"Gift of the Tiding Bearer" by Grace Soto

About this book:

  “An imposter rules the throne. A prophecy remains unfulfilled. The light is nearly gone.
    In the kingdom of Tenebra, allegiance to the true King has been all but obliterated by a jealous rival. Only a handful of faithful subjects remain to challenge his authority and spread the truth; these are known as the Tiding Bearers. But after years of brutal slaughter, the rebels are hardly more than a legend and nothing stands between the false ruler and his ultimate victory—until a new generation of heroes takes up the cause, from the unlikeliest of origins…
    A crippled slave, a spoiled heiress, and a disgraced prodigy, drawn together by the message of a mysterious stranger, set out on a quest that promises them unmatched power, wealth, and wisdom. What they didn’t dream of was an enemy who would stop at nothing to stop them and a choice that would change their world forever.”


Series: Book #1 in the “Tiding Bearer” trilogy. 


Spiritual Content- Jeremiah 9:23-24 at the beginning; Scriptures are also quoted, remembered, referenced, & thought over (including Isaiah 41:10 being said to be the Giver’s pledge); God is often called the Giver in this book & Christians are called Tiding Bearers; Talks about God/the Giver, gifts from Him, mercy, & the characters’ heart’s desires; Most ’H’s are capital when referring to God; All three main characters meet a mysterious woman who quotes Scriptures and tells them to follow the Path to the key of life, to not stray from the Path, trust the Giver, & about the gifts from the Giver; The physical gifts the characters receive from her change into something else (*Spoilers* They all receive a special stone: Mavis’ turns into a necklace, Doran’s is a sword with Isaiah 41:10 on it and makes him feel courageous when holding it (later realizing it’s the words and not the sword), and Errol’s turns into a key that is able to unlock anything he tries; Soon after, Mavis wonders if their items are giving them the desires of their hearts when an opportunity she wants appears; They get distracted by this and realize that they were warned this would happen; Mavis thinks that God must be disappointed in them for their actions; After making a mistake, Doran hopes he can show the Giver what he has learned through the experience *End of Spoilers*); When hearing about Tiding Bearers being attacked, Doran wonders why the Giver didn’t protect His faithful followers; Doran recites the Gift’s pledge and adds to help him make his enemy pay; *Major Spoilers of the Ending* At the very end, the trio go to the mountains and meet the Giver Himself who is described as “so tall that His mighty white head nearly touched the ceiling, and His shoulders hulked like distant mountains, snow capped by His bright robes. His voice was as powerful as the roaring ocean I’d heard off the cliffs on the coast, yet as gentle as the evening breezes rustling through the grass on the plains”; Doran is healed by Him and the other two also have special moments with the Giver and they feel peace and joy in His presence *End of Spoilers*; A few mentions of prayers & praying; 
             *Note: The villain (also called “the deceiver”) is able to do illusions (through incantations) & is a master of manipulation and deception (*Major Spoilers* Towards the end, the trio are taken to his castle and experience the illusions (such as guards disappearing into thin air and one is described as an “unholy concoction”, & the villain saying that he is in control and their God can’t save them); He also makes it where each one of the trio can see the other’s deaths and Doran sees the illusion of blood covering himself from all those he loved, but each of their gifts from the Giver shows the truth and they have to trust in that; The villain accuses that God wouldn’t want to ally Himself with someone like Doran); A fire happens and Doran leaves the deceiver in the flames *End of Spoilers*); The villain tries to manipulate Doran especially and says that the Giver is a charlatan (also adding that Doran has gotten this far due to his own skill and intelligence, not “the Imposter and his so-called gifts”); Others call Doran (who was born with one leg shorter than the other) “cursed” (when Mavis finds out about this, she repeats it in a tone of awe, but then comments that it makes sense because of their luck turning sour quickly); One group seems to place a high importance on “Bounteous Earth” for the answers to their questions and believe the stars to be an external source of wisdom (implying they worship them); Errol says he and his people worship Reason and Logic instead; Fiction fantasy phrases are said: Doran saying that “Fury” granted him something, something happing when “Mount Fury freezes over”, something being “Fury’s fortune” or a miracle, “Shadows knowing” someone needs help, Doran asks for “Fury” to give him strength, ‘stones bury us all’, and ‘Fortune help me’; In a moment of anger, Doran asks “Fury” why he isn’t dead and prays for Fury’s inferno on someone; Doran also swears “on Fury” that he is telling the truth; Errol calls Mavis a “golden-haired goddess”; The group visits a town that has a “goddess of pleasure” with a temple overflowing with offerings to her; The trio takes part in cheers to the city of pleasures (called Myway), Mavis saying that she’s never felt so “happy and free as Myway has made” her; Mentions of gods & serving them; Mentions of the “goddess of pleasure”; Mentions of luck; A few mentions of superstitions & superstitious people; A few mentions of curses & wishing curses on others; A mention of a place having an “almost holy glow” to it; A mention of lucky charms; A mention of counting lucky stars (which is implied that one group of people do seriously); A mention of Errol calling himself “wickedly handsome”.
 

