love to see an author out-do themselves them their previous books.)  It could be a stand alone book, but I do think knowing the previous story is a definite plus with this series.

The interesting thing about Jeffery Overstreet’s writing is that it is full of description.  I mean tiny details that aren’t the norm. “   I appreciate that about this book in general because for those of us who have read the last book it really enhances the read, don’t you think?  I like how you get several different perspectives throughout the book – the ale boy at the beginning, Cal-raven and more.  It was interesting to see how Cal-raven grew more into a man in this book as he changed from the dreamer his father presented him as in the beginning.

It reminds me a bit of the City of Ember-that dark foreboding feeling with a thread of hope laced throughout it, so if you enjoy that style, you’ll enjoy this book as well!

I loved what Brandon said about the publishing Christian sci-fi – encouragement for writers for sure!  Becky definitely brings up an interesting question regarding imagination in her post to this book.   S.J. Deal says “I still do not think I would categorize this book as a work of Christian Fiction however, in the traditional sense of the word. It’s art, it’s good art, and as a work of art, it does indeed draw me to God, in that sense it very much is a work of Christian Fiction.” and I tend to agree with him.

I will admit this is a heavy read and that not everyone can handle books like this.  It takes time to actually enjoy a book like this and savor it.  Think Shakespeare lol.

Author Web site and blog - http://lookingcloser.org/category/journal/

Want to know what others say?

Check out the CSFF blog tour participants
Brandon Barr Rachel Briard (BooksForLife)     Keanan Brand Beckie Burnham Melissa Carswell Valerie Comer CSFF Blog Tour Stacey Dale D. G. D. Davidson Shane Deal Jeff Draper April Erwin Ryan Heart Becky Jesse Cris Jesse Jason Joyner Julie Krystine Kercher Dawn King Rebecca LuElla Miller Nissa John W. Otte Donita K. Paul Crista Richey Chawna Schroeder Andrea Schultz James Somers Robert Treskillard Steve Trower Fred Warren Phyllis Wheeler KM Wilsher

In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

Scratch scratch scratch… scratching the surface; that’s what this book feels like.  Batson and Hopper lay a fantastic foundation for your series and I can’t even begin to tell you how fun and interesting this book was.

I think this would be a perfect  Christmas gift for your kids this year.  I LOVED this book! It was soooo easy to get into and I was engrossed in a matter of minutes with it.  It sort of reminds me of “The Never-Ending Story” meets “Lord of The Rings”

So what’s it about?

The Seven succeeding Elven Lords of Allyra were dead, lost in the Siege of Berinfell as babes.  At least that’s what everyone thought until tremors from a distant world known as Earth, revealed strange signs that Elven blood lived among its peoples. With a glimmer of hope in their hearts, sentinels are sent to see if the signs are true. But theirs is not a lone errand. The ruling warlord of Allyra, the Spider King, has sent his own scouts to hunt down the Seven and finish the job they failed to complete many ages ago.

Now 13-year-olds on the brink of the Age of Reckoning when their Elven gifts will be manifest, discover the unthinkable truth that their adoptive families are not their only kin. With mysterious Sentinels revealing breathtaking secrets of the past, and dark strangers haunting their every move, will the young Elf Lords find the way back to the home of their birth? Worlds and races collide as the forces of good and evil battle.  Will anyone escape the Curse of the Spider King?

Curse of the Spider King by Wayne Thomas Batson and  Christopher Hopper is excellent!  And I know it’s ment of kids aged 9-12, but I loved it and think it is a interesting series to read at any age.  I was actually surprised at how much I liked it.  It was an easy read, but had depth.   The story takes two folds in it; one is in the book (as telling the history of the Elven Lords) and one is present day.  My favorite part was the present day part of the story.   I enjoyed the introduction to each character and that it all moves the story forward.   I love that you can relate to the Elvens in the real world; sort of a Harry Potterish story of  misfits not knowing why their life is the way it is until it unfolds before their eyes.  I can just see kids delving into this and oooing and ahhhing the way I felt about it!  It really makes your imagination work and the adventure is as though it could happen to any one of us.

The part I didn’t like… SPIDERS … ick!  need I say more???  lol seriously.  I hate those things.  Okay seriously, the worst part is that I have to wait for the  next part to come out!  I want to read it now!!!!!

check out what othes have to say who are participating in the blog tour:
Brandon Barr
Justin Boyer
Amy Browning
Valerie Comer
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Shane Deal
Jeff Draper
Emmalyn Edwards
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Todd Michael Greene
Ryan Heart
Timothy Hicks
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Tina Kulesa
Melissa Lockcuff
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirtika
Nissa
John W. Otte
Cara Powers
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Speculative Faith
Robert Treskillard
Fred Warren
Jason Waguespac
Phyllis Wheeler
Jill Williamson
KM Wilsher

** This book was provided for my honest opinion from the CSFF blog tour.

The Dragon of Trelian by Michelle Knudsen

So, what did I think of this book?

I’m sure some might enjoy this, I hard a hard time getting past the first two chapters.. or three… or four… over two weeks I’ve put this book down over and over again.  It didn’t capture me or keep me interested.

As Mr. C says, “A slow start, but a happy ending — sets you up for the next book.”

I don’t like writing bad reviews, but I do need to honest, and honestly I just couldn’t get into this one.  Perhaps a book others will enjoy, but it won’t be on my top list for sequels to find.

