In Crystal Witness, Tyers combines space opera with art (along with a touch of dystopia) and sets the stage for her new upcoming sci-fi series, The SuIn Crystal Witness, Tyers combines space opera with art (along with a touch of dystopia) and sets the stage for her new upcoming sci-fi series, The Sunstone Saga.
Crystal Witness is my favorite sci-fi novel I've read so far this year! I wasn't sure if I would totally enjoy the novel from the summary, but it was by Kathy Tyers (who I know well from her Star Wars novels) and I was intrigued by the protagonist being a calligrapher and vaguely presenting as Asian from her name and the cover art. I was not disappointed and actually rather surprised at how much art was a central theme to the story!
Having a background in studio art, I adored all of the artistic methods, mediums, and accuracy in descriptions, both the traditional (such as contour drawings, typography, etc.) and the author-created futuristic (such as three dimensional calligraphy). The idea of the precise, drill-like tradition of calligraphy being the ultimate punishment for a creative visual artist is genius and the way Ming was able to still find joy and satisfaction in her work made me cheer. With modern lettering and calligraphy making a comeback, I found it something very fun to find in a sci-fi novel. Tyers' other descriptive details such as music, culture, and different world-building elements are equally well done.
This novel was originally released in 1989, but revised for its 2020 publication and honestly, I don't know how much was edited or changed, but it didn't really feel dated at all (minus some fashion descriptions). There are also slight dystopian, suspense, and romantic elements as Ming navigates her new life and struggles to figure out who she can trust. Another thing I really enjoyed were side characters such as the ambitious Holjpip, supportive Lyra, and the mysterious Tieg. Though marketed as Christian Sci-Fi, I couldn't really see a whole lot of spiritual elements other than some characters referring to presumably monotheistic deities. However readers could also consider the ethical or moral implications of certain policies or technologies in this universe as thought-provoking. I also understand that the upcoming sequel series, The Sunstone Saga, will have stronger spiritual elements.
As a side note, there was one use of the word sl-t that a side-bit character used as an assumption about another character, which dropped me out of the story for a very brief moment because I've only seen Edgy Christian Fiction use the term and any similar descriptions utilized in-universe slang but I know some readers would want to be aware. However, I still think the novel has high crossover appeal to both teen and adult sci-fi fans, along with Christian and General Market Fiction since, though full of action, the violence is never gratuitously graphic and romance elements are tastefully handled as well. I would recommend this to fans of Tyers' previous works, sci-fi franchises such as Star Trek, or fellow Enclave Publishing author Ronie Kendig's Brand of Light.
[Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes via Celebrate Lit Tours.]...more
Jen Turano always writes the most interesting, quirky characters. Beatrix is a delightful heroine witA Suffragette and a Scientist: Storing Up Trouble
Jen Turano always writes the most interesting, quirky characters. Beatrix is a delightful heroine with her plucky attitude and her verbal sparring with the unsociable Norman was fun and witty. Norman himself was a most unusual love interest and his development from a project-obsessed scientist to realizing the importance of being involved in his siblings' and niece's lives was heartwarming. I even became endeared to side characters like Norman's childhood friend and partner-in-science Theodosia, Beatrix's unconventional Aunt Gladys, and aspiring young inventor Gemma.
Though there wasn't as much of an investigative aspect as I initially thought there would be, this novel is marketed as a historical, not a mystery, so I don't fault the author for my inaccurate expectations. Rather, the Pinkerton Detective Agency, the struggle of suffragettes' and female workers rights and reform, along with 19th century science provides a vivid backdrop to this fun romance that kept me turning pages late into the night!
While there are a few cameo appearances of characters I'm assuming are the past protagonists of previous books in the series, I was able to easily read Storing Up Trouble as a stand alone. I think this novel also has strong general market crossover potential, as the spiritual thread is very subtle and can be viewed as a historical element. Regardless, fans of Karen Witemeyer and readers looking for a clean, historical romance will enjoy Jen Turano's latest work.
[Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes via Celebrate Lit Tours.]...more
Coming from Enclave Publishing's new YA imprint, Enclave Escape, Chawna Schroeder's unique fantasy isn't for everyone, but those looking for a more clComing from Enclave Publishing's new YA imprint, Enclave Escape, Chawna Schroeder's unique fantasy isn't for everyone, but those looking for a more classic fantasy with a hint of dystopia and the supernatural may enjoy this stand alone novel.
