Search for the Astral Dragon

 

Bryan Davis's latest book, Search for the Astral Dragon, is a heart-pounding, emotionally intense story suitable for middle-grade readers and older. Megan Willas spent her childhood helping her parents pursue freedom and justice--or so she thought. Now enslaved on a space freighter, she still clings to hope that her mother will find and free her. 

The themes of this book strongly reminded me of the author's earlier Dragons of Starlight books; freedom, hope, and the value of all human life. At the same time, it has a vivid, unique setting with nonhuman aliens, memorable characters, and an intriguing plot. 

I heartily recommend this book for sci-fi fans, avid readers, and anyone looking for a good read. 

The book can be purchased at online retailers or at the author's website.  I also did a brief dramatic reading. 

Heaven Came Down: Book One of The Oculus Gate

 Imagine a world where angels have descended from heaven, uniting mankind behind a common creed, ending war and crime. It sounds ideal--but there's a darker side. In Heaven Came Down, the first book in the Oculus Gate series, readers are introduced to a small band of freedom fighters who are desperate to free humanity from these 'angels.'

I've read most of Davis's previous books, but this series takes a different angle, more action-adventure than fantasy. It also takes place over a much shorter timespan, two or three days rather than weeks or months. The fast pace and growing tension kept me reading until I'd finished.

This book and the rest of the series can be purchased on Amazon here, I have also posted a video of my dramatic reading from the first chapter of the book.

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Eye of the Oracle--dramatic reading and contest promotion

 Bryan Davis is hosting a contest to celebrate 20 years of being a full-time
author! As part of the contest, I am posting this video review and dramatic reading scene from Eye of the Oracle, the first book in the Dragons in Our Midst series!

This book is both a prequel and a sequel to the Dragons in Our Midst quartet. I heavily recommend reading those books first, as the events prove pivotal to the overarching plot in this book, which stretches from before the flood up to the modern era. But to those who are already familiar with the DioM world, this book shouldn't be missed. It introduces amazing, wonderful characters who demonstrate amazing faith and courage against overwhelming odds, as well as creating a memorable world. 

His books can all be purchased  HERE 

Can I Just Hide in Bed Till Jesus Comes Back?

Can I Just Hide in Bed 'til Jesus Comes Back?: Facing Life with Courage, Not Comforters by Martha Bolton and Christin Ditchfield

This nonfiction book from Tyndale House Publishers shares friendly advice for people who are overwhelmed by life.  It's primarily written for women, but I think men would find some of the tips useful as well. The light, direct style makes it seem shorter than 256 pages.  It has several personal stories, as well as amusing lists and Scripture verses. The chapters are short, perfect for reading in brief moments. 

While I appreciate what the authors were trying to do, the book wasn't quite what I expected. I have been dealing with depression for a few years. so when I saw this book, I thought it would be helpful. Maybe it's just my situation or preferences, but the lighthearted tone and humorous style didn't really fit well with the topic. It seemed too quirky and pull yourself up by the bootstraps. Maybe some people prefer it that way, but the tone felt like it wasn't taking issues seriously.  

I received a free copy from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. Two of five stars.

They Were Single Too

They Were Single Too by David M. Hoffeditz is an updated nonfiction book highlighting eight Biblical individuals.  It's primarily informative about the Biblical figures mentioned. The book has one chapter each on Paul, Anna, Martha, Jeremiah, Ruth, Joseph, Nehemiah, and John the Baptist. I really appreciated the variety of people mentioned--Anna's years of widowhood present an entirely different perspective than Paul's ministry or Joseph's temptations.The book is less than 150 pages long, and each chapter ends with a few brief questions for reflection.
I found this book quick and easy to read, with a good tone and perspective. It might be a good conversation starter for a a small group.It also has good historical context and background for the Biblical characters.
Some books meant for single adults are just aimed at 20-something year olds. The author of this book acknowledges that not all singles are that age. The examples cover a wide range of ages, so that singles of a variety of ages will find something useful in this book. I really enjoyed reading it and will probably read it again.  If you're looking for something addressing church culture and singleness, this is an okay place to start but not really sociology-oriented.
Three and a half of five stars.

