Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Isn't there anyone who can tell me...

Christmas is such a special time of year, where we celebrate Jesus' birth. It's so much more than His being born, though. Picking songs for worship in church, I've realized that there are a lot of Christmas songs that tell the whole story.

"Nails, spear shall pierce Him through/The cross be born for me, for you." —"What Child Is This"

"Fragile finger sent to heal us/Tender brow prepared for thorn/Tiny heart whose blood will save us/Unto us is born/So wrap our injured flesh around You/Breathe our air and walk our sod/Rob our sins and make us holy/Perfect Son of God."—"Welcome To Our World"

"Born that man no more may die:/Born to raise the son of earth,/Born to give them second birth."—"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"

"O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free/Thine own from Satan's tyranny/From depths of hell Thy people save/And give them vict’ry o'er the grave."—"O Come, O Come Emmanuel"

And there are more. It's just really cool to me that there are a lot of Christmas songs that don't just stop with the birth, with the picture of a babe in a manger, but they tell why He came. That He came to die for our sins. That He rose again to give us that second birth, that we may live together with Him in Heaven forever.

My favorite Christmas special is Charlie Brown and my favorite Peanuts character is Linus. Because he tells the real story. What Christmas is all about.

And now, introducing Linus.


So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye until January! Merry Christmas!

Monday, December 17, 2018

Bitter Winter, Lacy, and Decree Reviews


It's finally time for new Ilyon and Acktar books! These books are so fabulous and I got to read all three of them. :) And now it's time for them to enter the world! (Well, Decree doesn't technically come out until tomorrow, but close enough.)

There's a lot of amazing stuff happening on the blog tour...interviews, reviews, character chats, giveaways...you won't want to miss it! You can find a really awesome giveaway and the links to the other posts at the bottom of my post. But first, I'm going to tell you about how much I loved each one of these brand new books.

Bitter Winter

Already struggling with a harsh winter and the threat of food shortage, a catastrophic event leaves those in the Landale camps reeling. Just when things couldn’t get much worse, camp members fall ill with the same devastating sickness that’s sweeping across the country.

Determined to gain the cure, Jace sets off to Valcré. However, there are only two sources—the queen, or a powerful gang of smugglers who have made the dangerous city their home. When Jace gains audience with the gang leader, he finds the price of the cure is steeper than any of them imagined, forcing him to make an impossible choice—betray his conscience or let those he loves die.

Available now on Amazon!


You already know I love Jaye's books. This is no exception. Ilyon just keeps getting better and better. They're struggling with a harsh winter, food rationing, and more, but Jace is happy in spite of it because things are going well between him and Kyrin and he's almost ready to propose. But we all know that when things are looking great at the beginning of a book, something really terrible is about to happen. Catastrophe strikes, somebody dies, and people start getting seriously ill. So of course the happiness is gone. You knew it would be. Things get so desperate. I don't want to give spoilers on what Jace almost does, but goodness. It was such a terrible choice he had to make. And he almost didn't make the right one. But either way, there could be terrible consequences.

He gets to see Timothy and Aaron again, and meet the girl Aaron likes. I have to say, amid all the awful stuff happening, that bit was awesome. Where they all see Lacy and Jace and Holden are like "You like her." That escalated quickly. But that's another story.

Jace has a lot of hard lessons to learn in this book. It's heart-wrenching. It's powerful. And it leads to my favorite chapter to date in all the Ilyon books. It's what we've all been waiting for. I can't give this book enough love. It's just. so. good. Read it now. Unless you haven't read previous books, because they do need to be read in order. But read Ilyon. You won't regret it.

Lacy

The last thing Aaron ever envisioned was falling for a prostitute. Everything about it spells trouble. However, he can’t help noticing the way her smile lights up when she sees him and how much brokenness she hides behind it. Neither can he ignore how desperately she needs rescue and protection.

When Lacy shares a life or death secret with him, Aaron is willing to risk everything to help her and to show her Elôm’s love. Yet, such a choice could destroy his reputation and maybe even cost him his freedom.

An Ilyon Chronicles Novella

Available now on Amazon!


