Reviewed by Julia Schemmer for Readers' Favorite

The pursuit of a personal desire can lead oneself into a journey like no other. In Shadow’s Fire: A Chance Beginning, by exquisite author Christopher Patterson, this is just the case! From giving up everything to pursue a life of promise, potential and purpose to leaving the family that embraced them through life, the book is chock-full of characters that will inspire, motivate, and empower you to pursue your dream. Of course, no book would be good without some action! Patterson employs a strong use of battles and events that will keep you reading into the wee hours of the morning, on the edge of your seat with every turn of the page. Through its intense three hundred and twenty pages, you will find yourself saddened when you reach the last page. Patterson does not just describe a fantasy land; he brings it to life through his stunning use of imagery, character development, and plot twists and turns at every corner.

I am an adventure book junkie, so I had high expectations when I first picked up Shadow’s Fire: A Chance Beginning. However, I am thoroughly impressed that author Christopher Patterson was able to meet (and sometimes overreach!) each expectation to the fullest extent of excellence. This book is a treasure, a find, and you will be happy you decided to read it. I loved the struggles that each character had to endure while pursuing their own destiny. It gave me hope to realize that there are going to be battles, but there are also going to be victories. I laughed, I cried, and I was drawn into every word of the fantastic story Patterson so diligently laid out for the reader.

Reviewed by Tania Staley for Readers' Favorite

Rogue, by P.A. Minyard, is a fascinating blend of historical fiction and fantasy. Daniel joined the Union army in order to make a difference and to protect his land and his family from the threats of the Confederacy, but in a fatal clash on the battlefield he learns that there are hidden dangers even more deadly. Like many soldiers at the battle of Antietam, Daniel died, but death at the hands of a demon allows for choices to be made. Dying from the wound of a demon allows a person of noble heart to become a Beloved, a chosen warrior for God who abolishes demons by absorbing their power and giving it back to the Lord. Daniel agrees to become a Beloved in order to remain with his family and protect them, but little does he know that Benedict, the demon who killed him, has a sinister plan that threatens not only his existence, but will pull his younger brother into the fray as well. Will these brothers be able to win the fight against evil, or will they succumb to Benedict’s dark desires?

P.A. Minyard’s Rogue is an exciting tale unlike any I have ever read. The unique blend of historical fiction, paranormal, romance, and fantasy elements make this a tale that is sure to please a wide fan base. The action scenes are gripping and there were many times I found my breath catching and a lump in my throat as I read, but it is the drama of the Civil War that Minyard has woven throughout the text that makes this tale stand out. While creating a wonderfully fantastical story, the author has also been true to historical elements, such as family bonds and the hardships people faced during this time period. This is a book that I will certainly be urging the readers in my life to check out, and, though this book is a complete tale, it is my sincere hope that Minyard will return to this world again and give readers another treat.

Reviewed by Sarah Westmoreland for Readers' Favorite

Resistance, by Jaye L. Knight, is the first book in the Ilyon Chronicles: a Christian Fantasy series set in the mythical world of Ilyon. There, a small and widespread group of people secretly worship the One True God, Elôm. The majority of the population, however, worship the emperor’s false gods, Aertus and Vilai. Trapped in Tarvin Hall, a special facility built to raise gifted children in the service of the emperor, twin brother and sister, Kaden and Kyrrin, fight to maintain their secret faith. But when Kyrrin is summoned to the palace by the Emperor, himself, to enter into his service two full years before most of the students at Tarvin Hall are chosen, it becomes more and more difficult to stay safely hidden. What will become of her if the emperor discovers her faith in Elôm? What will become of Kaden? Meanwhile, a great distance away, the half-Ryrik, Jace, struggles to decide if Elôm really loves him, or if his Ryrik blood makes him a soulless monster, as everyone claims. This struggle is brought to a head as the emperor’s men slaughter the only family he has ever known, trying to find Jace’s adopted father, Rayad, to kill him for his faith in Elôm. Will Jace find strength in his faith, or will this violent act be the cruelty that will push him over the edge?

From the first sentence, this story grabs you, refusing to let you go until you’ve finished it. I have read a lot of fantasy, and a lot of Christian fantasy, but I can only name a small handful of books that come near to the quality of this work. The descriptions are so clear and concise, and the characters are developed so fully and so realistically, that it is easy to believe that they are real. So many times, Christian authors put the morals at the forefront of their stories, sacrificing the story in the process. Jaye L. Knight did an amazing job of keeping the Christian morals and values at the forefront of the book, without making it sound cheesy or overdone in any way. The characters are strong, and faithful, but they are also broken, and damaged. They laugh, they cry, they feel afraid, and they make mistakes. There is a level of realism and relatability that I have only very rarely seen before. The plot is thick and suspenseful, and will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. But once you do reach the end, it leaves you searching for more. I am eagerly awaiting the next installment in the Ilyon Chronicles, and I would certainly recommend this book!

