Category Archives: Fantasy

Review: Merlin’s Blade by Robert Treskillard

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , ,

Merlin’s Blade
Robert Treskillard
Blink YA
Published April 16, 2013

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Scars from a wolf attack leave young Merlin’s eyesight damaged almost to the point of blindness, making it difficult for him to assist his father the blacksmith or find his way around the small village alone and leaves him an easy victim to trickery. When two druid leaders bring a glowing stone into the village, Merlin’s blindness saves him from falling into the stone’s enchantment. As the druids whisper sweet lies to the townsfolk, further bewitching them, Merlin must find his courage and stand up to the powerful men, even if he is forced to stand alone.

The druids’ plans are far more nefarious than to distract a few poor farmers, however. Merlin uncovers a terrible plot meant to murder and betray Arthur, the future king. As Merlin braces for battle, he is faced with a terrible choice: with the lives of his love, family and the king in jeopardy, he must choose whom to save.

The story of Merlin and Arthur is retold as a tale of battle between druid and Christian. Instead of the mighty sorcerer, Merlin emerges as a Christian prophet, one voice shouting against a bewitched and angry crowd. In this first book in The Merlin Spiral, Merlin meets Arthur as a very young child and only begins his journey as a part of Arthur’s life. Treskillard weaves a fascinating tale and leaves the reader piqued for the next installment in the series. The last hundred pages moved especially quickly, pulling the reader through the tale with scarcely time for a breath. Readers who enjoy Christian fantasy will likely enjoy the fresh retelling of this familiar story.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
A powerful druid leader uses a magical stone to enchant the people and turn them away from Christianity. Several scenes describe various druid rituals or sacrifices. Merlin passionately opposes the power of the stone and clings to his Christian beliefs in the face of threats and injury from the druids. Angels visit and speak with one character. Another character reveals prophecies.

Violence
Wolf attacks and battle scenes appear throughout the story, sometimes told in detail. Descriptions are not overly gory, but the scenes are important to the story, so they are not usually brief.

Drug Content
A man betrays another by placing poison in his mead.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Review: Aquifer by Jonathan Friesen

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Dystopian or Post-Apocalyptic, , ,

Aquifer
Jonathan Friesen
Blink YA
Published August 6, 2013

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Fifteen year-old Luca has grown up with a heavy burden of responsibility on his shoulders. In a world plagued by drought, only his father has the knowledge and ability to journey deep underground and negotiate with the fearsome people known as water rats for another year’s supply of water to be pumped up to earth’s surface. Luca painstakingly memorizes his father’s instructions to navigate the caves below, for one day it will fall to him to make that lonely, life-preserving journey as the Deliverer.

Life on the earth’s surface is carefully monitored and controlled by the Council of Nine and their representatives, called Amongus, who sniff out any dissenters or citizens who cannot master their emotions. Those who cannot obey the law are “undone,” taken out to the middle of the ocean and drowned.

As the day approaches for Luca’s father to make the long journey into the dark, Luca discovers a hidden treasure, one the Amongus would surley destroy. Luca’s father begins his trek to negotiate for water before Luca has a chance to show his father the secret treasure. When his father does not return at the scheduled time, Luca’s world is thrown into chaos. Suddenly he is the new Deliverer and he does not have his father to guide him any longer. But it seems the Amongus have other plans for Lucas and the future water supply, and Luca must move quickly if he is to escape entanglement in their deadly traps. In order to flee, Luca must embrace a faith which doesn’t make sense to him, and dare to behold a world beyond the one the Amongus have confined him in. One in which water rats are not twisted monsters and beauty is not a thing to be feared.

In this novel Friesen brings powerful prose to a story that is sort of Waterworld meets The Giver. Aquifer allows readers to experience a raw longing and searching for faith and universal truth. At every turn, Luca experiences the struggle to sort allies from enemies, and as chaos and desperation bring out both the best and worst in those around him, discerning friend from foe is no easy task. Over all this is a really enjoyable story with a lot of suspense and a little bit of romance. Fans of dystopian fiction will find this one a worthy addition to their reading lists.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Sexual Content
A few brief kisses.

Spiritual Content
Religion is outlawed, but some citizens (referred to as Wishers) secretly pray to a Creator and believe they hear guidance and direction from him.
Violence
Brief battle scenes between Amongus enforcers and Luca and his supporters.

Drug Content
None.

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Review: Haunters by Thomas Taylor

Book Review and Content, Paranormal, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , ,

Haunters
Thomas Taylor
Chicken House Publishers
Published May 28, 2013

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After his father’s death, David began to dream of strange things. He visits a boy in 1940s London, and though David knows they are just dreams, his friendship with Eddie feels as real as his waking life. When a forceful team attempt to abduct David from school, he learns there’s more to his dreams than simple sleep. David is one of the gifted Dreamwalkers who can travel to other times and locations during sleep. He appears to others as a ghost, and in fact, that’s how his mysterious dream friend has come to identify him. David teams up with other Dreamwalkers to stop a vicious group called Haunters who use the dreamwalking ability to control and manipulate history. The group’s current target is Eddie, David’s dream friend. With his new allies, David must stop the Haunters from destroying Eddie and ending the Dreamwalker project altogether, but in order to succeed, they will have to defeat the most powerful dreamwalker the team has ever known.

