Son of Truth

                                     

Summary: Arise now, guardian...

The war in the north is over, but the war for all the Lands has just begun. As the Shadonae solidify their hold on the city of Thyra, Rowen Mar, the last Eldaran and savior of the White City, awakens to find herself hunted by those she has saved.

Meanwhile, the assassin Caleb Tala finds himself in the presence of the Word. The time of reckoning has come, and he must pay the price for all the lives he has taken. But in his moment of judgment, Caleb is given a second chance to change his life.

These two hold the power to save the Lands from the Shadonae. One must escape slavery, and one must choose to forsake everything before the world is consumed in darkness.


                                                     ~~~~

After reading Daughter of Light I was really excited to start Son of Truth. I loved getting to know more about Caleb and the others. Picking up where Daughter of Light ended, Neirne has finally found the Elderan and they are traveling back to Thyra, but Neirne’s group is betrayed and she is forced to become a slave. Neirne crosses paths with Caleb again, and though he acts different she does not fully trust him, for his past has much pain and darkness. She will soon have to make the choice to forgive and trust him, or to continue to hold his past against him. -One of the things I felt for with Neirne was her fear and doubt in the Word. She believed, but at some points her faith weakened and she couldn't see how the Word was in control.- 

Meanwhile, Rowen is forced to heal others for her betrayer's gain. Giving herself up to take others injuries. Soon the evil in the land hears of her and she is sent to the very darkness she is suppose to overcome, but will she have enough strength to face them?
Caleb has finally found the healing he's been unknowingly searching for, and is finally trying to do good. With his new found gift he searches for answers from the past of his mother. But an evil has already taken over his family members and forces him to flee, along with Neirne, whom he rescued. But trust is hard to earn from those who knew him, and as people he's hurt keep coming into his life he only hopes they will believe he has truly changed.
I really enjoyed reading the second book in the Followers of the Word series, and definitely suggest you read it.  


I received this book from the author for an honest review
I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars

 

Daughter of Light

Summary: Have you ever seen inside the human heart?

I have.

I have seen the darkness that hides within, I have felt the feelings of hatred and lust, heard whispers that still haunt my mind. With one touch I see what no one else sees: the very soul of man.

I am a mirror. I reflect the darkness within. I rip away the lies and deceit wrapped around the heart until all that is left is darkness and light. I expose the truth. And am hated and feared for it.

Why would the Word give me such terrifying power? Why must I see the darkness in others?

I never wanted this. I tried to rip the mark from my hand. I tried to hide it. I even ran away. It worked for a time. But a power like this cannot stay hidden forever.

And so I have been banished from my village. I run from those who wish to kill me. And hide from others who hope to twist my power.

Only a few stand beside me. But even they cannot follow me down the long dark road that lies before me. Only one can. The One who gave me my power.

Someday I will pay the price for my gift. For men do not want light, they want darkness. But until that day comes, the Word will stand with me and by His power I will shine.

***

As the Shadonae rise in the west and war threatens the north, a young woman discovers she is not human . . .

Rowen Mar finds a strange mark on her hand, and she is banished from her village as a witch. She covers the mark with a leather glove and seeks sanctuary in the White City. She lives in fear that if she touches another person, the power inside her will trigger again, a terrifying power that allows her to see the darkness inside the human heart . . .

But the mark is a summons, and those called cannot hide forever. For the salvation of her people lies within her hand.


                                         
                                                          ~~~~

I cannot say how much I loved Daughter of Light. The whole time I was glued to the pages. Morgan Busse did a wonderful job creating a new world, full of amazing new characters. I loved how she creatively shared the gospel in her books. Giving a new look on how Jesus sacrificed his life for us, and how much he loves us. I loved all of the characters: Rowen, Lore, Neirne, Caleb, and the others. The story is told from the former four, so you get different experiences throughout the story.

 

Rowen was a character I could easily relate to. Her hope to fit in with others, but then the rejection of her village after the death of her adopted father leaves her lonely and closed off. She is forced to leave the only home she's ever known and has to travel to the White City to become a varor. With an unknown power that she sees as a curse, she hides her true self, with no hope of real friendship.

 The fear and anger she feels starts to take over, but hope and healing is close at hand. After a near death experience, the reason for her power is revealed and the Word helps her use it to save her people.

 

            With the enemy close at hand and no help coming, will followers trust the Word in his plan, or will they give into fear?

