Wolf of Tebron -review

Wolf of Tebron by CS Lakin
Book #1 in Gates of Heaven series

Joran lives on the outskirts of a small town with his wife. He has a special ability to telepathically communicate with animals. We soon discover Joran’s wife has been captured by the moon, and he must go on a perilous journey to find her. Along the way he encounters a wolf that feels compelled to continue on the journey with him as they search for Joran’s wife.

I cannot understand why it is that I found this story so boring to read, except perhaps that I was not at all drawn in by Joran’s character. If a character is going to basically travel by himself in a story, it should be a decidedly interesting character and not a boring one. Other reviews of this story give high praise for the story being a unique fantasy and masterfully woven allegory.

One thing that kept me reading (and not in a good way) was a desire to find out what Joran’s wife had done to him to make him so bitter. I have nothing against mysteries in stories, but only so far as the mystery serves some purpose to the story. If it is not a mystery novel, and it is something the main character already knows the answer to, but I don’t, it seems like a forced mystery. It becomes annoying at that point in time.

On a positive note, the story had an interesting and easily discernable storyline. The language of the story was very colorful, with nice imagery. There also seemed to be a nice allegorical theme placed in the storyline which is perhaps one reason so many find the story such a fascinating read.

The Ale Boy's Feast -review

The Ale Boy's Feast by Jeffrey Overstreet
Book #4 (White Strand) in The Auralia Thread Series

The final book in the Auralia Thread series, I have been looking forward to reading this for a while. I was not disappointed by what I read.

Cal-raven is still missing, and so a select group of House Abascar citizens decide to make the perilous journey to search for the mythic city Cal-Raven had been searching for without him. Back in the Cent Regus undergrounds, the ale boy has found a river even further below the Cent REgus compound. Feeling a new source of hope, the Ale Boy feels compelled to help the rest of the prisoners escape through this hidden river. Far away, Scharr Ben Fray is making plans of his own at his childhood home as he acquires a dragon to carry him away on mysterious plans.

The story draws long-standing mysteries to an end, and destinies are achieved in this final tale of Auralia’s Threads. The great thing about this series is that it appeals to a wide age-range of readers. I started the series while in High School, and now have finally finished it. And my little brother, who is in middle school, enjoys the series as well. It was an intriguing tale from start to finish, and the finish was just as spectacular as the start.

After a long journey starting from the revealing of Auralia’s colors leading to the ends presented in this final tale, the characters have grown and evolved. They did not grow stagnant and unchanging by this, The Ale Boy’s Feast, the final tale. To anyone that has been a loyal follower to the series, I am saying now you will not be disappointed with the finish. To anyone just stumbling upon the series, do start from the beginning (Auralia’s Colors). It is a good series.

*I acquired this book from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers*

The Promise She Keeps -review

The Promise She Keeps by Erin Healy was a rather spectacular book. I have never read any of her collaborative works with Ted Dekker, but I can now understand why he might have wanted to work with her. Like Dekker, Healy can weave a tail of characters that come alive. She does not just write a story. She weaves a tapestry of brilliant intrigue and draws you into the lives of the characters that you feel connected to them.

The tale of the Promise She Keeps is the interwoven tale of three characters, Promise-a girl with a desire to sing, but living with a terminal illness-, Chase-an autistic man with an artistic hand-, and Porta-a woman who says she has sorceress powers. As Promise struggled with her illness, both Chase and Porta feel themselves drawn into Promises life. One with intentions to help Promise, and one with selfish intentions. As the three lives are twisted together, it seems someone’s life may be in danger of running out.

The story is certainly not a completely realistic tale, but the lesson to be learned in the story makes it worth it. I felt myself experiencing emotions of fear, anger, and joy while reading this story in a way very uncommon to me. Not often do I feel so entirely enraptured by a story. I would definitely recommend others read this book.

*I acquired this book from booksneeze.com*