This. Book. Well, I wouldn't exactly recommend it for children or young teens due to thematic material, but I would recommend it for about 15/16 and up. It's so. good. Different from the other Ilyon books due to the lack of Jace and Kyrin, but definitely worth the read. It doesn't delve as deeply into Lacy's issues and psychological damage as Redeeming Love (which I just read) does, but it's still really good and powerful. And that fact lets me be comfortable with recommending it for younger readers than I would Redeeming Love. Lacy is so hurt and broken. So desperate. So in need of Elôm's love. She's in a situation she can't get out of, but doesn't feel she can trust anyone. And Aaron is desperate to help her, no matter what others think. He's willing to do whatever he has to to rescue her and her family. It's such a wonderful, powerful ending. And as a side note, it's so hard to write spoiler-free reviews. :P

Haven’t discovered the world of Ilyon yet? Find out more at the official Ilyon Chronicles website!

Decree
The Adventure Continues.

Discover more of The Blades of Acktar in this collection of novellas and short stories. 

The Blades as They Should’ve Been 
A test and the Gathering of Nobles will decide Leith and Martyn’s futures. Can they fight to become more than the Blades they were? Will Keevan accept the man who attempted to kill him as family? 

The First Mission 
When Martyn visits Surgis, his past seems determined to haunt him. Can he figure out how to forgive, especially when confronted with an enemy in need of his help? 

To the Far Great Mountains 
A death sends Leith and Martyn far beyond the borders of Acktar. Will they be able to arrest their quarry before they are caught themselves?

From the story of how Leith and Martyn met to Ranson’s search for a life outside of the Blades, these stories will answer plaguing questions and expand the world of Acktar. 

Available now on Amazon! 


When I found out there would be more Acktar books, I was sooooo excited. I'd missed Leith and Renna, and finding out I'd have more of them was like an early Christmas present. Now, not all the stories are about them. There are some about Martyn, some of which involve Owen and Kayleigh. There is one about Ranson, which does have Leith and Renna in it, but is primarily about Ranson. But of course, my favorites were the ones about Leith and Renna.

This is the Lost Stories of Acktar and I love it. It bridges the gap between the early part of the series and what the rest of the series will be. It has stories about establishing the Blades as they should have been, and Keevan and Leith's confrontation and reconciliation. Because it is difficult when your cousin marries your would-be-murderer, but while I totally understand where Keevan's coming from, I'm still with Leith, not Keevan. The relationship between the two families is interesting for sure. And so is the political climate of Acktar.

I love seeing Leith and Renna with their kids. It's sweet and beautiful. But things aren't exactly peaceful in Acktar, so Leith has to be both father and Blade Marshall. And Renna has to be Lady Grayce/Torren as well as mother. And try to pay as little in taxes as possible. XD But I probably shouldn't say any more. Read it for yourself. Because Acktar is pretty awesome and if you love Ilyon, you'll love it too.

Haven’t discovered the The Blades of Acktar yet? Find out more at on the official Blades of Acktar page.

Meet the Authors

Jaye L. Knight is an award-winning author, homeschool graduate, and shameless tea addict with a passion for Christian fantasy. Armed with an active imagination and love for adventure, Jaye weaves stories of truth, faith, and courage with the message that even in the deepest darkness, God’s love shines as a light to offer hope. She has been penning stories since the age of eight and resides in the Northwoods of Wisconsin.

You can connect with Jaye on her website, blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Etsy.

Tricia Mingerink is a twenty-something, book-loving, horse-riding country girl. She lives in Michigan with her family and their pack of pets. When she isn't writing, she can be found pursuing backwoods adventures across the country.

You can connect with Tricia on her blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

*  *  *

Giveaway


Share in the excitement of the release and enter to win a full signed set of the Ilyon Chronicles and The Blades of Acktar!  (Giveaway is open to US residents only. Cannot be shipped internationally.)

Be sure to stop by each of the character chats (links in the blog tour schedule) for additional giveaways throughout the tour!

Monday, December 10, 2018

Top Ten Books of 2018

It's that time of year again! The time when I make the brutally hard decision of how to rank all the books I've read this year. (And I feel sorry for the books that get read in the second half of December because they don't have a chance. So sorry, Redeeming Love and Children of Jubilee.) I've managed to rank them decently...and I'm just so glad I've set the precedent to count a series as one listing. Looking at you, Ranger's Apprentice. Also, I've excluded rereads, since I figured it wasn't fair to the new books that I love The Hunger Games trilogy and some of the Time Quintet books enough to read/listen to them again. It was a hard ranking, as I've read so many good books this year, but here goes.

10. Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan

I discovered this book when a patron called the library asking to put it on hold. I’m a Narnia nut (just ask my family and friends), so I got on the list after her. I actually just recently read it (in just a couple days) and really enjoyed it. I didn't know a ton about Joy beyond the basic facts, so I loved seeing who she was as a person. Now, this is a novel, not a biography, so it's Patti Callahan's interpretation of Joy. The author's note indicates it is well researched, though one of the "C.S. Lewis" quotes can only be found in the movie of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, so take it how you will. The biographical facts lined up with what I'd read previously. This is an adult book, and I wouldn't recommend it to younger readers due to the discussion of Bill Gresham's adultery and Joy's own failings in the area of purity, but I thought it was handled fairly well. And I'm a huge fan of C.S. Lewis, so if a book gives me more of him and doesn't slander his character—which it doesn't—I'm all in. (No, he was not a good person before his conversion, and that is referenced. But I've read Surprised By Joy, and I know lost people act like lost people. Obviously.)

9. Love Defined by Bethany Baird (Beal) and Kristen Clark

As a side note, Bethany was still Bethany Baird when the book came out, but she's since gotten married.

I've been following the Girl Defined blog for a few years now, and learned a lot from Kristen and Bethany. This book was a great big-sister-to-little-sister discussion on the "fairy tale facade," crushes, true love, biblical marriage, being "just friends" with guys, being unequally yoked, qualities to look for in a husband—meaning biblical principles and mutual life callings—red flags, advice from married women, and more. It's a great and informative read for women of all ages. And I love their approach. It's not rules-based. It's more of a "these were our failings and here's what God taught us through His word and wise people in our lives, and we want to share it with you so you can avoid some of our mistakes." I always enjoy Kristen and Bethany's stuff.

8. Palace of Mirrors by Margaret Peterson Haddix 

It took me awhile to actually read this one because I wasn't a big fan of Just Ella, but once I picked it up, I wondered why I'd waited so long. I went on a Haddix kick earlier this year while sick with a bad cold, and this was one I owned that I hadn't read. It's soooooo much better than Just Ella. Cecilia has always been told that she is the true princess and Desmia who sits on the throne is the decoy to keep her safe. So when things go awry at home, Cecilia and her best friend/sort-of-boyfriend Harper set out for the castle to take her place. But things don't exactly go the way she thinks they will. Lots of palace intrigue and danger, and an ending I didn't exactly expect, and I loved it. Margaret Peterson Haddix is a pretty awesome author and I always (with only Just Ella as the exception) absolutely love her books. But I have to say, it really messed me up to read about a boy named Harper as that's the little girl who lives next door.

7. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

This was a family read-aloud and we all really enjoyed it. Everyone acts like the book is all about the trial, but that's really a small portion of the book. I blame the movie, since they deal with the trial through the whole thing, rearranging all the events. It's really more about growing up. The trial is important, yes, as it's a part of the climax and it's the reason Boo Radley has to save them, but it's more about Scout growing up. It's a classic story, and I loved it. So good. I've got to say, though, when Dill was like "Scout, we should get ourselves a baby" I was just like, "uh...where is this going?" Kids are crazy. XD

6. Wonder by R.J. Palacio

I'm ashamed that I didn't read this until the movie came out. But in my defense, I wanted to read it long before that, and I just didn't want to read the tattered, stained, old copy the library had. I waited for the crisp, clean, new, movie cover copy. But enough about that. This is the story of Auggie Pullman, a 5th grader with a severe facial deformity, and all the lives he touches. He faces bullying, he faces the involuntary horror of practically everyone who sees him, he faces betrayal, he faces the ordinary hardships that come when your beloved dog gets old and sick, he faces the normal difficulties of middle school, complicated by his face. It's just such a good story. At the point when I read it (before I discovered Ranger's Apprentice), it was my favorite book of the year. It's so sweet, so meaningful, and one of those stories that will always stay with you. And the movie was pretty good too.