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘biddies’, a ‘putz’, two forms of ‘blast/blast it all’, eight forms of ‘shut up’, nine ‘blasted’, eleven ‘bloody’, and sixteen forms of ‘stupid’; Fantasy-world curses: a ‘my stars’, two ‘stars above’, two ‘cursed heavens’, a ‘blasted Reason’, a ‘by Reason’, four ‘what in Reason’, two ‘Fury’s inferno’s, two ‘hurts like Fury’s, five forms of ‘where/what/how in Fury’, eight ‘Fury’s, eleven forms of ‘what/why in Fortune’, and fifteen forms of ‘bloody/smoldering Fury’;  Other fiction phrases like ‘fury’s wrath on you’, ‘Mount Fury consume us all’, and ‘for Fury’s sake’ are all said up to twice each; Insults like “may his corpse feed a thousand vultures”, “may his bones bleach white in the desert”, “may a thousand worms make a feast of him”, “maggot-infused corpse of a man”, and “maggot” are all said; Mentions of curses (said, not written; including by Doran and Errol; When Errol curses at Doran, Doran responds to teach him to swear in Errol’s region and he’ll have strong words for him as well); Sarcasm & Eye rolling; Some lying (due to keeping secrets from villains); Lots of fighting/fights, being attacked and beaten, punching, being held at sword/knife-point and holding others at sword-point, being choked, being chased, injuries, pain, blood/bleeding, & passing out (semi-detailed); An earthquake, A fire, Being trapped in a cave-in, & Seeing dead bodies around (including of a child, up to semi-detailed); Seeing fighting/fights, people being beaten and stabbed, & other people nearly killed and killed (semi-detailed); Thinking they saw a murder & Grief (x4, up to semi-detailed); Going to a tavern, accidentally getting drunk, & gambling (*Spoiler* Errol gets drunk and also drags Doran to a gambling den where he also gets drunk; They both regret their actions and have hangovers afterwards; Doran says it will never happen again and Errol later refers to himself as a reformed gambler *End of Spoilers*; semi-detailed); Doran has been a slave most of his life under a cruel master that killed Doran’s family (including his grandmother that was killed in front of him) and Doran wishes throughout the book to be able to take revenge on the man and kill him (*Spoiler* As the book continues, he wonders when the man’s hold on him will be broken and thinks it would have been better to die in the mines; Doran imagines himself standing over the man’s bloody body, but the stone from the Tiding Bearer feels heavy in his pocket when he does; Towards the end, Doran is cut on his face by the man and the man torments him with more pain to come; *Main Spoilers* Towards the end, the villain gives Doran the opportunity to execute the man, but Doran does not (though he does draw blood with the sword he is given) and the man is murdered off-page; The villain tells Doran that he will never feel peace unless he does it, but Doran tells the villain that he is aware that he is trying to manipulate him *End of Spoilers*; all up to semi-detailed); Doran has nightmares and memories of the murders of loved ones (PTSD-like, semi-detailed); Mavis slaps Doran in a moment of being upset, but shortly after apologizes for doing so; After being betrayed, Errol wishes to make someone pay for their actions against him; A few side characters are eager to beat someone up or kill them; Many, many mentions of deaths, murders, fighting/fights, weapons, threats, injuries, pain, & blood/bleeding (including phrases like “running someone through”, slitting throats, and gouging someone’s eyes out, semi-detailed); Many mentions of slaves & slavery (and how mistreated they are); Many mentions of gambling, betting, alcohol, drinking, drunks, getting drunk, & taverns; Mentions of executions; Mentions of old women and pregnant women being beaten and killed by villains; Mentions of threats of harm & death; Mentions of earthquakes, cave-ins, & people suffocating; Mentions of a group of “supposedly dangerous revolutionaries”; Mentions of kidnappings, kidnappers, & ransoms; Mentions of crimes & criminals; Mentions of bandits, thieves, & stealing; Mentions of gangs, thugs, & con-artists; Mentions of cheating; Mentions of lies, lying, liars, & deceit; Mentions of hatred; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of prison; A few mentions of vomiting; A mention of someone threatening to harm a horse; 
             *Note: Doran was born with one leg shorter than the other and is called a “cripple”, “defective”, and “cursed from birth” (which Doran notes his case is considered to be a “curse worse than stillbirth” in his region; Another offers to kill him, calling him a “disfiguring boil” on the area; Doran wonders if his parents ever thought about disowning him); Errol betrays his friend’s secret to get ahead; Errol can be arrogant with his knowledge & someone warns him about it; Mentions of PTSD-like symptoms by those who have been through trauma.
 