Where most fantasy novels are multi-volume or serials, the world Anatroshka is contained within a stand alone novel. While this is something I appreciate as a reader to have a contained story without having to wait months or years for the continuation or conclusion, I think it was one reason why I wasn't able to completely invest and connect with the world and characters: I'm more accustomed to longer, meandering series. Of course, as a reader you don't want "info dumps" to introduce you to a new fantasy world and characters, and Schroeder doesn't resort to it, but I did find myself wishing that I could have bit more info as a reader. The details I did receive as a reader left me wanting more, but it feels like just enough information is given to immerse you into the story, which I suspect is because it is a stand alone.
While being marketed as a YA and published through Enclave's new YA imprint, it didn't necessarily feel like a YA novel with a teen protagonist. This isn't necessarily a negative. Though Oriel seems to be the main character based on the synopsis, to me it felt more like an ensemble cast, with no characters outshining or taking center stage over the others. But it was also hard for me to connect with the characters for some reason. From young Brandon in the military, grizzled prisoner Gareth, to the otherworldly Jaki, the characters were intriguing and left me wanting more. Again, I feel this may be because of the stand alone nature of the book and with a length of 289 pages, it had to be succinct and tight. There is an author's note at the end of the book which helped clarify the different species/races and some of the mythos of the world that I wish could have gotten worked in a bit more into the story itself.
But overall, The Vault Between the Spaces contains an intriguing premise of angelic beings, faerie-like creatures, elemental powers, and spiritual threads that will come together perfectly for certain readers. Though this novel didn't quite hit the mark for me personally, Chawna Schroeder has a lot of potential as author and I am interested in seeing what she dreams up next.
[Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this novel for review purposes through Celebrate Lit Blog Tours.]...more
Ever since Ronie Kendig debuted her first romantic suspense novel 10 years ago, she's become well known for her portrayal of multi-dimensional protagoEver since Ronie Kendig debuted her first romantic suspense novel 10 years ago, she's become well known for her portrayal of multi-dimensional protagonists, especially those in the armed forces or military. In 2015, I was pleasantly surprised to find her publishing her first fantasy novel and was even more excited this year to learn about Brand of Light, since Sci-Fi novels in the Christian/Inspirational market are as rare as finding Jedi in the original Star Wars trilogy.
While the vast majority of Sci-Fi novels I've read have been from the Star Wars series, I've loved watching what I call my "star trifecta" --that is Star Wars, Star Trek (DS9 forever!), and Stargate (SG-1, Atlantis, and even Universe) ever since I was a teen and consider myself fairly well-versed in the genre. In Brand of Light, Ronie Kendig crafts a mature space opera filled with mystery, action, immersive world-building, and a dash of swoon-worthy romance for good measure.
Despite knowing about Ronie Kendig for years, I'd never read any of her novels until now. I was immediately struck with her well-written characters and world-building. There's Kersei, the sheltered nobleman's daughter determined to prove her worth as a warrior. In my opinion, the scene-stealing Tigo, leader of an elite military squad struggling to unravel a conspiracy that leads as high as the ranks his father holds. Finally, the last of our main protagonists, Marco, is essentially a bounty hunter, but with a supernatural ability to sense the feelings and locations of others through scents. Kendig's experience as a seasoned author and her background in psychology assists her in rendering the voices and thoughts of her characters in a life-like manner.
Kendig is also not afraid of portraying realistic situations of combat or catastrophic events and is able to convey the grittiness or horror of those moments without being overly gratuitous. Her world-building spans a galaxy of several planets and locations, with different cultures, the military of the Tertian Space Coalition, Kynigos trackers, and more. There was also enough elements like jargon and technology that captured the futuristic, sci-fi environment but still remains accessible to readers. I was so impressed that I immediately purchased her fantasy trilogy, Abiassa's Fire, which I'd been eyeing for years.
Though published through Enclave Publishing, which was traditionally a Christian Speculative Fiction press, I think this novel has high crossover appeal for the general market, especially fulfilling the need for "clean" sci-fi or paranormal romance (for example, an alternative to popular general market authors Sherilyn Kenyon or Gina Showalter). While there are religious cultures or sects, there isn't really anything preachy or distinctly Christian, which may or may not be a positive depending on the reader. However, because the novel touches on topics such as PTSD, attempted assault, psychological torture, etc. (though not graphically depicted), I would recommend this novel to adults and mature teens only. While I admit, the ending threw a squicky curve-ball that I entirely disliked (angsty drama much?) I am confident we will get a fulfilling endgame in later novels and will eagerly await the next book in The Droseran Saga.
[Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for review purposes via Celebrate Lit Blog Tours.]