5. When God Writes Your Love Story by Eric and Leslie Ludy

This is another one of those books I'd wanted to read for a long time, but only got to it this year. I hadn't had access to it, but Christmas money! It's probably the best purity/relationships book I've read. Honestly, though, I get the impression that these things are the things the others are trying to say, the Ludys just say it better. Just like in When God Writes Your Life Story, their whole thing is to let God direct your life. They cover the same kinds of topics like waiting on God for the right one instead of dating all the people, purity being greater than just the technical externals, and more. And they do it in such a having-a-heart-for-God focused way, which I think a lot of others don't do as well at explaining, thus causing all the "purity movement" revolts these days. The Ludys' focus is clear. Letting God direct your life. Surrendering to Him, even if it means being single for now or forever. No formulas, just following God as He leads. And I love how it's written by a married couple. It's fantastic.

4. No Chance Meeting by Jaye Elliot (Jaye L. Knight)

She hasn't released the cover yet, so sowwy. She's hoping for a release next year, and I got to beta it! This is Jaye L. Knight's contemporary romance which she's publishing under the name Jaye Elliot. I'm just going to have to tell you about what's in the official description because I'm not sure how much she wants out there yet, but it's about an artist named Alex Jennings who has struggled with her faith ever since her brother was killed in Iraq and just wants the pain to end. There's also Riley Conrad, who is home from the military, scraping up a living from his bartending job when he really want to open a coffee shop. And the story is about what happens when they meet. This isn't your fluffy, Hallmark Channel romance. This is a deep, real, raw story about hurting people finding their way back to God. Not a big surprise if you've read Ilyon Chronicles. No Chance Meeting is a great book, and I can't wait for it to be shared with the world.

3. Decree by Tricia Mingerink

It's coming next week, people! I love ARCs. I'll have a more detailed review next week, but for now, this is basically The Lost Stories of Acktar. It's a collection of short stories and novellas relating to The Blades of Acktar. Some tell backstory, like about little Leith and how Leith and Martyn met. Most of the rest are about what happens after Deliver. And it's setting up for more Acktar books! Seeing Leith with his kids is just about the best. I probably shouldn't say too much more so I don't spoil next week's review, but it was good. It was very, very good.

2. Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan

I know you knew this one was coming. Ranger's Apprentice is one of the best things I've read all year and I can't rave about it enough! Especially considering I wrote a four-part review of the series... But seriously, Will and Halt and Horace and all the rest are so awesome, and I don't care if John Flanagan's worldbuilding is kinda lazy because his characters are beyond amazing. I probably shouldn't rehash my long review too much, but I want to be a Ranger, Will is the best, I hate it when John Flanagan kills characters I like, Halt's backstory is just wow, and I can't believe I have to wait until May 28 for Duel at Araluen! You can read my reviews here, here, here, and here.

1. Bitter Winter and Lacy by Jaye L. Knight

Yes, I'm doing these together. And also they'll get more detailed reviews in my blog tour post next week. Bitter Winter is the next installment in the ever amazing Ilyon Chronicles. The winter is extreme. They're running out of food. We know it's only a matter of time until camp gets found. And then people get deathly sick. And the only people with the cure are the queen and a smuggler. Jace is desperate. Soooooo desperate. So desperate he's in danger of doing something he'll regret the rest of his life. It's such a good book. And then there's Lacy, because Aaron met a girl. :) That one I only recommend for older readers, but it's SO. GOOD. Such a great message. But again, more on that next week for the blog tour.

So many good books this year! You can see my full reading list for the year on Goodreads. What are your favorite books that you've read this year?

Monday, December 3, 2018

Ranger's Apprentice Series Review Part 4

Now that Carrie Mouse is out, I'm going to finish up my Ranger's Apprentice series review. And now that Duel at Araluen fiiiiiiiiiiinally has a US release date that isn't until the end of May even though it just came out in Australia. I can't wait for the next book. Like, there was such a cliffhanger at the end of Red Fox Clan and I need the next book!

The books I'm reviewing today are basically the spinoff series. (Brotherband is more of a companion series with crossovers with Ranger's Apprentice.) There's The Early Years about when Halt and Crowley kick Morgarath out of Araluen, and Royal Ranger which is about the next generation. If you haven't read the series up to book 11 and don't want to know who Will and Horace marry, don't read any further, because the premise of Royal Ranger depends largely on the heritage of the new next generation character...and unfortunately on what happens to a certain main character's wife. It's pretty important to the plot. But first, The Early Years.


This story picks up right after The Hibernian—the story from The Lost Stories where Halt and Crowley met. The king is at Gorlan under Morgarath's "protection" which we all know means he's a prisoner, Prince Duncan is supposedly raiding Araluen villages, and the Ranger Corp is scattered, the real Rangers replaced with severely incompetent untrained followers of Morgarath.

