By Robin McKinley

Reviewed by Jubilee Anderson

GENRE: Classic Fairytale Retelling

RATING:

Beauty has never liked her nickname. She is thin and awkward; it is her two sisters who are the beautiful ones. But what she lacks in appearance, she can perhaps make up for in courage.

When her father comes home with a tale of an enchanted castle in the forest and the terrible promise he had to make to the Beast who lives there, Beauty knows she must travel to the castle, a prisoner of her own free will. Her father insists that he will not let her go, but she responds, “Cannot a Beast be tamed?”

Writing

I really enjoyed this fairytale retelling of Beauty and the Beast! Thanks to the reader who recommended this to me! Beauty was written just like a fairytale, but with a more classical feel than that of Starflower. Less adventurous tones and more homey and contemporary.

The beginning was a little difficult to get into, but I was willing to read it because I understood what Beauty loved more than anything: her family. The story really began when Father returned from his trip back to town.

I felt like I needed more foreshadowing in first quarter of the book before Father relayed his trip. His reaction to the Beast was a little unrealistic. I thought he would be more likely to move far, far away in an attempt to get away from the Beast, or simply doubt his own mind and the Beast’s words. After all, what wild beast has a voice like a human? Instead he willingly surrendered himself, and his daughter, to its orders.

As for good prose, the metaphores in the story paint a beautiful picture. Imagine gray stone that “caught the sunlight like a dolphin’s back at dawn” or “shoes as light as leaves.” Many of the metaphores matched Beauty’s character and things she was familliar with. For example, Beauty’s father owns several ships. Many of the metaphores refer to the sea. Likely, Beauty had been on one of her father’s ships and seen dolphins in the water.

The ending could have been rolled out a few more pages. I would have liked to see the wedding between Beauty and the Beast, but it was satisfying otherwise.

Worldview

In my book review last week, I said that A Little Princess uses chiasm, which makes for a beautiful mirroring of events and carries across theme. Beauty uses a similar sort of symbolism to express its theme. At the beginning, it is said that Beauty’s real name is Honour. She has respecability and esteem. People know her and trust her. She is honest. Later the Beast tells Beauty, “A Beast has no honor.”

This is where the best romance takes place. Beauty has something that the Beast does not have. She fills that gap for him. And the Beast is able to provide things that Beauty does not have. Indeed, he provides for everything she needs and wants while she lives in his castle.

True Love Thaws a Beastly Heart

Something else Beauty did well was its definition of love. The Beast stole Beauty from her home for his own purposes. He was willing to do anything to get out of his trapped state as Beast. But overtime, he grew to love her so much that he was willing to risk dying to do what he thought was best for her; to let her see her family. He risked that she might never come back. He risked that his dream would not come true.

Beauty loved the Beast by keeping her word. She lived up to her name, Honour. She returned to him so that he wouldn’t die. It wasn’t his appearance she was motivated by. It was his character.

On God

As far as a diety, God and the Devil were mentioned, but more as distant beings that seemed to have no impact on the events in the story. (After further research, I found a blog post by Robin McKinley, the author, saying that she had converted to Christianity! After hearing what she said about her former life, it made sense how this idea emerged in Beauty, though perhaps subconciously)

Content Label

• Romance: Mention of kissing
• Spiritual: Someone is described as being “as clever as the devil himself,” Phrases like “Merciful God” are said, but it is unclear whether they are swears or prayers.

(As a sidenote, I have not read any of Robin McKinley’s other works and cannot advocate for the content inside of them.)

Final Thoughts on Beauty

Overall, I enjoyed this story. I highly recommend it. Of course, if you know the story of Beauty and the Beast, there’s not much you don’t already know about Beauty. This book is for someone who wants the familliar satisfying tale. Someone who wants to be sure of the happy close, and will never get tired of hearing the same story over and over. If that is you, then this is your book.

The post Beauty appeared first on Jubilee Anderson.