 
Sexual Content- Seeing a kiss in a play & Being jealousy; Men kiss Mavis’ hand (as a greeting and while flirting); A few touches, embraces, dancing, & blushes (barely-above-not-detailed); Noticing & Staring (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of “companionship inns” during a pleasure festival a town is having, the place having many women, & women offering men “delightful company”; A few mentions of flirting; A couple mentions of some men might want a pretty girl as their slave; A couple mentions of a girl looking at a man like a love struck puppy; A mention of Errol wishing he was writing “rejections to dozens of love confessions from beautiful women”. 
 
-Doran
-Mavis, age 16
-Errol
                                P.O.V. switches between them 
                                                        375 pages
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Pre Teens- 

New Teens- 

Early High School Teens- 

Older High School Teens- 

My personal Rating- 

I didn’t know when I added this book to my reading list for the year that it was an allegory and as some you normally struggles with those, I’m glad I didn’t because I wouldn’t have read it most likely. “Gift of the Tiding Bearer” was a strong allegory, but I was able to follow along well despite my usual challenges with the genre.

 

This book starts out a bit intense with the POV of one of our main characters that is a slave and frequently being mistreated and beaten. Somehow despite this though, those parts still had a hopefully note to them and while I felt horrible for Doran, it didn’t make those parts feel horribly sad. More like stoking a righteous anger against the villains he is facing in a way? His POV is the only one in first person, which gave it more of a personal story and I would say more lessons as well. There was a bit more blood and fighting than I personally prefer to read about, but I’ll admit to having a low threshold for that kind of thing. It definitely didn’t feel gory, though, or like the author was determined to show all the bad things to heighten the light that would come (like I’ve seen other authors do), which I appreciated. 

 

While our female main character, Mavis, is a bit of a spoiled brat at times, you can truly tell it’s because of how she was raised and the lack of attention from her parents. I overall liked her and seeing her growth. Realger was my favorite character, though. 

 

Errol had his moments of being an arrogant and annoying jerk when we first meet him. I really didn’t like him for a while, but he eventually got better and bothered me less. 

 

The allegory elements of this book reminded me very slightly of the children’s edition of “Hinds Feet on High Places”that I read when I was young, but I think most would compare it to “The Chronicles of Narnia” or similar books. Personally, I still haven’t read Narnia, so I can’t compare it to that, but from what I know of those books, I think it’s got similar elements and fans of either book would probably enjoy this one as well. 

 

As far as the world building, it was a very unique setting. I would have preferred to have more details up front about all the cultures and all those elements, however, as it was really a learn-as-you-go type of style (which I don’t usually like for fantasy books). These elements were very fleshed out, but because there was so many of them and all the different places and cultures were shared here and there throughout the book, I had a hard time keeping track of it all. By halfway through I hit my stride in it and became more invested in these characters and their mission. I definitely had moments of wanting smack some sense into the characters for some of their poor decisions, but it was all for the sake of lessons and learning for them. 

 

I wasn’t sure about continuing the series, personally, but I saw that it seems like it’s about Mavis more, so I think I probably will see about reading it as well.

 

 

See y’all on Friday with a new review! 

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

"If the Stars Awaken" by Kate Willis

About this book:

  “"Hush, little one, and you will see a starlit web of mystery.”
    Queen Marinne awaits a sign from the Maker about her unborn child, but the heavens are worryingly quiet about everything except the new star taking over the sky.
    Others look to the stars as well, but none more than the Starreader's loyal apprentice, Dynast, who finds himself cast aside and left to search the skies for answers on his own.
    Elite guard Arrow has no time to wonder about the star as he protects the royal family, a task that becomes harder when the Starreader interrupts the christening to prophesy the end of days.
    Fear and confusion unsettle the kingdom, and a bid for survival turns into a desperate search for truth and hope.”


Series: As of now, seems to be a stand-alone novel.