The Unreformed Martin Luther

Nearly 500 after Martin Luther (supposedly) nailed his 95 Thesis to a church door, his historical significance is undeniable. But just who was he? Over time, the truth has been clouded by myths and legends. Did his wife escape a convent in a herring barrel? Did he intend to create a new denomination?
In The Unreformed Martin Luther, author and theologian Andreas Malessa examines 25 of the most common "facts" about Luther, considering the historical context, Luther's own words, and more. At the same time, he reviews the basic history of Luther's life and provides a background for those who may not be familiar with early Protestant history.
This 160-page book is written in a conversational, easy-to-read tone.  Middle schoolers and older should be able to read this without too much difficulty, but interest will vary. It's a good introduction to church history for a variety of ages, but parents of younger children might what to skip over some of the chapters.  The author also does a good job of showing how Luther's influence impacts the church and society today.
I would give this book three stars out of five. I received a free copy of this book from Kregel Publications in exchange for an honest review.

Questioning Evangelism

Witnessing is hard.  Even if you get up the guts to start the conversation and it seems to be going well, sooner or later, there'll be a question you just can't answer.
But maybe that isn't such a bad thing. Questioning Evangelism by Randy Newman, offers a different method for sharing the gospel. While there are many good Christian apologetic books, that's only one part of the puzzle. Sure, you can argue that the world is so complex it has to be created, or that the historical evidence supports the Bible's accuracy--both of which are true--but basic concepts such as absolute truth are taken for granted.
Instead, this book suggests starting with questions.

Answering a question with a question, then, often has significant advantages over using direct answers. It brings to the surface the questioner's assumptions. It also takes the pressure off you-the one being asked- and puts the pressure on the one who is doing the asking.

As well as asking questions, the book also encourages believers to listen during conversations.  Trying to badger someone into accepting the gospel with an overload of evidence can easily backfire. The book also includes several examples of how conversations could go when faced with common objections.  

I really appreciated this book because it seems like a more natural way of witnessing, and one where you don't have to have all the answers
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I was given a copy of this book by Kregel Publications in exchange for an honest review.

Befriend

Befriend by Scott Sauls is a 200-page nonfiction book exploring different aspects of friendship in the modern world. Each chapter focuses on befriending various groups, such as "wrecked and restless," "the ones you can't control" and  "bullies and perpetrators." The chapters each conclude with a summary, Scripture references, and questions to ponder.
While I admire the author's purpose, I found myself disappointed in the practice. While the book defends the institution of friendship and supports connections across a wide spectrum of people, it serves as more of an overview and defense than a guide.  For example, chapter 11, "Befriend the Children" is only five pages long. It has an introduction, a section headed 'shifting our priorities,' a section headed 'showing ourselves, showing the Father,' and the summary. Other chapters are likewise brief. That does help reluctant readers by condensing the information, but it doesn't address deeper issues. I was hoping for more information about building and repairing friendships, not just 'oh, you should have some.'
I received a free copy of this book from Tyndale House in exchange for an honest review.

The time Mom met Hitler, Frost came to Dinner, and I heard the greatest story ever told: a memoir

The time Mom met Hitler, Frost came to dinner, and I heard the greatest story ever told: a memoir by Dikkon Eberhart, is a 300-page memoir telling the story of Dikkon Eberhart. His father, Richard Eberhart, was a Pultizer Prize-winning poet, who also was the United States Poet Laureate from 1959-1961. Growing up, Dikkon frequently met literary and society icons around the dinner table. But being surrounded by these icons left him uncertain how to lead his own life.

I requested this book from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for an honest review, but I really wasn't quite sure what I was requesting at the time: short stories? Historical fiction? Memoir isn't a genre I read much anyway, so I had no preconceived notions when I read it.

The author has a clean, professional style and keeps the pace moving well, with plenty of interesting incidents and a good sense of what details to include in a story and which ones to leave out.  As an English major, I recognized most of the people mentioned in the story, but none of them really jumped out at me.

If you like memoir or the late 20th century, this is a good book, but I have no plans to reread.

Call the Midwife and plots

There are  (at least) two ways to consider any story: on the emotional level or on the structural level. At any given time, I'm probably analyzing both.  And with last night's episode of Call the Midwife, I set out to determine just how many heartbreaking storylines they can fit in 1 hour. Starting with the overall season arc, it goes as follow (spoilers):
The primary arc of Sister Ursula taking over Nonnatus was brought to a conclusion after the near-fatal accident that befell Lucy and Lin. I am always impressed by how the show develops one-episode characters, including backstory and the ongoing effects of said backstory. The backstory for Lucy's mother-in-law was well-done and realistically portrayed. Likewise, Sister Ursula's history explained her actions, but didn't excuse that. Also, I loved Nurse Crane's interaction with Sister Ursula, explaining Barbara's actions and the results....just, Nurse Crane seems to have taken over Sister Evangeline's role as resident hardliner.
The Turner's storyline about the mother and baby home was also well done, historical but relevant for many people. The ever-present trend of cutting local services can be seen in rural Midwest clinics as well as 1960s London.
Then you get the smaller, individual storylines: Trixie's return, Sister Monica Joan and the television, and Sheila's pregnancy. The later will continue into the next episode, from what I've seen online, but it's nice to have some lighter moments too.  The moment when the man carries out the bench and pulls back the blinds for Sister Monica Joan....hilarious and heartwarming at the same time.