To borrow an oft-used phrase in the series, "Sweet mother of Job," how I have missed the O'Connors! I can barely believe that it has been practically To borrow an oft-used phrase in the series, "Sweet mother of Job," how I have missed the O'Connors! I can barely believe that it has been practically 12 years since A Passion Most Pure, Julie Lessman's debut novel that introduced us to protagonists Faith O'Connor, Collin McGuire, and the rest of the memorable O'Connor family was published. Set in 1936, twenty years after the events of her first novel, Faith and Collin are navigating married life with ease until a career opportunity causes conflict between the two.
One of my "ult 'ships" (ultimate relationships) or pairings from Julie Lessman has always been Faith and Collin. Faith of course, was an inspiration with her spiritual maturity, the relatable "good girl" compared to her wilder sister, and Collin, though I normally am not a fan of the "bad boy" trope, eventually won me over with his growing faith and I admit, romantic (can I say "sexy?") ways. ;-) As always, Lessman goes full tilt with swoon-worthy romance (on the "spicier" side of Christian Romance) equally matched with a strong spiritual thread.
Ever since her first novel, where Lessman gave prominence to parents Marcy and Patrick's relationship besides her younger main couple, I've grown to appreciate her attention on married couples, which you don't often seen in romance novels: What comes after the "happily ever after." It's kind of surprising that more Christian Romance authors don't choose to do so ... Marriages have different types of conflict and situations that make for interesting plots and you can definitely up the romance with married couples. Though on the "edgy" side for the genre, Lessman keeps it classy with martial scenes that tastefully closes before things get too steamy.
When a mother should return to the workforce and her career or remain at home has been a discussion many couples have probably had for over a century. While it's easy for contemporary readers to paint Collin's views as being unreasonable, Lessman was able to give him motivations and insecurities behind his decisions that were understandable (besides the historical context) and allowed him to remain in a sympathetic light as the reader patiently waits with his wife Faith for him to come around. I also appreciated how Faith, even though known as one of the more spiritually mature characters in the series, also struggles and draws on the encouragement and reminders from God, her sisters, and mother. The "girl talk" conversations reminded me just how close the O'Connor ladies are as a family and I was here for it all! Finally, it was kind of neat how a couple minor characters and situations from A Passion Most Pure was reflected back in this story.
If there are any critiques, it would be that there are many characters that felt like they were just "name dropped." The O'Connor boys and their spouses for example, Sean and Emma, along with Steven and Annie, always seem to barely be mentioned in these novellas. I'm not sure if it's because the other couples are more popular, but of course, with the ever growing cast of the O'Connors (How many grandchildren must Patrick and Marcy have by now???) it's understandable and probably a good thing that the focus is placed on a certain number of characters.
I also still feel like the book covers for the O'Connor Christmas novellas feel too contemporary, especially the images of the main couples. This minor quibble is understandable because these novellas have been independently published by the author and it is much more difficult to get accurate historical garbed models or images than contemporary ones. However more importantly, Lessman's writing is just as strong as her traditionally published novels and the quality of her follow-up novellas seamlessly continue the stories of the O'Connors for grateful fans everywhere. As always, I eagerly look forward to what Julie Lessman writes next!
The O'Connor Family Saga (so far):
Series Prequel: A Light in the Window (2012)
Daughters of Boston Trilogy (2008-2009): 1. A Passion Most Pure 2. A Passion Redeemed 3. A Passion Denied
Winds of Change Trilogy (2010-2012): 1. A Hope Undaunted 2. A Heart Revealed 3. A Love Surrendered
Christmas Novellas: A Whisper of Hope (2017) The Best Gift of All (2017) A Gift Like No Other (2019)
[Disclosure: I received a complimentary e-ARC copy of this book for review purposes through SLB Blog Tours.]...more
As a children's librarian who received an undergraduate degree in studio art, I naturally gravitate toward planning children's arts and 2 & 1/2 stars.
As a children's librarian who received an undergraduate degree in studio art, I naturally gravitate toward planning children's arts and crafts programs at the library. I often receive many comments from parents and caregivers expressing their thanks for this because they claim they themselves aren't creative, aren't confident in their ability to lead or provide these types of experiences for children. Teaching Art in the Primary Grades: Sailing Through 1-2-3 Grades was written with these types of instructors in mind.