Spiritual Content- Prayers to the Maker; “The Maker” is representing God in this world and it said to be the “authoritative Being considered the creator, blesser, and redeemer of this world”; 'H's are capital when referring to the Maker; “Starreaders” are those who read the stars that the Maker talks through and are supposed to compare what they say to what the Maker has said before (comparing to make sure they are accurate in their translations); Stars are an important feature in this book as the Maker talks to His people through them (they are charted and said to be dancing; it’s up to Starreaders and their apprentices to understand what they are saying; Some study the stars to understand the Maker); “Wordbooks” are volumes that record any new word from the Maker; The “firstfathers” are mentioned and said to be the first people created by the Maker; Phrases like “may the Maker bless you” and “Maker’s blessing to you” are said; Marinne and her husband have their baby christened by presenting “the child before God to love and to follow Him”; Marinne comments that she has lost the Maker in a moment of grief and that perhaps the Maker still answers some prayers (Later, she tells someone that the Maker never leaves us); Many mentions of the Maker & His mercy; Mentions of prayers (including a prayer of farewell for the deceased and a prayer of protection), praying, blessings over food, & thanking the Maker; Mentions of churches/chapels, Wordbooks, a priest, & christenings; A couple mentions of those who have passed being with the Maker up in the stars; A mention of the Maker’s judgment on sin; A mention of someone wondering if dogs to the stars (Heaven); 
             *Note: One star that is named in this book is called the “prophetess star” and is said to be a fulfillment of prophecy (when it appears, many bad things happen that imply the end of the world as the star is actually a “celestial object” on the way to earth and warns that confusion will soon visit the land; Because of this, some people believe the land and it’s people are cursed by God; Some people believe that the Maker wouldn’t doom His people like so without a hope for mercy from Him); *Spoilers* Stars are able to come down to earth, we see a good one and a fallen one; The fallen one causes trouble by stealing peoples’ energies and confusing a message to read as one without hope and mercy from the Maker who has provided as escape from the world-ending (he believes the people in this world are too messy to come to his world); Another star comes down as a messenger to bring news of the Maker’s mercy in the trying time and tells Marinne and Arrow to go to the skydocks where there is a portal to a twin world where they can live; It’s said towards the end, that the Maker “fashioned the twin worlds, connected and separated by a bright light, but each green and fertile and full of life” *End of Spoilers*; Arrow shares with Marinne about gaining energy from leaves (they stick the leaves which have been in the sun on their wrists and are able to feel replenished by them; They also place leaves on those who have had their energies stolen from them; We see the point of view of a couple people who had their energy stolen and/or gave it to others (it’s said that the people are stuck in a “gray night sky of nothing” but they still have a pulse); Later, they and others are able to give part of their energies to others by touching the person’s wrist; *Spoilers* Marinne gives energy to her son because she doesn’t want to see him ill or hungry *End of Spoiler*); A mention of praying the prayer of farewell for an animal (who “had no need” for it, but Arrow prayed it anyway).
 

Negative Content- A small bit of sarcasm; A scary moment for a mother with her baby not breathing (barely-above-not-detailed); Earthquakes, Fighting, Being attacked (by humans and wolves), Being tied-up, Being carried away in a river, Being shot, Pain, Injuries, Blood/Bleeding, Throwing up, & Hunger pains (up to semi-detailed); Grieving a loved one & dreams of the person (*Spoiler* Marinne for her husband who she sees murdered *End of Spoiler*, up to semi-detailed with shock and pain); Mentions of deaths, accidents, a murder, bodies, & grieving (including Marinne for loved ones *Spoiler* such as an infant (prior to the book) and her husband (during the book) *End of Spoiler*, up to semi-detailed); Mentions of raids & bodies; Mentions of fights/fighting, riots, brawls, & explosions; Mentions of pain, injuries/wounds, blood/bleeding, & helping an injured person (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Mentions of thieves, robbers, & stealing; Mentions of prisons & prisoners (including children because of a parent’s crimes); Mentions of wolves, being attacked by them, & them getting a horse (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of nightmares; A few mentions of being tied-up & held at knife-point; A few mentions of lies & lying; A couple mentions of murderers; A couple mentions of drinks & drinking; A couple mentions of throwing up; A mention of a drowned horse; A mention of gambling; 
             *Note: Mentions of an infant that passed away early (Marianne and her husband’s first baby, who was “born too small to open her eyes”; Mentions of Marianne’s grief and longing for her including a dream of the baby being older; Marianne is concerned that her second baby may not live long in this world because the lack of a name being given to the baby by the Maker).
 