Halt and Crowley have to round up all the good Rangers, find out what's really going on with Duncan and save Araluen. And be hilarious while they're at it. Seriously, Crowley's first decision as Ranger Commandant is absolutely the best. Because Halt hates music and doesn't understand poetic license, so Crowley has to make an executive decision on song lyrics. I was laughing so hard.

It's one of those books that you're like, "This is all backstory, I know what's going to happen," but you get to the end and you really enjoyed it anyway. Because the characters are awesome and you want to know how they take care of Morgarath and how Duncan becomes king and everything. And seeing Halt meet Pauline. It's so awesome. And yet it takes him 20 years to propose! *shrugs* It's because he's afraid of her. I loved this book.


They may have gotten Morgarath to retreat out of Araluen and the Ranger Corp may be reestablished, albeit small, but the battle that took the life of Will's father hasn't taken place yet, so there's more.

Morgarath is learning to control the Wargals, and he's planning to attack Araluen. Duncan's wife is pregnant with Cassandra and we know since Cassandra's mother isn't in the picture for the main series, chances are she'll die. And you know that this is the time when Halt meets Will's parents and sees them both die, so he has to take baby Will to Redmont. It doesn't rehash that battle since Halt already told all about it in The Lost Stories, so I guess that's good. But we do get to see Halt asking Pauline what to do with Will, his tiny pie thief son. ;) We also get to see twelve-year-old Gilan in this book. :) I love baby Gilan. And there was Crowley's total ignorance about infants. It was a good book. I want more early years, but from what I can tell, there probably won't be.


Originally it was just The Royal Ranger, but then John Flanagan decided he had more stories to tell about Maddie.

It's been about fifteen years since the last story in The Lost Stories. Will's all depressed and in serious danger of getting himself kicked out of the Ranger Corp because of Alyss's death. He's ignoring his commandant and bent on revenge. And also not cleaning his cabin or making his bed. All through the book, he reminded me of Last Jedi Luke. Only unlike Luke, we get old Will back at the end of the book and it's okay again, whereas Luke died. I'm still not over that.

Then there's Maddie, Horace and Cassandra's teenage daughter who sneaks out of the castle at night to go hunting. She's spoiled and not a very obedient girl. And Cassandra's at the end of her rope with Maddie. Horace, well, Maddie has him wrapped around her little finger. Halt and Gilan are at the end of their rope with Will. So they have an intervention. They need Will to train Maddie as a Ranger to get her under control.

In a way, it's similar to The Ruins of Gorlan in that it goes back to the roots of Ranger training, but yet it's very different. A lot of people hate it because of Alyss, but I really liked it. I like Maddie, and I like, well, how Will is at the end. And I like the promise of more Ranger's Apprentice. One thing I really like about Maddie is how much of both her parents you can see in her while she's still her own person. I consider it good writing.
And by the way, Will Treaty, you can't get onto Henry Wheeler for the bad fake name of Henry Carrier and then go change your name to William Accord. XD Gotta love Will.


And here we come to the most recent (in the US) release that leaves you on a cliffhanger. I wouldn't say it's the best book in the series, and there's not a whole lot of Will and Halt, but I did enjoy it. Maddie's assessment at the beginning was good, and I love Gilan and Will needling Halt about his haircut.

Maddie has to go home to visit her parents for a month—because everyone's scared of Cassandra, so no matter what, Maddie is visiting her mother. Halt and Will are going to check out something with the Red Fox Clan, and Horace and Gilan are going off somewhere else to deal with other Red Fox Clan rumors. And Maddie has to stay home with her mother as everyone else is dealing with this group who thinks Araluen shouldn't have female heirs and wants to usurp the throne.

Most of the book isn't especially exciting, but it's very important setup. And, well, Maddie is bored with palace life, so she's exploring. Trying to  find something interesting to do. And she does. She really does. Horace and Gilan have a storyline in this book. I enjoyed their storyline, but I didn't feel like it got as deep into it as it could have. I do have high hopes for Duel at Araluen though. Can't wait. It'll be especially interesting as it will feature the Heron brotherband. They showed up briefly in Red Fox Clan, but they'll be a bigger factor in the next book. 

And then hopefully even more Royal Ranger books!

I just wish I didn't have to wait until the end of May!