Hero is a Four Letter Word by J.M. Frey

 This collection of three short stories is entertaining and funny. One tells of the return of King Arthur, one focuses on a washed-out supervillain confronting his past, and the other... well, I don't want to spoil the twist, so I'll just say it's not all it appears to be.
Sometimes, it's easy to become over-focused on thrilling sagas and tense epics and forget that fantasy can be fun. These stories are quick, light-hearted reads for those times you just need something different.
I received a free ebook from Story Cartel.

We're Not Invincible: AOS 4.15

I know I'm not real. I'm all phantom limbs. But that doesn't make the pain less real. You don't have to feel pain. You say you don't anymore. But that pain, that regret... that's what made you a person ... a person I love.
--LMD May

Of all the weeks to miss an episode, it would have been last week.  I mean, I picked up online that some of the agents had been replaced with LMDS, but I had no clue which ones or how many or.... agh!
And the emotional heartache--AGH! Those terrifying, tense moments when Fitzsimmons suspect each other of being LMDs, so Fitz cuts himself (side note, good job both of you at the blood test, but surely there's somewhere less dangerous than wrists that could also expose circuitry). And for a moment, you think it's going to be okay, but then---eeep. I'm very glad I hadn't seen the trailers,  or I would have gone crazy.  My poor Jemma, having to take out that LMD....
And then Skye and the bouquet room (yes, because a bunch of daisies is a bouquet, and I'm still calling her Skye), just EEP room full of crazy. Then she has to fight everybody and... convincing Simmons that she's herself with Quake powers...they needed that hug, and they're going to need a lot more of them.
Just, the whole concept of the base being infiltrated like that, of being hunted down and killed by people you thought you could trust with your lives....Aida may have copied their mannerisms and memories, but she got the whole idea so wrong. The way she saves everyone just eliminates their lives, their choices, their freedom.
And LMD May standing up to LMD Coulson and making her own choice. That is so meta-inducing on its own, the difference between a fraud and a self-aware LMD, when it turns out that she can make her own choices.
Then into the Framework.
But not until April.
MOFFAT!
oops wrong director.

Oswiu: King of Kings

Oswiu: King of Kings is the conclusion of the Nothumbrian Thrones novels by Edoardo Albert. Oswiu's brother Oswald was recently killed by Penda, king of Mercia, But rumors have spread that the site of Oswald's death has miraculous qualities, healing the sick and injured. His mother Acha urges Oswiu to recover his brother's body, but the new king has few men and little support; wouldn't it be a death mission?
Since this book concludes a trilogy, it is best read after the previous two books, Edwin: High King of Britain , and the sequel  Oswald: Return of the King. Together, the three books provide an intriguing look at British history in the early- and mid-600s, as well as the interaction of paganism and Christianity. The unfamiliar names of tribes and individuals may make this confusing for some people, but the author has thoughtfully provided a list of main characters in the front of the book.
I enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who likes historical fiction of the Middle Ages, as well as epic fantasy fans.  The author is careful to distinguish between fact and fictional invention in his afterward, as well as citing some of his historical sources.
I received a free copy of this book from Kregel Publications in exchange for an unbiased review.

A Day and a Life

A Day and a Life by Penelope Wilcock is the ninth and final volume of her Hawk and Dover books. The series has followed the daily life and  is set in a 14th-century Yorkshire abbey, from events significant (the arrival of a new abbot) and mundane (the cook really isn't very good). After coming to know and love so many characters,  I picked up this book with a mixture of eagerness and regret. I was excited to read more, but this was it. There wouldn't be any more stories.
Unlike the short-story format of the first two books, or the slow development in Remember Me, A Day and a Life covers a single day at St. Alcuin's. Featuring most of the characters we've come to know and love--and introducing some new ones as well-- the book is a wonderful example of character-driven storytelling.
As with all the books in this series, I would recommend it for many readers, not just historical fiction fans. It's not a high-stakes, adrenaline-filled story, but the characters are well-written, and the stories wrestle honestly with the messiness of faith in everyday life.
I received a free copy of this book from Kregel in exchange for an honest review.