Top 10 Books of 2025

Another year has passed. With another year comes new books. Welcome to my blog post on my top 10 books from 2025. If I had to pick my favorite, I would choose Starflower by Anne Elisableth Stengl. Otherwise, the books are in no particular order. (You may notice some books have higher star ratings than others and think this is a contradiction. It’s not. I chose books that stood out to me the most, whether for their unique prose, or because they resonated with me.) So without further adieu, let’s dive in.

Starflower by Anne Elisableth Stengl

The Black Dogs are on the hunt. But who is their prey?

I love the fairytale style and romance of this book so much! Read my book review here.

Darkened by Crystal D. Grant

☆ (4.5)

They call him the Dark Steward. But what side will he fight for?

This is the last book in the Gateway Trilogy, a medieval fantasy romance. The finish of this glorious trilogy felt a little bit like the Lord of the Rings. I enjoyed the closing of several character arcs and the renewing of the world. Read my review here.

A Study of Shattered Spells by Josiah DeGraaf

Only teachers know what really happens at a magic school…

This was my first time reading dark academia. I have only good things to say.

Read my review here.

Fifth Fjord by Isabel Marie

☆ (3.5)

Enter the school where only the strongest survive.

This was my second time reading dark academia. I was impressed by this young writer’s style and ability to tell a good tale. Her voice was sharp and well refined to fit the genre.

Read my review here.

Beauty by Robin McKinley

☆ (4.5)

“Cannot a Beast be tamed?”

I was recommended this book by one of you! It’s a fairytale retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I enjoyed the classical prose, and the strong female protagonist. A review on Beauty is coming soon.

Tainted by Morgan L. Busse

☆ (4.5)

I read my first steampunk. It was an interesting mix between sci-fi and historical-fiction of the Victorian era. I am excited to read the second book in this duology. Review coming soon.

The Balter of Ashton Harper by Millie Florence

Last year, I put Honey Butter on my list of favorite books from 2024. This year, I had the privilege of meeting Millie Florence at a conference! Of course, I bought another one of her books. It was just as good, if not better.

Read my review here.

Smithsonian Battles Map by Map

This book is so cool. If you’re into battles and history, you should check this out.

Battles Map by Map contains step by step maps of various historical battles. It is so easy to follow, and so interesting to read. You may have heard of some of these battles in history class, but when you can picture it from a birds-eye view, it’s much more engaging.

Fight Write by Carla Hoch

How to write believable fight scenes.

If you’re a writer who may write a fight scene at some point, you should get this book.

Inside Fight Write, Carla teaches us the Five W’s of writing a fight scene, the human factors to fighting, and the techniques and weapons your characters may use.

Even if you’re a non-writer, you’ll find interesting tidbits. Did you know the idea that carrots are good for your eyes originated from British propaganda during WWII?

This Changes Everything by Jaquelle Crowe

How the Gospel transforms the teen years.

I really appreciated the seriousness and earnestness with which Jaquelle urged us to go back to the groundwork. Oftentimes, we think of the Gospel as normal. “Every Christian knows that.” We want a sudden new revelation.

But Jaquelle doesn’t give us a new revelation. She gives us the real, good news of the Gospel. The Gospel that transforms the teen years.

The post Top 10 Books of 2025 appeared first on Jubilee Anderson.

By Isabel Marie

Reviewed by Jubilee Anderson

GENRE: Dark Academia Fantasy

RATING: ☆ (3.5)

“The dragons are waiting. Go and get one.”

In Norchar, dragon mages are the elite. They are the ones who bond with dragons and hone powers untouchable to any normal man. But to become a mage, one must sacrifice everything.

Enter the school where only the strongest survive.

At the deadly academy for dragon mages known as the Fifth Fjord, eighteen-year-old Fiora Volar is sent to spy, lie, and die. With her brother’s life hanging in a balance, Fiora enters the place where her enemies are forged- even though she knows the dragons will kill her. Just as they killed her parents.