Haunters is peppered with interesting characters and early teen awkwardness as scenes flip back and forth between modern day and World War II ravaged London. Tension mounts as David’s quest becomes more urgent, making this a difficult novel to put down, once one reaches its midpoint. Fans of sci-fi or super-hero stories will enjoy this time-traveling, super-human story, though the title leaves one pondering why the novel is named for its villains rather than its heroes.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
A London girl mistakes the presence of the computer simulation called Misty for an angel.

Violence
Characters from opposing sides clash and attempt to destroy one another’s ability to dreamwalk using a powerful mind attack. One of the Haunters uses a hired hit man to attempt to murder a teenage boy. The boy is wounded, but survives, though his attacker is slain. Very few graphic details.

Drug Content
David takes a pill to allow him to dreamwalk without being disturbed.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

 

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Review: The Amazing Adventures of Toby the Trilby

Book Review and Content, Dystopian or Post-Apocalyptic, Middle Grade 8-12, Paranormal, ,

The Amazing Adventures of Toby the Trilby
Angela Castillo
CreateSpace Independent
Published October 17, 2013

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When an unknown Voice beckons to Toby to leave his home in the caves and seek others on the earth’s surface, Toby can’t help but obey. His caretakers, scientists who’ve created him from a melding of human and cat DNA, pack supplies for Toby and allow him to leave their care. Though the scientists have had no word from earth’s surface for a long time, they prepare him as best they can and respect his desire to choose his own path in life.

On his journey Toby meets many human survivors, many of whom are cruel or mentally damaged in some way. While at the outset of the story, it seems the Voice leads him on some kind of evangelistic mission, Toby’s real quest is to discover somehow whether being born in a test tube means he has a soul or not. In a sort of burning-bush type of meeting with the Voice, he learns the truth of this question.

This is a short, fairly simple story which may appeal to preteens struggling with issues of self-worth and spirituality. The plot develops loosely, leaving some threads unfinished, but Toby’s innocence and compassion are admirable and endearing traits that draw readers into the story and open dialogue about injustice and personal value.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Toby begins a journey outside the caves in which he has lived his life at the request of a Voice he continues to hear throughout the story. He realizes the speaker is God and makes a commitment to follow Him.

Violence
Renegade children surround Toby and threaten to cut off his cat tail. He escapes before they can harm him.

Drug Content
After Toby is injured, he wishes for quick-healing medicine his caretakers provided for him when he lived in the cave.

Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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Review: False Covenant by Ari Marmell

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , ,

False Covenant
Ari Marmell
Pyr
Published June 5, 2012

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Widdershins, a young thief and sole follower of her god Olgun, struggles to keep her tavern and its crew afloat through mostly legal means. Rumors about her involvement in the recent murder of the Archbishop strain relationships with other members of her guild, despite the fact that its leadership declared her innocent. When a new evil emerges on the streets of Davillon,

Widdershins is charged with the task of locating its source. What she discovers nearly undoes her. As the nightmarish creature begins to target her, Widdershins must team up with unlikely allies and join physical with spiritual forces. Gods help the people of Davillon if she should fail.

Marmell creates a fantastic world with a colorful cast of characters, both natural and supernatural. In a town on the outs with its powerful Church, politics and spirituality collide, birthing an unstoppable horror. Fantasy fans and gamers who like Dungeons and Dragons will fall into this story and not surface until completing its last page.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Infrequent but severe.

Sexual Content
Brief kissing.

Spiritual Content
Many references to the politics of the reigning church leadership. Rather than worshipping one god, the church services pay homage to many. Widdershins is the sole surviving follower of a god outside the group worshipped by the church.

Violence
Battle violence containing some graphic or disturbing details.

Drug Content
Widdershins owns a tavern, so there are some brief scenes depicting alcohol consumption. Nothing central to scene or story.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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Review: The 13th Sign by Kristin O’Donnell Tubb

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , ,

The 13th Sign
Kristin O’Donnell Tubb
Feiwel and Friends
Published January 8, 2013

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When her grandmother is too ill to fulfill a birthday tradition, thirteen year-old Jalen finds herself in the creepy voodoo shop alone. Jalen is ready to storm out after another disappointing and ill-fitting reading for her sign, but she is strangely drawn to a mysterious book sealed by an ornate lock. Too late Jalen and her friends discover that opening the book releases the thirteenth sign, causing a shift in the personalities of everyone on the planet and unleashing the other twelve signs, sworn to protect Ophiucus, the thirteenth. Now Jalen must fight the twelve, for only by defeating the other signs will she survive and restore order to all.

O’Donnell Tubb writes a fast-paced and highly entertaining story which will appeal to fans of Rick Riordan’s novels starring Percy Jackson and friends. This is a story of friendship, loyalty and destiny loaded with fun characters and desperate battles.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Jalen’s grandmother believes strongly in horoscopes. Jalen herself is skeptical until she must face and defeat a physical manifestation of each sign.

Violence
Brief battle scenes. No graphic details.

Drug Content
None.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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