 
Sexual Content- Marianne and her husband share kisses (a hand kiss, three forehead/head kisses, three not detailed kisses, and five barely-above-not-detailed kisses), embraces/cuddling, & wake up in bed together (no details; some are flashbacks/memories); A fellow guard teases Arrow about a tryst; A few mentions of a fallen woman & her children hiding when she would have a “guest” (*Spoiler* Arrow’s mother, who was arrested for it and he was also sent to prison because no one would take him *End of Spoiler*); A bit of love, being in love, & emotions; 
             *Note: Labor pain (barely-above-not-detailed); Marinne feeds her baby (no details besides buttoning her garment when done and having to eat to be able to provide milk for the baby).
 
-Marinne
-Arrow
-Dynast
                                P.O.V. switches between them 
                                                        289 pages

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Pre Teens- 

New Teens- 

Early High School Teens- 

Older High School Teens- 

My personal Rating- 

{Safe for younger age ranges, but may be difficult for some to understand the symbolism.}

This was very different from my normal type of book. I liked some elements and I was confused about other elements, hence my personal rating. (I have to note that the illustration at the beginning was so pretty!)

 

I don’t usually read books about married couples because I’ve learned that it typically adds in sexual content and suggestions, but this book had none of that! Super thankful for that because it was kept very clean and added in a sweetness in the beginning to read about—until a certain part (not sexual, just sad) tried to rip my heart out. 

 

We go back and forth between the main characters a lot. It took me a bit to get into the story and understanding what everything meant because of that, but by a third into the book, I was able to follow along well enough. I was confused on somethings but did okay figuring out some parts. It was slow paced and yet fast paced at times as well. I don’t know if I’ve ever had a book that had this kind of pacing. 

 

I was a bit uncomfortable with the mentions of gaining energy from leaves that had absorbed sunlight and our main characters using them to replenish their energy levels. It’s supposed to only be used in emergency situations, but because they’re on the run and face people who had their energy stolen from them, it’s used pretty often in the last half of the book. It goes to where they’re able to touch another’s wrist and give energy to that person that way as well. 

 

Even though this book was very different from my normal type of read, I ended up mostly enjoying it.

 

 

See y’all on Friday with a new review! 

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

*I received this book for free from the Author for this honest review.

"The King's Feather" by Amy Earls

About this book:

  “Rescue Mom. Handle The Prophesied Power.
And Don’t Fall in Love.
Sure. No Problem at All.
    Pero Moshe’s mom vanished from their Oregon home, and the prophecy says it will happen to Pero, too. But when it does—and Pero is transported to an older universe, life gets more than a little nuts.
    Throw in a bodyguard who is almost criminally cute, a corrupt and brilliant doctor who wants to steal Pero’s power and rule all of Moon City, and her mom showing up as a pawn in the whole thing. And all Pero wants is to grab her mom and go home.
    But, uh, yeah, that’s not happening.
    In the end, Pero is forced to choose between forgiveness or escaping with those she loves before a shout crumbles Moon City’s walls to pieces. And both choices come at a cost she’s not sure she’s willing to pay.”


Series: Book #1 in the “Under His Wings” series. 


Spiritual Content- A quote by Joshua in the beginning (Joshua 6:16); A few Scriptures are quoted; Prayers; God is called God, Elohim, Yahweh, & Yeshua; The group of those who follow God are called “Lesaries” and the Bible is called “the Holy Words”; The city of Jericho is called “Moon City” and the events of the wall crashing down are prophesized and talked about (*Spoiler* the wall around the city falls towards the end *End of Spoiler*); Elohim talks to Pero and *Spoiler* comes to be with her in the flesh, talking to her and washing her feet, & heals someone else *End of Spoiler*; Many talks about Elohim, His plans, receiving power from Him, having faith, & forgiveness; 'H's are capital when referring to God; There are three people who are called the “chosen” and on their seventeenth birthday, they each received a gift (it’s said to be “like a power” that comes from Elohim) that has a special action (singing, dancing, & creating/growing trees) & have a special necklace; Pero and her mother are both one of the chosen; A man wants to be Elohim and use the chosen three as a channel to gain their powers; Pero doesn’t care about Elohim because He didn’t bring her mother back (*Spoiler* she quickly changes her tune about Him about because she won’t have to worry about control if she trusts Him and about halfway envisions herself giving Him her broken heart *End of Spoiler*); When Pero worships, she received visions of something that will happen; After trusting Elohim, Pero is able to fly; Many mentions of Elohim, prophecies, & visions; Mentions of prayers, praying, & blessings over food; Mentions of churches/church going (called a “sanctuary”), priests, & prayers and songs done there (Pero found it boring); 
             *Note: There are doors/portals that can lead others into another world/universe/planet and it’s called “magic” a few times as Elohim directs others to go and they “magically appear”; Origo is an older universe and sounds like Bible times in the way they live; Everyone has two different bodies, one on Earth and one on Origo (when they are at one or the other, the body in the other universe hides and if they die in one universe, they’re body can be taken to the other universe to live in that body); In a dark place, Pero is instructed to call out to Elohim as there are invisible creatures there (she says “demons aren’t real, are they?” and the other person answers that “maybe they are, but I think they’ll go away if Elohim’s here”; Pero is then able to sense the spiritual side); Lesaries are able to fly on eagles; Mentions of a healing ointment called a blessing; A mention of a magic wand (used as a reference, not an actual item); A mention of some believing a man has received power from the moon; A mention of a man being worshipped by a community; A mention of a man being called a devil; A mention of a place being called hell; A mention of someone going through hell; A mention of someone having a curse; A mention of someone looking like a Greek goddess; A mention of a goddess of wisdom and war.
 