And that won’t be the only danger.

One wrong move, and she could be executed, start a war, cost her brother’s life, and doom her soul. And still, the hardest battle may not be for her life, not for her mind– but for her own heart.

Writing

Every line in Fifth Fjord is like being in Sight & Sound Theater. The author’s vivid and sharp style impressed me. Because it’s written in first person present, it immersed me in the scene. I was hooked instantly.

I read an ebook version of Fifth Fjord, so it was difficult to flip back and forth from the chapter to the map. But the worldbuilding was so developed and relevant that I didn’t need the map. It affected the plot and characters. From the Norns to the dragons to Fifth Fjord itself and the Tournaments, every twist and turn literally kept Fiora on her feet.

Sometimes in princess movies, the script claims that the “evil step-mother” is so cruel. Sure, she makes the princess do all the chores, or she shuts her at the top of a tower, but her “evils” are more annoying or spiteful than wicked. Her opposition isn’t relevant enough. And so we never actually hate them.

Aunt Sigrid in Fifth Fjord is relevant and wicked. We actually hate her because she directly opposes what Fiora wants most, which is to keep her brother alive. And she uses Fiora’s deepest desire to get what she wants. Not every book needs a manipulative villain, but I think the best villains are like Aunt Sigrid.

There are so many other positive things I could mention. The author has amazing writing!

(Spoilers ahead!)

*

*

I would have liked a more resolved ending. Fiora’s character arc came to a partial resolution, and we learned the fate of Fiora’s brother which is directly related to her core desire. I don’t think the beginning of book 2 will have the same driving force as Fifth Fjord, because Fiora’s purpose will be gone. It was a little disappointing. Either way, I highly doubt that Frode is gone, and I guess he will appear again in the second book. I am excited to read it!

*

*

(Welcome back everyone!)

Worldview

Isabel wove each theme into Fifth Fjord very well. A few themes I agreed with, and a few I disagreed with. As usual, I’m going to list a few quotes from the book, share the context, and my thoughts on them. There are two main themes I see in Fifth Fjord: courage, and healing through love.

On Courage

Courage only comes when we realize how strong we are, and that can only come if we’re strong enough to perform despite the fear.

Fearless means what the two words mean separately– that you’re going to fear… less. It’s not a word that means without fear. It’s one that means courage despite it.

The first quote is a thought of Fiora’s while she is trying to escape murderous dragons, and the second is something Fiora’s dragon says to her when she’s about to face her bully.

First of all, I appreciated that the author explored the theme of courage in this book. I see the theme of courage in kids books, but I haven’t seen it in a lot of YA.

I think Fiora has the right idea. Courage is doing what is right despite being afraid. What Fiora doesn’t always understand is that the key to courage is doing what is right. Sometimes she wants courage to spite her enemies, but by the end, she is courageous for the right things. I see some character growth in Fiora for the second and third books as far as where her courage comes from. I am curious to see how the author will finish out Fiora’s character arc. 

On Love

I would not explore the intimacy of love– if I was ever worthy…

You are the wound and I am the healer.

The first quote is a thought of Fiora’s after Aunt Sigrid tells her she must go to Fifth Fjord, when she is mourning the broken childhood that she is about to leave for a worse adulthood. The second is something a love interest says to Fiora after confessing that he loves her.

(Slight Spoilers Ahead!)

*

*

Fiora thinks she is unworthy of love, but through her time in Fifth Fjord, she learns that her worthiness does not depend on herself or her past. Atlas, the love interest, acts as a Jesus-figure, although he, too, is broken and human.