Found families should stay found

Agents of Shield 4x03: Uprising

Honestly, that was just mean. (Okay, I am clearly incapable of rational plot analysis, preferring to bemoan the terrible fate of my fictional friends.) Like, once again, Jemma is not a medical doctor and should not be the one doing all the emergency medical treatment, especially now that they have access to legitimate trauma centers. I get the personal touch thing, but I don't think it's fair to her to make her go through all this. Especially with what they had to do--and like, that seriously could have gone wrong, and the guilt she would have had...

And Yoyo--so her life continues to get worse, poor thing.

And Skye--(Because she's not Daisy, sorry, ignoring that)--getting told to leave again, someone 'confirming' her worst fears about herself, oh honey baby,  Lincoln wasn't your fault, it was his choice, and you are a heroine, you are trying to do the right thing, and you're literally breaking down under the pressure...go back home. May misses you, Coulson misses you, and Fitz has it exactly right--they're all willing to help you get through this, you don't have to go it alone, hurting hero, heroic self depreciation, martyr without a cause, ---go home, you don't need to be a lone wolf. No one's a pollyanna, everyone knows what people can do, but they still have hope, they can still smile....

At this point, I think the only reason Skye would go back to SHIELD is if someone needed her. No, she wouldn't admit to needing help at any cost, but if Phil was captured (if she'd known May was dying), if there was some way to help the team that only she could do, she'd do it.

Thursday fiction update

TV shows by airdate:
Monday: </Scorpion>  season premiere on NBC. It's not really one of my favorites, but it's okay and my mom likes it. Honestly, I just keep thinking of Gabe as Not-Coulson, because that's basically his job with the team. It was an okay episode, nothing special.

Also Timeless on NBC, which is a new time-travel crime show.  I wasn't terribly impressed with the pilot episode. The main characters have nothing to distinguish them; it's female-historian, black Marine, and white dude who invented the machine. Okay, they did lay out why that team was chosen, but the lady seems way too comfortable with letting people die because it's in the past.
Now, that's not to say I don't understand the whole fixed-points argument, or that I don't like time travel shows (dude, I'm a Whovian), but since it's a blank-slate start (as opposed to Legends of Tomorrow or Doctor Who), there's no immediate hook. (Subnote, yes, I started watching LoT because of Arthur Darvill, but the team was witty and he had to stop something that had already happened for him).
The bigger problem is that time travel (into the past, at least, there's more leeway with the future) that risks changing things (and if time can't be changed at all, there's a different story) should eventually result in an alternate history, but most tv shows/film can't afford the time and setting development that would reflect the butterfly effect. So, yeah, a character was retgone at the end of the episode, but the world went as it had.

Tuesday: No Agents of Shield (Aggh) because of the VP debate. Quite disappointing. Still sulking over the new director. Sure, people can be blinded because of personal feelings, but those same feelings can also be used to help the team function better.  The whole idea that Coulson is too close to May and Skye to help them is bull. It's the exact opposite. Coulson has worked with May, he knows how she reacts, and he is the closest to family Skye's got.  As he told Sif in s2, taking her away from people who care about her doesn't help the situation.

The Flash season 3 premiere: Okay, so I have not seen s2 yet (waiting on the dvd at the library), but all I really needed to know was that Barry changed time so that neither of his parents died. It was disappointing that it got reversed at the end of the episode, but....okay, still mulling this one over.

Film/Audio/TV on dvd
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy tv series (from the 80s). Apart from the weirdness of watching a show that was adapted from a radio series with mostly the same cast (like bad dubbing, but in reverse), it was pretty funny, and the production values just made it funnier. But the 'meet the meat' scene was creepy as all get out. They didn't even attempt to make it look like a cow--just an actor in a costume that looks like slices of clay or fat.  Quite obviously a human in a costume, which is worse in some ways. And then it turned out to be Peter Davison, the Fifth Doctor. Eep!

Protect and Survive: A Big Finish Doctor Who audio featuring Hex, Ace, and Seven. Hex and Ace stumble out of the TARDIS into rural 1980s England just as nuclear war breaks out. Fortunately, an elderly couple allows the two travelers to hide in their fallout shelter. But this never happened...right? I've heard this one before, but it's still quite tense, especially when you can't just skip to the next installment.