 

Caleb has lived a life of an assassin for many years. But the faces of those he's killed haunt his sleep constantly. He cares only for himself, though at the same time wants a life of peace and healing. With visions of a woman with a mark on her hand, his life changes drastically. But healing cannot be forced, it must be chosen. He will have to chose between his current life, or that of a new one.
I could go on about the book, but I should probably stop now and just say "Read it!"  :) For those of you interested, Daughter of Light is free on Kindle. Check out Morgan L Busse's website for more information on her books!


I would rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.
I received this book free from the author for an honest review.

The Reader/Writer: Looking Back

So today I turn one year older, and decided to just go over the past year on how my writing/reading life has been.

I've reviewed 27 books since March 16 of last year. I read much more than I review, but the past winter I was able to find some great authors and some more amazing reads. This year I am doing a 100 book challenge, and am already halfway through -50 total. (May need to up the count)  :) I wrote a short story for a contest in February (a Beauty and the Beast retelling) and am working on a Sleeping Beauty retelling. I'm also considering starting a Serial Story once or twice a month, but we'll see.

Pinterest has continued to bring up new story ideas. (I know I know. Why can't I just stay with one board, but as soon I get inspired by a picture I can't help but continue to create more ideas!)

Follow Soleil 's board Power persons story on Pinterest.

  Follow Soleil 's board Pirate story on Pinterest.

  Follow Soleil 's board Starwalker/Stargazer story on Pinterest.

  Follow Soleil 's board The Choice: story idea on Pinterest.

 And I can share with you guys some news I'm really excited about!! I, along with some others, are hosting a writing contest April 15- May 16. I'll be giving more details soon, but I can't wait to see what happens!
                
Hope you all are having a great week, and enjoy the weather!

Risen

                                   


Summary: The Story of the Resurrection as You've Never Seen It Before

Epic in scope, yet deeply personal, this novelization offers a unique perspective on the story of the resurrection. Roman Tribune Clavius is assigned by Pilate to keep the radical followers of the recently executed Yeshua from stealing the body and inciting revolution. When the body goes missing despite his precautions, Clavius must hunt it down.

His investigation leads him from the halls of Herod Antipas to the Garden of Gethsemane and brings him in touch with believer and doubter alike. But as the body still remains missing, Clavius commits to a quest for the truth--and answers that will not only shake his life but echo throughout all of history.

                                      ~~~~

Clavius is a Roman soldier who has lived most of his life serving the empire. But with a new uprising, he faces the dilemma: to leave behind his life to follow the risen Messiah or to continue on with his life, ignoring the truth.
Rachel has lived alone since the death of her husband. Now, rumors of a risen Messiah have shaken her Jewish faith and she must choose to believe it.

I was really excited to get the book before watching the movie, but I must say I was really disappointed. (The movie thankfully did not have any of the content that made this book un-enjoyable.) The novel Risen had some things I did not agree with- especially for that time period and being a Christian book. The relationship between Rachel and Clavius might be okay for some, but I did not approve- especially for it to be a book that is suppose to be sharing the gospel. Yes, I understood that there had to be some feeling between the two of them, but I think it could have been put better. For it to be called a Christian novel that is trying to share about the resurrection of Christ, there were things in it that didn't seem like very Christ-like. I did not enjoy it as much as I thought I would, and though I love Biblical fiction this just wasn't very good.

 

I rate this book 2 stars out of 5

I received this book free from the publisher for an honest review.

The Calling

                                             

Summary: Remko Brant had never been so sure of anything as escaping the Authority City with Carrington Hale. But bravado comes easy when you have nothing to lose. Now a husband, father, and the tactical leader of the Seers, Remko has never had so much at risk.

As he and his team execute increasingly dangerous rescue missions inside the city, they face growing peril from a new enemy. Recently appointed Authority President Damien Gold claims to be guiding a city shaken by rebellion into a peaceful, harmonious future. But appearances can be deceiving. In order to achieve his dangerous ambitions, Gold knows he must do more than catch the rebels—he must destroy the hope their message represents . . . from the inside out.

With dissension in his own camp—and the CityWatch soldiers closing in—Remko feels control slipping through his fingers. To protect those he loves, he must conquer his fears and defeat Gold . . . before one of them becomes his undoing.

                                     

                                          ~~~~

Ever since I read Rachelle Dekker's first novel, The Choosing, I have been such  fan of Ms. Dekker. Her novels are such a treat, and are quite the adventure. In the second Seer novel, The Calling is seen through the eyes of Remko, who is a guard in the first book. In the time that has passed, he has become the leader of the Seer group and has had a child with Carrington, a little girl named Elise.
When their group is sold out to the Authority, Remko's life seems to fall apart. Those he hold dear are gone, and life holds no hope for him. The enemy seems to have won, and those who were once friends turn against one another. Will Remko find the truth and finally believe? Or will he continue to live in fear of the unknown?