I think the fact that Atlas despised Fiora at one point marred the theme of healing through love. Human love cannot heal a wound. It can understand it, as Atlas understands Fiora’s hurt. But only heavenly love can heal a wound. You can read my article about Biblical love and how it relates to fiction here. (For those who have read the article, I think that Atlas does sacrifice for the good of Fiora, and so he does truly love her… somewhat. However a huge portion of his ‘love’ is more of a feeling of connection, which, while it’s not necessarily wrong, it’s also not necessarily love.)

*

*

(Welcome back everyone!)

As I said before, I am curious to see where the author takes these themes in the next book.

To Watch For

• Violence: Characters die in various ways throughout the book, including by falling, stabbing, and being decapitated by a dragon’s teeth. Characters beat the main character up, mentions of dead bodies.
• Swearing: A character gives someone the middle finger. A few made-up swear words.
• Sexual Content: A girl looks herself in the mirror while trying on a dress and notes her slender figure. The dress is described as “dipping down her chest and back enticingly, almost falling off her narrow shoulders.” There are several instances of kissing. A boy and a girl converse in a room alone while the girl is covered by only a blanket and undergarments. 
• Substance Use: Characters drink and deal with the side effects of drinking.

To summarize, Isabel’s writing is exceptional. Some of the themes need more time to grow in the next couple books before I can evaluate them completely. Overall, it’s a great debut novel!

Stand up for what’s right, even when you’re afraid. Love with heavenly love, because true love can heal wounds. And check out Fifth Fjord by Isabel Marie!

PAPERBACK: $16

PUBLISHED: 2025

Amazon Link

Follow Isabel Marie on Instagram

The post Fifth Fjord appeared first on Jubilee Anderson.

By Crystal Grant

Reviewed by Jubilee Anderson

GENRE: Christian Fantasy Romance

RATING: ☆ (4.5)

They call him the Dark Steward. But what side will he fight for?

Mason Grey has left his days of darkness behind and now stands against the same army he used to belong to. But as he ventures down this new path of light, he struggles to find a place among the Steward Knights he once swore to destroy. And when he cannot even hold the Beacon–the source of the Stewards’ power–without pain, he wonders if he’s been forgiven by the Lambient at all.

Though Seria Gayle has settled into her new life as a servant at Daymont Castle, her heart and mind often turn to the man she left behind at the Gateway. In her attempt to leave the past behind, she resolves to make amends for her choices and accept the consequences. But when the king of Paladin falls ill, her healing skills are again called into service, setting her on a path that will change her life forever.

When Mason is captured and held hostage by Emperor Jader, who refuses to release him from his vows, he faces the most difficult challenge of his life. As war looms ever closer, the Dark Steward must stand firm against the agonizing allure of darkness or surrender to its pull.

Darkened Book Review

Darkened is by far the best book of the Gateway Trilogy.

I loved the continuation of Seria and Mason’s character arcs as they learned to live rightly in the kingdom. The women in this story were unique. They were a picture of women who were not afraid to come to the aid of the men in battle, yet also gentle and kind, strong in character. The knights, likewise, were manly and valiant.  I loved the picture of Mason and Seria, man and woman together fighting the villain to save the people. The comparison and contrast between them is beautiful.

As far as the romance, I think Grant handled it well in Darkened. When Mason and Seria came together again, they acted in a more mature way around each other.

(Spoilers ahead!)

*

*

The climax was incredible. It displayed true love.

I didn’t like the bittersweet part of the ending. I didn’t want Mason to be blind, especially since he didn’t receive his blindness as a result of his wrongdoing, but as a result of his true love for Seria. Maybe that’s just me.

It is true that sometimes when we choose rightly, we suffer. Paul says, “It is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.” As Christians, we can look forward to a time when there will be no more suffering.

*

*

(Welcome back everyone!)

Despite that, the ending left me with hope and joy. As Prince Eric reminds us, “As long as Shreil exists, there will always be darkness. Evil men will crave power, and the fight for good over evil will go on. But Lambient is constant, and His truth will last forever.”