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a form of ‘blasted’, a ‘crudmuffins!’, a ‘dang it’, a ‘dang you’, a ‘darn it’, a ‘great shimpers!’, a ‘idiot’, an ‘oh my word’, two ‘gosh’s, two ‘heck’s, two ‘shut up’s, three ‘dumb’s, and five ‘stupid’s; A possible derogatory name is cut off; Sarcasm, Sass, & Eye rolling; Pero talks back to her parents & other authority figures; A few mentions of curses (said, not written); Seeing a dead body (up to semi-detailed); Being attacked, Fighting, Pain, & Injuries (up to semi-detailed); Being held at gunpoint and knifepoint, threatened, & seeing someone shot (x4, with an arrow and guns, up to semi-detailed); Pero saw her mother abducted & has had nightmares of the event and her screams ever since;  Pero is given a sedative/drug and drinks it; Pero is tempted to steal something, but does not because Elohim is watching; Many mentions of deaths, murders, bodies, violence, battles, fighting, injuries, pain, blood/bleeding, & passing out (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of the possibility of being killed & a plan to kill someone; Mentions of slaves, slavery, & experimentations on slaves (including being able to bring them back to life by eating a special plant if they die); Mentions of torture & beatings; Mentions of being held at gunpoint & threatened; Mentions of abductions & kidnappers; Mentions of nightmares; Mentions of grieving (for a mother, a father, a wife, & parents); Mentions of lies, lying, & liars; Mentions of alcohol, drunks, drinking, & underage drinking; A few mentions of stalkers; A few mentions of being drugged; A few mentions of betting & bets; A few mentions of hatred; A few mentions of throwing up; A couple mentions of a man killing many children; A couple mentions of rumors; A mention of a burglar; A mention of night clubs; A few mentions of jealousy; 
             *Note: *Spoiler* About 2/3s through, Pero finds out she was adopted when her mother found her left in a tree; Pero wonders about her birth parents and thinks that the father who has raised her is not her dad and if he’ll still want her *End of Spoiler*; A few mentions of brand names (Gatorade, Barbie, & Disney); A mention of horror movies with creepy creatures; A mention of a bachelorette show.
 
 
Sexual Content- A hand kiss and a semi-detailed kiss; Recalling a kiss (barely-above-not-detailed); Wanting to kiss; Touches, Embraces, Hand holding, Warmth, Nearness, Butterflies, & Smelling (barely-above-not-detailed); Wanting to touch & embrace (barely-above-not-detailed); Noticing & Staring (including muscles, barely-above-not-detailed); A ‘sexy’; *Spoiler* About halfway through, one of Pero’s love interests is thought to possibly be her half-brother and she’s very embarrassed about her feelings towards him, but it’s revealed closer to the end that she was adopted, so she’s confused on her feelings and if that means they can be together then. He proposes, but she’s not ready for that. She thinks that she’s drawn to him, but cannot love him *End of Spoiler*; It’s implied that Pero’s mother has been a concubine for a man while being held captive by him (including it being said that he took advantage of her and one man referring to her as one of the other man’s many girlfriends); Mentions of kisses, kissing, & touches; Mentions of flirting & blushes; Mentions of boyfriends; A few mentions of jealousy; A few mentions of crushes; A mention of swooning over a handsome older guy; Love, thinking about love, attraction, & the emotions;
             *Note: Both Pero’s love interests are in their mid-20s; A group of drunks tell Pero to take off her clothing (she does not nor is she in a dangerous situation because of them); A few mentions of a man being too old for Pero (she finds it gross when he calls her stunning); A couple mentions of a line of guys asking for Pero’s number; A mention of Pero wondering if she’s fallen for a guy like in a book where “the girl falls in love from a wolf-man’s psychedelic eye power? Or was [she] responding to something else in him?”; A mention of some guards making crude comments about women and fighting over them; A mention of a man kneeing another man in the groin; In the author’s note, she mentions about a prostitute from the Bible and a character being based off of her. 
 