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

The King of the Trees by William D. Burt is a fantasy story. Rolin lives with his dad in Beechtown in a big forest. Their job is collecting honey from their many beehives and selling it on Market Day. But on Market Day, Rolin finds himself being chased by Greencloaks who want his grandmother's jeweled pendant. The adventures of Rolin begin when he is taken on a fantasy trip and encounters batwolves, dragons, grumpy griffins, and other exciting creatures. Will Rolin be able to discover the mystery behind his grandmother's jewelry box?

This book is an absolute delight. Children and adults will be enchanted. It is an excellent book to read aloud and it is ideal for those who love nature and trees. The glossary/pronunciation guide at the back helps readers to learn the words they do not know. Adventure stories open the minds of children to imagination and creativity because authors always come up with whimsy and magic.

The black and white sketches are as appealing as the fantasy itself. The strange lands, the interesting people, and the imaginative names all are enjoyable to a reader who is looking for some adventure and excitement. The book also has a nice Christian message which adds to the depth of the story. It is always good to write a story with a message for children because that is the best way to advise them. I recommend this book for children because it is a beautifully woven tale.

Reviewed by April Gilly for Readers' Favorite

Doubt by Anne-Rae Vasquez is about the Truth Seekers and their mission to find the truth. Originally an online role-playing game, creator Harry Doubt takes the game offline in the hopes of finding out what happened to his mother who disappeared. Harry continues his father's work with a man his father worked with and eventually discovers that the man knows more that he says. Harry quickly learns that things aren't what they seem when things start happening that he had no reason to believe would happen. Cristal, one of Harry's top Truth Seekers, is quickly pulled into what is going on and starts to learn the truth behind the strange things that have been happening to her all her life. With the help of a fellow Truth Seeker, Cristal and Harry find that things are very different, but that there is hope of finding Harry's missing mother and Cristal's missing father.

Doubt by Anne-Rae Vasquez is really slow-paced but then starts to pick up, and once that happened the book became amazing. Doubt is well written with great imagery and some plot twists that I never saw coming. There aren't many books that have such a unique plot twist. Once religion is brought into Doubt, the book gets a little weird but when the pieces start falling into place it making sense. When the background stories of some of the paranormal creatures come to light, the book gets even better. There were two thing about Doubt that I didn't enjoy but the book was so awesome that it was easy to overlook.

Reviewed by Danita Dyess for Readers' Favorite

Looming Dragon (The DiujPa Series) by B.K. Amodio is part of the DiujPa novel series. The main character, Cayce Taylor, is a sensitive and intelligent teenage boy living in New Mexico. His mother mysteriously died from a coma and his father is an alcoholic. But this adversity belies his fate. Chief Mar, a revered elder of the Annanuki tribe, explains that he has been protected his whole life. He is the chosen one who will be given a gift from the MOTHER and a burden. Soon, he will replace Chief Mar, the DiujPa. He will become a priest forever. But only if Taylor survives an evil plan of destruction as orchestrated by Adsu Gulden, the former god turned mere mortal who wants nothing more than to kill Taylor and assume his rulership of the new world.

Looming Dragon had Christian-like underpinnings, especially regarding the depiction of Melchizedek, the priest, e.g. YAHWEH, “his deeds were told for generations” and the disposal of all the newborns by the king. B.K. Amodio is an imaginative writer who draws his readers with common and esoteric concepts. His signature style continued -- mythical elements, complex characters and the overarching theme of good versus evil. Amodio enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1990. He received several prestigious awards including two Humanitarian Service Medals. He has a degree in information technology. He has written Coming Savior, Looming Dragon (Volume 1) published in 2012 and a subsequent release of the same title in 2013. Looming Dragon is highly recommended.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Conor Archer's life in Chicago has been a simple one. He has been home-schooled by his mother, Finola, and he spends his evenings playing music at a local pub. All that changes one night when he meets a strange, leather-clad man at that pub who gives him a strange liquor to drink and then savagely bites his hand, and later encounters a strangely beautiful woman who binds that wound with a cloth and pin. All the weirdness of these events is compounded by the death of his mother, who had been ill for some time. Her final instructions are for him to travel to a small town, Tinker's Grove, in Wisconsin, where his aunt Emily would care for him and continue his education. As he is travelling on the bus, his wounded hand festers, and he arrives at his destination more dead than alive.