Content Labels

• Romance: kissing
• Sorcery: Those on the evil side commit their lives to Shreil, the equivalent of the devil.
• Alcohol Use: Some knights are found drunk, and are punished accordingly.

I highly recommend this series, especially the last book! (Though you should read them in order) Thanks for sticking with me this far!

What the Lambient has lit, no darkness can overcome.

~The Sacred Code, Darkened by Crystal Grant

PAPERBACK: $19

PUBLISHED: 2025

Amazon Link

Visit Crystal Grant’s Website!

The post Darkened appeared first on Jubilee Anderson.

Reviewed by Jubilee Anderson

GENRE: Christian Fantasy Romance

RATING:

The coveted Shadowstone is finally his. But what will it cost him?

Empowered by his new role as Shadowman, Mason Grey has strengthened his resolve against the Steward Army and the prince he has sworn to kill. But his heart is torn between justice for his brother and desire for the girl who stands with his enemy. Determined to bridge the gap, he risks everything he’s worked for to try to win her over to his side.

Convinced there is still good in him, Seria Gayle makes up her mind to point Mason to the truth, even if it means betraying the Stewards she has befriended. When the dark Emperor Jader turns his sights on the Gateway between his realm and theirs, Seria makes a bold decision that takes her far from home and into enemy territory. But standing between light and darkness comes with a price, and she fears the cost for Mason’s salvation may be too high to pay.

As tensions heat up on both sides of the Gateway, Mason is given a challenging assignment that will strengthen his master’s army for years to come-but it could mean losing Seria forever. To make matters worse, his abilities as a Reader begin spiraling out of control. Will this mission of vengeance bring him the closure he needs…or destroy him from the inside out?

Writing

I said much in my review of Shadowcast that also applies to Lightshed, though my thoughts are milder in Lightshed.

The beginning of Lightshed was an improvement from Shadowcast. In Shadowcast, the beginning was slow and it was difficult to connect to the main character. Since we already knew the characters in Lightshed, the story started faster and better.

That said, like many middle-of-the-trilogy books, Lightshed doesn’t stand out to me as much as the first book. Grant pulled off a few plot twists, but a lot of the story was predictable. Regardless, a huge amount of character growth takes place in the book which is essential to the movement of plot. Seria went from a girl who searched for connection and stability in Mason to looking to Lambient. And Mason? Well, I won’t spoil the story.

The ending was beautiful. It was the right thing, but also the worst thing to happen. The author found a way to make it somewhat hopeful and satisfying. If you’re going to stop somewhere in the trilogy, I’d stop at the second book.

Worldview

As before, many things I say here have already been said in full in my last review. I resonated with the themes of redemption, forgiveness, and good-versus-evil.

Similarly to Shadowcast, I would have liked to feel more of a “No, don’t do that!” gut sensation towards Seria at the beginning. There is a lot of kissing in the first scenes, and they could have been improved if the author had guided our emotions better. Overall, the theme was better handled.

Warnings

• Violence: A man is stabbed. A boy is shot. Children are taken by force from their parents. 
• Sexual Content: There is a lot of kissing during the beginning scenes. After the first quarter of the book it gets better.

Well, I suppose I don’t have a whole lot to say about Lightshed except that the theme was better guided than Shadowcast. I would have liked to see more exceptional elements, but for her second book, Grant did a great job. I look forward to reading Darkened, the third book in the Gateway Trilogy!

PAPERBACK PRICE: $19

YEAR PUBLISHED: 2024

Amazon Link

The post Lightshed appeared first on Jubilee Anderson.

Once upon a time there was a maid named Sally. Sally lived a (mostly) happy life dreaming of her future prince that she hoped to one day marry. Every day as Sally patched her garments, she longed to find someone who truly cared about her. But it was vain hope. She was too poor.

A few miles away in a castle lived a wealthy prince. Joe’s problem wasn’t loneliness. Young maidens flocked to him, daring him to love them. But none of them seemed to be the right match for him.