-Pero Moshe, age 17
                                1^st person P.O.V. of Pero 
                                                   280 pages

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Pre Teens- 

New Teens- 

Early High School Teens- 

Older High School Teens- 

My personal Rating- 

{ Add up to a full star for Older High School Teens who enjoy Allegories. }

This was a very interesting and different book (that has a great cover, by the way). 

I think it’s important before going into my final thoughts to know that I’m not a big allegory fan…I prefer things and plots of books to be straight up said, rather than have a hidden meaning behind the words. (It should be no shock to learn that I’m not a poetry fan either because of this.)

I would be really curious if someone who is a big fantasy or allegory fan read this book and their opinion on it. I don’t do high fantasy (extremely fantasy fantasy) books so it’s possible all of my lack of understanding is mostly my fault, but I still wished a lot of things were explained more to make it easier on those like me who has a brain that isn’t wired for such themes.

Here’s the thing, this book was well written. How things happened and the dialogue were good. I just wish events and how the worlds work could have been explained more. I struggled with caring about characters that we only knew for a little bit of time, not being sure the motives of others, how things are and people are connected, and points like that. There’s many worlds (?) but I honestly don’t understand really any of it—I’ve tried to do my best in the content sections to explain what I can. We’re pretty thrown into the plot in the first chapter, trying to figure things out, what’s going on, and learning new words. I wish there had been a bit more build-up, personally, in the first couple of chapters to have groundwork done before the main plot kicks in. 

Pero can be rebellious, but I’m not sure if that’s her personality or the stress of the current events, because it happens at the beginning and there’s no work up to the events that will apparently take place on her birthday. She was too quick to like someone then switch to another guy. But one corner of the love triangle is handled in a way I wasn’t expecting and can’t say I liked how it went down (*Spoiler* He is apparently her half-brother? Even a cousin would be Ick, but the potential relation is just weird. She’s embarrassed about her feelings for him. But shortly later, he’s back to being a potential love interest when Pero finds out she’s adopted and he’s excited that they means they can be together. Personally, I’m very uncomfortable with that either way. *End of Spoiler*)

I think this book has great potential, but I do think the worlds and how everything is connected could have been explained and fleshed out better.

 

 

See y’all on Friday with a new review! 

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

*I received this book for free from the Author for this honest review.

"Emerald Illusion" by J. Rodes

About this book:

  “Abrielle used to dream of a different life. Adventure. Romance. Hope. Not of Kansas.

   Now, after the loss of her mother and a move she didn't want to make, she's lost the will to dream anymore, let alone believe in her father's Somedays. But a swirling wind, a wall of leaves, and a blinding darkness transform her world.

   She and both of her brothers, Brogan and Matteaus, are swept from Kansas to someplace beyond--to a desert in which everything is watery brown, including the sky and the light of the weak sun. Abrielle finds herself in the middle of a realm everyone had heard of but no one believed existed. Except this version is run-down and broken, void of color and hope. Not much different from her view of life in Kansas.

   When she gathers her bearings, she discovers her youngest brother is missing, lost in a land that is foreign and dying. Finding Matteaus becomes her sole focus, but when she and Brogan meet a boy named Levi, who only adds more mystery to this world that shouldn't exist, she finds out this kingdom is much more perilous than the children's book ever told.

   Matteaus is in great danger.

   There is nothing safe about Oz.”

Series: As of now, no.