Each lesson includes a viewpoint (an introduction for the teacher with the focus of the lesson), time frame (one to five 40 minute periods, depending on the project), techniques and general steps, a materials list, and assessment if applicable. The lessons cover a wide range of mediums and techniques, exposing younger elementary school students to drawing, painting, weaving, collage, sculpting, mixed media, clay, printmaking, etc. The materials used are generally inexpensive, easily accessible or simple to substitute.
Since this book is focused on early elementary school (grades 1 to 3), I feel that the lessons are suitable and accessible for teachers who may not be entirely confident in their artistic abilities. In fact, since many of the lessons introduce basic art concepts and techniques (e.g. shading, pinch forming method with clay, basic weaving, etc.) I would suggest any un-confident teacher try some of the art projects for themselves to become familiar with the process before instructing others. As they are introduced, art tools and terminology are briefly defined (e.g. a brayer for printmaking, the parts of a paintbrush, warp and weft in weaving, etc.) and I appreciated that the author included instructions for things such as cleaning and caring for brushes, because an artist is never too young to learn how to properly care for their tools. Though no step-by-step photos are included, there are simple line drawings and other illustrations to help adequately visualize concepts and instructions.
Unfortunately, there are some elements that leave me unable to fully recommend this book. The most glaring is in Unit I, Lesson 2 for second grade entitled "A Clay Me," the author refers to Unit I, Lesson 7: "My Clay Friend" from Grade 1 multiple times which includes a Play Dough Recipe and other resources a second grade instructor could use to help introduce the medium to students who may not have experienced crafting sculptures with clay. However, I could not find the lesson "My Clay Friend" anywhere in my copy of this book or the table of contents listed in the e-book version I previewed online. My best guess is that the lesson was mistakenly left out (since the last lesson in first grade's Unit I is Lesson 6) or the similarly titled Lesson 8, "My Puppet Friend," from Unit II was meant to replace this missing lesson but they forgot to remove references to "My Clay Friend." However, I do think you would be able to get by and utilize the second grade lesson without this missing lesson with the instructions listed (or supplementing it with another book or online resource on clay sculpting).
I also wish that the author included more current material in his third grade bibliography on Native American art and reading list on off-loom weaving, both listed in Appendix A. While there's nothing wrong with referring to titles from the 1960s-1970s, I question how easily accessible these books would be, even at a public library or through online used books stores. Including some more recently publishing alternatives (even published within the last 20 years) would have been more ideal.
I believe most of my issues with this book is due to its nature as an indie/self published book. However, though Redemption Press specializes in Christian titles and authors, it's important to note that this title is strictly on teaching art and there are no references to God or Christianity that I caught, so it could easily be utilized in a secular setting. I plan to use my copy for ideas to introduce more art concepts and techniques in my children's arts and crafts program at a public library. Overall, if you are able to borrow or find this book on sale, definitely take a look and see if it will work for your needs.
[Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.]...more
A Song Unheard continues not long after the events of A Name Unknown (the first title in this series). Though there are slight spoilers regarding the A Song Unheard continues not long after the events of A Name Unknown (the first title in this series). Though there are slight spoilers regarding the protagonist of the previous book (as usual with trilogies in the romance genre), I felt like it can be successfully read as a stand alone (since I haven't read the first book yet). Willa Forsythe's adoptive family of street urchins and strays possess unique "talents" that lead mysterious Mr. V to recruit them for secret government assignments. The musically gifted Willa is tasked with getting close to violinist Lukas De Wilde, whose father was a cryptologist and is perhaps in possession of a valuable cypher key.
Though some might say that Willa's photographic-musical-memory is too much of a trope (she can pretty much play any piece of music after hearing it once), I think it was plausible just enough to work --or at least, I had a willing suspension of disbelief. I liked that the mystery/suspense aspect isn't as intense ... it was like a romantic historical cozy mystery (with spies)! I also enjoyed the second storyline that takes place in Germany-occupied Belgium. While the climax and conclusion wraps up a little too neatly, as a HEA (happily ever after) fan, I can't really complain. The romantic and faith elements were satisfying to me as well, but my favorite part was Willa's brother, Barclay --I sincerely hope he's the protagonist of the next book (I ... think I personally connected with him as much as Willa). I also felt like the historical elements were such that I felt like I learned a lot (just because I was less familiar with the time period) but without info dumps. So overall, I enjoyed my first Roseanna M. White novel!
[Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes.]...more
I've always enjoyed Jody Hedlund's historical romances, so I was excited to learn she was going to write YA novels. When I learned they were to be medI've always enjoyed Jody Hedlund's historical romances, so I was excited to learn she was going to write YA novels. When I learned they were to be medieval historicals, that excitement doubled. For Love and Honor closes her first teen-aimed series with more sweet medieval romance that will leave you with a satisfying sigh ...