Until he met Sally. At first it was just a feeling, but once Joe drew up the courage to tell her he loved her, they began to meet regularly. Every time they met, Joe was more reassured that he’d found the right girl. She was, after all, the most beautiful girl on the block. And for the first time in her life, Sally didn’t feel lonely. She knew she had true connection in Joe.

Of course, they put up boundaries. They took extra measures to be sure that they followed in the path of a clean romance. Sally knew Joe was her husband-to-be. It was a perfect match…

The Rise of the Secular-Christian Romance

Have you ever read a book like the story of Joe and Sally? A story where a boy and a girl both have a hole in their heart, and when they get together, that hole is filled?

This kind of story bugs me. Why? After all, the story of Joe and Sally is a very clean story. It was even written by a Christian author–me. There’s nothing technically wrong with this story. But there’s something deeper that I question about the Christian market.

Writers are putting secular romances in Christian books. And Christian readers are tolerating these secular-Christian romances, often without realizing it. Because masked under a “clean” romance in the Christian fiction aisle is an over recurring theme that is present in almost every secular romance. It’s this: Human ‘love’ (usually from a love-interest) solves all your problems.

Why did I put ‘love’ in quotes? The root of the problem of secular-Christian romance is the author’s definition of love.

In this article, I’m going to dive into the Biblical definition of love. After that, I’ll explain the cultural definition of love and why using the word “clean” to describe fiction is not what Christians should be looking for. Last, I’ll recommend two books for you to add to your TBR list. Because I mostly read fantasy and romantasy, I’ll be drawing from books in these genres as well as the Bible.

What is Biblical Love?

Let’s begin with what the Bible has to say about love. To know what true love means, we first must look at Jesus. As John says in 1 John 4:

Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love….In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

God loved us enough to send his Son to trade places with us. He took on our sin and punishment. He suffered the worst physical death and the worst spiritual torment. John says elsewhere:

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

My dad, who stole this from someone famous, likes to define true love as this: “Self-sacrifice for the good of another.”

Just like Jesus sacrificed for mankind’s good to the point of death, we ought to follow in his footsteps. John continues in 1 John 4:

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

We may not die for someone else. But we still ought to sacrifice. We do the dishes for Mom. Even when we don’t feel like it, we play with our younger siblings. We confront a friend about a sin, risking the loss of a friendship. And we do it willingly, as unto the Lord, without expecting to be repaid.

The Secular Romance

Culture defines love as a feeling. An emotional stir when you see someone you like. Joe’s feeling of fulfillment when he met with Sally. Sally’s feeling of connection with Joe. I’m not saying Joe’s fulfillment and Sally’s connection are necessarily wrong, but they’re not necessarily love.

The word ‘love’ barely means anything anymore. I love chocolate. I love my family. What’s the difference between my love of chocolate and my love towards my family?

The problem with the secular theme “human ‘love’ solves all your problems” is that it’s a lie.

Human love does not solve all your problems. Human love fails. Crushes don’t last. Your feelings for the guy or girl you think is a perfect match for you now will fade, and even if they don’t and you get married and live a happy life for decades, one of you will die eventually.

But God’s love never fails. It is neverending. And the sacrificial love for the good of a fellow human that spreads from God’s love is everlasting too.

Stop Equating “Clean” with “God-honoring”

Joe and Sally sure had a clean romance. But did they have a God-honoring romance?

Christians should stop judging books by whether they’re “clean” or not, and start judging them by whether they’re “God-honoring” or not. What’s the difference?

“Clean” means there’s no explicit content, no fade-to-black, and maybe even no kissing, depending on what the reader is comfortable with. On the other hand, a person in a God-honoring romance is willing to self-sacrifice for the good of the other person.

How do we test a book to see if it matches our definition of true love? By asking how the author guides our feelings throughout the book. Let me give an example. In fact, let’s use Joe and Sally.