"Roan" is not a book you should consider spending a long evening reading. It is not a fast and easy read, quickly absorbed and then forgotten. E.R. Barr's urban-epic fantasy is much more than that, and it should be savored. I quickly found myself enthralled by the characters and the plot, and became reluctant to hasten my adventure through this book. It is an amazing mix of urban and epic fantasy, shot through with Native American, Irish and Welsh mythology, people with characters who are both filled with human frailties and are larger-than-life. If you are like me and have become somewhat jaded by epic fantasy, you are in for an awesome treat. This is the real deal.

Reviewed by Maria Beltran for Readers' Favorite

Sixteen-year-old Jules Blaze belongs to a race called the Elfies – a mix of Elves and Fairies – who live in the cursed kingdom of Reign. The curse has shrunk the people in size, leaving them to live in trees or under rocks. The evil lord of the neighboring tribe in Euruliaf, Gehzurolle, eventually begins to zero in on Jules’ family, and when the family members disappear one by one, Jules must keep his remaining younger siblings safe. Jules travels to the enemy’s land called Handover to search for the ancient Books that were written in blood by the King many centuries before to look for answers. Will Jules find the truth he seeks to save his family, and in turn, his people?

Readers twelve years old and up will absolutely enjoy this amusing and fascinating tale of courage. From one adventure to another, they will surely be enthralled at how well the main protagonist, Jules, develops as a character. The youngster faces challenges one never thought he would, given his tender age. And one cannot help but hope that he will come out of these challenges with flying colors. The other protagonists are easily likeable with their courage too. This is an exciting read with the events happening fast-paced and the story action-packed. The book leaves you hankering for more but not to worry, there still may be a sequel coming from this fantastic author. This is a book that can appeal to both kids and adults alike because there is absolutely no shortage of imagination in author Emma Right.

Reviewed by Karen Pirnot for Readers' Favorite

"Giants in the Land" by Clark Burbidge is the first of a proposed series. There is a small village in which giants have always been available to protect the people as well as help them to sustain a working community. The giants are revered but also, taken for granted. One day, they simply disappear from the village without so much as a word. The town council meets and all agree that someone must search for and bring back the giants. But there are no volunteers until Thomas finally speaks up. He is then sent on his way across a vast, unknown expanse in search of the giants. Thomas's journey is fraught with environmental and living threats. He has doubts about his own abilities but at the time of his greatest need, he receives help. He finally meets a giant who has problems of his own and Thomas realizes that his own journey is far more serious than for simply convincing the giants to return to the village.

This book is well-written and developed so that children and adults will both relate to the multiple messages. The author skillfully explains how one's small choices and acts eventually combine and determine the character of each and every individual. Teachings are not thrust at the reader; rather they are presented and acted through so that learning naturally occurs. And the end result becomes the journey itself rather than the end of the journey.

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

"The Chest of Visions: Secrets of Caperston" by Tim Ferguson is the story of Caperston as told by Mattpaul. Caperston is a planet much smaller than our own and its sun is much smaller than ours. Time is measured by generations that pass rather than years. Their ability to communicate with us is due to Strings technology. Ferguson has chosen the perfect format for this tale. The text reads much like email messages. Each one is dated. On May 2, Mattpaul shares information about Chihaysu. The man told the people about God who oversees the world, treats everyone equally and hears when people pray to him. Chihaysu also told the people stories like the one about a man who needed help, but many people would not stop. Rumors were circulating that Chihaysu prayed for a little girl and she was healed. I found it heartwarming that as Mattpaul shared information about Chihaysu, the Earthlings reading Tim’s blog began to ask questions. Those familiar with scripture and with the life of Jesus Christ will quickly see the parallel between Jesus and Chihaysu.

I find the plot of this book very realistic, for God is bigger than my imagination and who am I to say he did not place life on other planets? Ferguson deftly demonstrates how one person can share the word of God with another and it spreads like dandelions. One seed creates a plant with a thousand seeds and each seed creates another plant with another thousand seeds. This story was written for young adults; however, I enjoyed it very much. Tim Ferguson is very creative and has found a wonderful way to reach youth. Appendix I explains String Theory. Appendix II shares the options for using this book with a youth group and Appendix III shares 8 lessons that correspond with the chapters. I can easily see this book as Sunday School literature or Youth Group literature. Mattpaul has written it in a simple easy to read and understand easily. Ferguson’s light shines in this book. I look forward to more books by Tim Ferguson.