Sabine and Bennet's tale is told through alternating first-person narration: Sabine's in a serif font (text with the little "tags" at the ends of the letters) and Bennet's in a sans-serif font (without the "tags"). I thought this was a nice visual way to differentiate, though I initally read my review copy digitally and despite the font being the same, I never was confused between whose point-of-view I was in. I felt that Jody Hedlund made their voices distinct. I am unsure if the e-book version features different fonts for the alternating chapters, but I enjoyed it in the print version!
For Love and Honor follows Hedlund's previous tales in this loose trilogy: An Uncertain Choice and A Daring Sacrifice. However, these can be easily read as stand alones, since each novel features different protagonists. Though I read the first book, An Uncertain Choice, when it first was released, I didn't really remember much about Sir Bennet, other than he was a knight, but it didn't hamper my enjoyment of the novel. I was quickly introduced to Bennet and Sabine. Both were likeable protagonists and both were holding secrets from each other that, as a reader, I knew would eventually be found out, but how? At under 300 pages, this romance was a quick read that I finished in one night!
I've been reading some darker graphic novels/comics recently, so reading For Love and Honor was like a breath of fresh air! I loved that Hedlund's first novels were on the ... "steamier" side of your typical Christian romances, but the best way to describe her YA series is sweet medieval romance. It's perfect for tweens and young teens beginning to be interested in romance novels, but perhaps not yet ready for some of the more edgy romantic fare in many general YA titles. Fans of Melanie Dickerson's novels are sure to enjoy these. To me, the spiritual thread isn't overbearing and appropriate for the time period, so I see some potential cross-over appeal. As a librarian, it can be difficult to recommend well written faith-based YA (when I was a teen, there was hardly any), so I hope that Hedlund continues to write for both teens and adults!
[Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes.]...more
Jonathan Morrow's Welcome to College covers over 40 topics and questions young Christians may face or wonder as they begin to navigate life on their oJonathan Morrow's Welcome to College covers over 40 topics and questions young Christians may face or wonder as they begin to navigate life on their own as they pursue higher education. Though some teens and young adults might balk at reading a 400+ page tome, Morrow's prose is reader-friendly and contains short chapters that allow for reading a few chapters at a time, or even reading out of order, based on topic.
First published in 2008, this timely 2nd edition provides updates such as recently published studies and books for further study, along with newer pop culture references (e.g. the 2016 Captain America: Civil War film is referred to) and social media mentions such as Instagram which didn't even exist nine years ago. The chapters themselves cover both spiritual and philosophical topics such as "What is faith?" or "What is the purpose of the Church?" along with more practical, day-to-day topics such as scheduling, health, or creating a budget. Each chapter takes about 5-10 minutes to read and closes with a brief summary and resources for further reading. There are copious notes, along with an appendix of additional philosophy resources, discussion questions for each chapter, a suggested 1st semester devotional reading plan, and more.
I think this would make a great graduation gift for young Christians looking to engage in the world around them while still keeping rooted in their beliefs. This book will challenge them to think for themselves and analyze what they hear and see, along with living out their faith in a respectful yet confident way.
[Disclosure: I received a copy of this book via Litfuse for review purposes.]...more
The Story of Martin Luther King Jr. is a succinct introduction to this well-known figure for young children and toddlers. Each double page spread is lThe Story of Martin Luther King Jr. is a succinct introduction to this well-known figure for young children and toddlers. Each double page spread is limited to 1-3 brief sentences. The text covers basic information such as his birth, parents, early life, racial segregation, and his contribution to the Civil Rights movement. If I had any criticism it would be that perhaps it is too simple to fully capture the complexities, issues, and challenges African-Americans faced in the mid-20th century, but it is appropriate for the target age group for board books (i.e. birth to five years). I doubt that a child that young would be able to comprehend such things completely, so this book is a good starting-off point, with more information and concepts to be introduced when the child is older (e.g. Dr. King's story ends at his "I Have a Dream" speech, but assassination probably isn't something a parent or teacher wants to explain to a toddler).
The illustrations also lend well to this story. Amy Wummer's loose watercolor illustrations are outlined with graphite which detail Martin Luther King Jr.'s transition from a young, round faced boy to a leader of the Civil Rights movement. Finally, though the size of this book was a bit smaller than I expected (about 4"x7.5"), it is a nice size for a young child to read and is comparable to other board books. A nice addition for board book fans and collections.
[Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes.] ...more
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