I must say I really enjoyed The Calling. This is Rachelle Dekker's second published book and I have to say she is such an amazing author. She has such a unique way of writing, and I love her creative way of including Jesus in a totally new way. I am excited to read Ms. Dekker's next novel, and see more of how her writing will continue to grow and encourage her readers.

                                         ~~~~
                 Author Q&A
*The Calling is the second book in The Seer Series. Does it pick up right after The Choosing leaves off?
No, a year and a half has passed when we rejoin the characters in The Calling

*Remko struggles with his anger often throughout the book. Is this expression of anger connected to his fears? If so, how?
Anger is just a natural reaction to the circumstances Remko faces. Sometimes being afraid can stir up anger because it makes us feel weak or out of control. This is definitely true for Remko in The Calling.   

 *In the book you talk a lot about surrendering to fear. What does this look like and how does this help us to not be afraid?
I think sometimes the natural reaction to fear is to hide from it, or try and push it away. It’s the idea that if we can’t see it then it must not be there, but we all know that unless dealt with the unseen things often come back to bite us. The only way to face fear is to walk through it; surrendering to Father God and letting Him reminder us of our true identity. Only then do we really see that the light within us is always greater than the fear we face.  

*Carrington struggles with the pain that comes from watching Remko miss the Truth that was so clear to her.  What encouragement would you give to others that have loved ones who do not yet share their faith?
Everyone needs to take the journey. For some, truth comes more easily, and others have to struggle to see it. It can be incredibly hard to watch someone you love miss the truth right in front of them, but don’t forget that the Father is still God, and He holds them in His hand. So love those that struggle restlessly and trust that the Father is ever-present, even in the darkness. 

*The theme of identity from The Choosing continues in The Calling. Carrington reminds herself, “When you know who you truly are, you realize there is no war left to fight at all.” How does this statement apply to our Christian faith?
 For me this is simply a reminder that God is still God. Regardless of my circumstance or how I view the world, the Father is constant and hasn’t changed. He has already won the fight, already conquered death, already set me free. It’s only when I forget who He calls me and who He is that I feel the need to fight against life instead of surrendering to Him and letting Him be God. 

*What do you hope readers will take away from the story?
I hope they take a moment to see themselves as children of the Father. I hope they see that true freedom and fearlessness rest in surrendering, and that when they stand with the Father than nothing can stand against them. There is incredible peace in that truth, and I hope, like I am beginning the experience, that readers feel that same peace. 
  
*What can readers expect in the final book of the series?
Characters they know and some new ones I hope they’ll love! More questions of identity, and fear, but the characters will also be looking at forgiveness and letting go. I’m really happy with the way the final book played out, and I’m hoping readers will be as well.


~I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars
I received this book free from the publisher for an honest review.

The Light of the Last

                         


Summary: To Fight What Others Can’t You Must See What Others Don’tAfter an accident left him temporarily blind, Drew Carter didn’t just regain his sight. He now sees what others can’t imagine–an entire spiritual realm of mighty beings at war.

Forget the gift, Drew just wants his life back. Part of that involves Sydney Carlyle, a woman he is inexplicably drawn to. When he’s offered the chance to become a CIA agent, it seems the way to redeem his past. The only problem–his visions of the supernatural realm are increasing in frequency.

It’s up to the warrior angel Validus and his hand-picked team of heavenly agents to protect the unbelieving Drew. Validus now knows that the young man is at the epicenter of a global spiritual war, and the angels must use a millennia of battle experience keep Drew alive, for the Fallen want him dead.

Surrounded by spiritual warriors and targeted by demons, Drew’s faced with an impossible decision that will forever alter the destiny of America...and his own soul.


                                ~~~~


I love every book Chuck Black writes, and I must say I really enjoyed the final Wars of the Realm book. Light of the Last is really exciting and full of adventure. The plot was amazing, and I had no idea how Chuck Black was going to conclude the awesome trilogy. The only thing I have to complain in this book is that it's over! There isn't anything bad about the final Wars of the Realm book other than I wish there was more. (maybe another couple offshoot books?)
The whole time I was glued to the book, and I couldn't put it down until the end. From the first two books I had no idea that this is where the story was going to go, and I loved it!
I loved Drew, Sydney, and all the other characters. It was really cool seeing how the story continued and how big it expanded. I don't want to spoil anything, but I will say that the whole story was exiting and thrilling. Some people trying to take over the world, and spiritual warfare put together make for an amazing book. Definitely a must read!

I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars
I received this book free from the publisher for an honest review.