That being said, I do like the storyline, and the characters.   Princess Meg and Calen, the mage’s apprentice was quite cool.  I liked the drive the princess had, and they seemed to balance each other out; where one was weak the other was strong, but not too mushy or anything.

The book was somewhat cliche, but overall easy enough to follow.   I did think the idea behind it was appealing- I mean what kid doesn’t like a book that has a a dragon? lol.  BUT I found it to have a lot of dry spells for for me… it picked up and than to slowed down  a lot!(you know, when you begin to selective read in hopes of catching a engaging part… bah).  About midway through the book I finally found it pick up well enough that I could finally get into the book, and actually enjoy it a bit.  SO I have to agree with Mr. C to a Very slow start (moves to slow), but picks up in the end and was okay.

The Dragon of Trelian is aimed at middle school; 9-12 year olds.  It’s mainstream fiction.   And while I enjoy some sci-fi here and there (one of my favorite shows this past year has been ‘the Seeker’, — yes, I am a dork like that!   I’m not really sure what to think about this.. even Mr. C a fantasy reader from his youth didn’t put it on this “good” list…

I will add that I did appreciate that it was clean in language and the bits of magic in there… well.. it’s sci-fi, and imaginative; don’t read into it too deep.  I was okay with that.  I really appreciate it when authors taking the time to really make a book age appropriate!

Cyndere’s Midnight, by Jeffrey Overstreet is on the CSFF Blog Tour this month.

Cyndere’s Midnight, is the second of a series called Aurelia’s Tapestry.  The first is Aurelia’s Colors.  The next, which hasn’t been released yet, is Cal-raven’s Ladder.

My thoughts on this… the first bit is hard to get into.. it took me a while to follow it, and I’m not sure if I hadn’t checked out a few peoples reviews if I would have captured some of the ideas floating in this book (like not until after 10 that I got an inkling that the beastmen were that way b/c of Essence – a drug that kept them under the spell).

That being said, I thought it was a decent book with a lot of imagery floating around… I love the elaborate detail Overstreet provides, and I could probably read a few times before you grasped some of it.

Along with the other things that I pointed out yesterday, a few things that came to my mind today was:

• the ale boy reminded me of Harry Potter, with his throbbing forehead and parental death at birth… not as a main character, but his little charms about him. (yes, I watch too much movies/tv.. i admit that lol.. it’s a perpetual Dora party here…)
  
• Cyndere seems really wish washy… a moment she’s heroic, and the next she’s a nincompoop… her personality is very skitzo (reminds me of a few girls i know lol).
• I’m not really sure I got anything Christian per say out of it, but than again what makes a book a “Christian book” ? Because it’s clean?  Because it relies on God? Because it encourages our beliefs?  I never did figure out Narnia for a long time, so you’ll have to pardon me ..  I’m not saying that’s bad.. I think going mainstream on some of this stuff is great.. just for me, some of that’s lost on my mama brain… or my simplicity if I dare call it that lol.

Almost done, so I’ll have my conclusion in a bit (tomorrow)

An excerpt from the book can be found here: http://lookingcloser.org/fiction/cynderes-midnight-the-blue-strand-of-the-auralia-thread-a-novel-by-jeffrey-overstreet/read-an-excerpt-from-cynderes-midnight/

Overstreet’s Website
Overstreet’s blog

Cyndere’s Midnight, by Jeffrey Overstreet is on the CSFF Blog Tour this month.

Cyndere’s Midnight, is the second of a series called Auralia’s Tapestry.  The first is Auralia’s Colors.  The next, which hasn’t been released yet, is Cal-raven’s Ladder.

A quick overview of the book:

The heroine, Cyndere, contemplates suicide because of the death of her father (shipwrecked) and the death of her brother (by the infamous beastmen).  What adds even more to her pain is the death of her own husband is killed by the beastmen. The beastmen – whom they so long wished to help.

Jordam, one of the beastmen is enthralled with Auralia’s colors… the question is, will he be overcome by the curse, or stand against all he knows to save the House Abascar’s survivor’s?

Okay, a few things come to my mind initially when I think of this book– after I’ve read the first few pages of it.  Call them odd or not, but this is what’s crossed my mind. (please remember this is a new genre for me, so bear with me as I get a feel for it!)

• The End of the Spear – Where the missionaries go to a place and their husbands are killed, yet the wives stay and still minister to the natives, who eventually become Christians.
• Big foot. – the fact that they are like beastmen and probably because I watched: http://animal.discovery.com/videos/lost-tapes-bigfoot-full-episode.html last night lol.  The mystery behind them mostly… no one really knows.

The jury is still out on this book for me.  Check back tomorrow on what I really think but for now check out what others have to say.

Brandon Barr, Keanan Brand ,Rachel Briard, Melissa Carswell, Valerie Comer, CSFF Blog Tour Stacey Dale, D. G. D. Davidson, Shane Deal, Jeff Draper, April Erwin, Karina Fabian ,Andrea Graham ,Todd Michael Greene ,Katie Hart ,Timothy Hicks ,Jason Isbell ,Jason Joyner, Kait ,Carol Keen ,Magma ,Rebecca LuElla Miller, Eve Nielsen,Nissa, Wade Ogletree John W. Otte ,John Ottinger ,Steve Rice ,Crista Richey ,Alice M. Roelke, Chawna Schroeder ,James Somers, Rachel Starr, Thomson ,Robert Treskillard ,Steve Trower,Speculative Faith, Jill Williamson