Spiritual Content- Scriptures are remembered & referenced (said to be from the Great Story); Prayers; Blessings on others; God in Oz is referred to as Ma’ohr; Hearing a voice (God/Ma’ohr); Asking Ma’ohr to see or for help and Him doing so; *Spoiler* Seeing Ma’ohr, talking to Him, & being full of joy in His presence in a lovely garden/mountain *End of Spoiler*; Many talks about the King (called Ma’ohr to those who claim Him), being sent by Him, having the choice to follow Him, the Kingdom (Heaven), The Royal Law (to love others, kindness and compassion), making sure to see the Light (follow Ma’ohr), & Light seekers; ‘H’s are capitalized when referring to the King; Mentions of the King/Ma’ohr & thanking Him; Mentions of the Kingdom that “is and is to come”; Mentions of having a hope (referring to Heaven); Mentions of prayers & praying; A couple mentions of a Savior (referring to Christ); A couple mentions of blessings; Two Scriptures are in the ending notes;

             *Note: The Illusion and the powers of the Darkness is the evil in Oz; Seeing a cloud of darkness (called the ‘Darkness’ which it’s intent is “to kill, destroy, and devour”); Mentions of the Darkness; Mentions of curses & an evil witch; Mentions of evil people & evil looks; Mentions of witches from the original story of Oz, them putting curses on other, & a princess being part fairy, having magic, and putting a spell on everyone (we do not see any of this, but are told about it); Mentions of Abrielle wondering if they going to be a ritualistic sacrifice to a pagan god (they are not); A mention of that the Darkness can’t be defeated by a mere mortal.

 

 

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘dang it’, a ‘dumb’, an ‘idiot’, a ‘what the heck’, two forms of ‘wimp’, and nine forms of ‘stupid’s; Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Fighting, Blood/Bleeding, Injuries, Pain, Being drugged, & Passing out (up to semi-detailed); Going through a tornado-like event & a sand-storm (up to semi-detailed); Imagining deaths & thinking someone is trying to kill you (up to semi-detailed); Being threatened & held at knife-point (up to semi-detailed); Abrielle & her family are grieving the loss of her mother (who disappeared and then “turned up dead”); Many mentions of lies, lying, liars, & deception; Mentions of murders; Mentions of thieves that steal children & the children being stolen from their families; Mentions of fighting, battles, & weapons (when given weapons, the group is told that “a life is a life, bestowed with love and purpose—never disregard that.”); Mentions of fighting, blood/bleeding, injuries, pain, & weapons (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of kidnappings & being drugged; Mentions of jealousy; Mentions of hatred; A few mentions of murderers & criminals; A few mentions of violence (such as fires, inquisitions, & executions); A couple mentions of the smell of decay; A couple mentions of rumors;

             *Note: A few mentions of car brands; A few mentions of book, authors, & fictional characters (Don Quixote & Tolkien); A mention of Disney World.

 

 

Sexual Content- An almost kiss, a forehead kiss, and a barely-above-not-detailed kiss; Remembering a kiss (barely-above-not-detailed); Touches, Nearness, Embraces, Dancing, & Warmth (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes; Noticing, Staring, & Electricity (barely-above-not-detailed); Brotherly teasing about a boy; A man looks at Abrielle’s form in a way that makes her uncomfortable; Mentions of kisses & looking at someone’s lips; Mentions of seducing someone; Mentions of jealousy; A few mentions of Abrielle not having her first boyfriend or kiss yet; A couple mentions of crushes; A mention of a wink; Attraction and some of the emotions;

             *Note: Mentions of a man wanting a woman from another place because the women in his city can’t bear children (it’s assumed because they are sterile, think it’s beneath them, or something else) & he wanted a seed of his own; A mention of almost landing a very painful hit to a guy (near his hip).

 

-Abrielle, age 17

                                1^st person P.O.V. of Abrielle

                                                        313 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

I have so many thoughts, but I have no idea how to put them into words.

The Wizard of Oz. A story most of us know well. But this take on the classic story is set many years after Dorothy visited the green city and it’s now lost all its color and hope. Which gives this book a dystopian feel.

There were a few moments that I wasn’t big fan of, parts I felt more neutral about, and then a quite a few parts I really liked. I think, for me as a usually non-fantasy fan reader, the most difficult part was getting into the world, which the author gave a lot of descriptions about that helped, but I did still struggle with the writing style. After finishing this book, I still have some questions on different things…and I would really like to see an epilogue novella after that tease at the end!

I am also not a big allegory fan, which this novel definitely had that style—not completely, but many elements reminded me of past allegories I’ve read.

I’m giving this book a personal rating of 3 stars because I did enjoy and like it. It’s one I’ll keep on my shelves to reread in a few years in hope that I’ll be able to share my thoughts on it more then. 😉 It was overall really clean and interestingly done, I haven’t seen too many of my book friends talk about this book, so if it sounds interesting to you, I would say to give it a try. :)

 

 

See y’all on Friday with a new review!

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.