The Fifth Column

Another day, another air raid. For Detective Inspector John Jago,  there's nothing unusual when two men report a body at one of the air raid sites.  However, the initial investigation reveals that the body wasn't at the site the previous night, and no bombs had fallen in the area since. Could it be foul play? Supplies have gone missing from the classified office where the young woman worked; her sister seems indifferent, and not all stories match up.  As Jago investigates the case, it seems everyone has something to hide....

The Fifth Column by Mike Hollow is the first novel in a new series, The Blitz Detective. As the title suggests, the novel focuses on a British detective during WWII.  The historical setting provides both atmosphere and motivation for several plot elements without becoming too dense for causal reading.

Mysteries aren't my usual reading fare, but I'm familiar with the basic genre conventions.  Two writing elements stood out for me in this book. First, the number of characters and perspectives. I'm not sure how common this  tactic is in mysteries (historical or otherwise), but there were at least half a dozen characters/perspectives in the book. While they did overlap to a certain extent, it made it tricky to judge which information would be relevant to the murder. It's not the same as red herrings or false leads, but I'm not quite used to it.

The second aspect I noticed (related if one likes to try solving mysteries ahead of the book) is that some of the motivations would have been inexplicable if they had not been spelled out by characters. For example, 1940s methods of dying hair have a certain relevance, but I didn't even think about it until one of the female characters brings it up to Jago.  It's not the sort of thing a single man would know, but it still seemed ....lecturish?

I would probably still recommend this book, but I doubt I'll reread it,

I was given a free copy of this book from Kregel Publications in exchange for an honest review.

The Beautiful Thread

The Beautiful Thread by Penelope Wilcok, picks up where the previous novel, The Breath of Peace, left off. William de Bulmer has returned to St. Alcuins as a layman to help the cellarer manage a big wedding. But in addition to practical concerns and personal issues, the wedding coincides with the regular Bishop's Visitation. Both sets of visitors place additional pressures on Abbot John, and his choice to invite Brother Conradus's mother to help with food brings its own set of problems. However, the biggest problem is that the bishop has heard rumors that Prior William attempted suicide and left the order--both of which are crimes under the law.

While this book can be read on its own, it really makes the most sense with the context of the previous novels, particularly starting with number four in the Hawk and Dove series. The bishop's accusations are correct, but they  are taken out of context--and he shows no interest in learning the situations which led to either choice.

I was given a free copy of this book from Kregel Publications in exchange for an honest review. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series when it comes out.

The Breath of Peace

Reading The Breath of Peace by Penelope Wilcock, the seventh novel in The Hawk and the Dove series, was like receiving a long letter from old friends who you haven't seen in a while. The plot is understandable for new readers, but the characters and plot development mean so much more if the reader knows their history.
(Spoilers for previous books): After a year of marriage, William de Bulmer is still struggling to master common household tasks, such as shutting in the chickens or having a conversation with his wife. Meanwhile, Abbot John is faced with finding a new cellarar and replacing his prior, with no obvious candidates in mind. William was a perfect candidate for the former position, but his broken vows led to a painful departure.  Can John still call on his old friend for help?
One of the things that makes these books so good is the author's willingness to let the characters grow and change over time. William is adamant that he made the right choice to leave the abbey, but that doesn't make his history go away or make married life any easy. A lot of authors would be tempted to have William 'get over' his problems right away, instead of showing how those patterns continue to affect his life.
I was given a free copy of this book from Kregel Publications in exchange for an honest review.

Saints and Sailors

Saints and Sailors by Pam Rhodes is the fourth book in the Dunbridge Chronicle, telling the story of a vicar and his congregation--including an unhappily married couple, a WWII vet and his son and grandson, the choir leader, a senior citizen with dementia, and others-- when they set off for a cruise around the British Isles. Tempers sometimes flair and some people get on each other's nerves, but everyone might just make some new discoveries on the trip.
I have not yet read the other three books in this series, so it was difficult to keep track of the cast of characters. The book includes a cast of characters at the beginning, but I dislike having to flip back and forth to check who I'm reading about, so I mostly ignored it.
I don't read much Christian or contemporary fiction, but I have enjoyed some similar books before, especially the Sisterchicks series. However, I found this novel rather slow and full of too many characters. Regardless of the genre I'm reading, I like stories with plot and character development; this story had too many characters to develop any of them in detail. While there were some points where readers could get an insight into characters, these moments were haphazard, leaving me with only vague memories of each character and his or her relationships.
I'd give it 2/5 stars personally, but maybe a 3/5 for other readers