Let’s say that Joe kisses Sally. Is Joe kissing Sally because he believes he is sacrificing something of himself that will be good for her? Or is he kissing her for his own feelings of connection, pleasure, and fulfillment?

If he’s kissing for selfish intentions, is the author having us root for that? Why? Why does the author want us to root for something that’s not true love? Or maybe the author is showing the two characters kiss, but he’s guiding our emotions to desperately want the characters to stop and chose the right thing.

It is possible that he is truly sacrificing for her good. In the fairytale fantasy Starflower, the main character kisses a girl to bring her back from an enchanted sleep. The author did not direct the main character’s thoughts to himself and his feelings of connection, pleasure, or fulfillment. Instead, she dwelt on the yearning of the main character to resurrect the girl to life again.

Author-guided emotions are the difference between a kiss scene that is God-honoring or not.

What To Read Instead?

Does that mean we should stop reading secular-Christian romance books? Maybe. Maybe not. That’s your own prayerful decision. But you ought to think about the themes of the books you’re reading. Ask yourself: Is this book encouraging me towards Christ, specifically in the area of love?

Finding truly Christian books can be difficult, especially romance. In the years that I have been reading teen fiction, I have only found a few. Regardless, I’d love to share two of them here.

• By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson (Amazon link)

This is certainly not what I’d call a “clean” or “safe” story. (Read this article written by a friend of mine about why “dangerous” stories can actually be good) But Jill Williamson certainly handles topics of love, romance, and even sexual sins in a God-honoring way. Content labels include kissing, sorcery, and alcohol use. In later books, a character nearly commits adultery, but thankfully does not. This was the first book I read where the author had us screaming when the characters made wrong choices and cheering when they made right ones.

• Starflower by Anne Elisabeth Stengl

This is the book I mentioned earlier where the main character kisses the girl in an enchanted sleep. The author does an amazing job of portraying the theme of love in a Biblical way. I have not read any of her other works, but this book is worth reading. You can read my book review on Starflower here.

Have you read teen books that portray themes of romance and love in a Biblical way? Please, please tell me about them! I am always looking for new good books to read, and I almost always write reviews on them so others can know about them, too. You can contact me here.

Thanks for reading this article on the secular-Christian romance! Have a blessed day!

The post The Secular-Christian Romance appeared first on Jubilee Anderson.

Reviewed by Jubilee Anderson

GENRE: Christian fantasy romance

RATING:

COMPARE TO: By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson

He has known nothing but darkness for years. Now it’s time to let it consume him.

After witnessing the brutal death of his brother at the hands of the Steward Knights, Mason Grey turns to vengeance. Using his Gifts to read and control the minds of others, he climbs the ranks of the Dark Army, determined to earn the coveted Shadowstone—a powerful tool against the light-wielding Stewards. But when he is wounded in battle, he finds himself recovering in the home of a chatty peasant girl…without the use of his Gifts. Even worse, the girl mistakes him for one of the Stewards he despises.

Seria Gayle longs to be seen as more than the town washerwoman. When she finds an injured Steward in the woods, she welcomes the chance to use her healing skills and hopes it will earn her some respect. But as she nurses the sullen stranger back to health, she discovers he is nothing like the knights she has long admired.

When Mason’s true identity is revealed, Seria is devastated and humiliated. But she is offered a chance at redemption by the very prince that Mason hates. Now Mason struggles between two choices: accept the Shadowstone to avenge his brother or pursue this newfound light in the form of a peasant girl. With time running out and war looming, will Mason and Seria defy their own convictions for a chance at love or stand against one another like they’ve sworn to do?

Writing

This is one of the best medieval fantasy books I’ve read in a long time! I picked up this book because a good writer friend of mine recommended it to me. I am so excited to share my thoughts today. While I do spend a portion of this review on the negatives, my overall view really was positive!

Grant held me captive in the ropes of her story until the last page. I could not put the book down! She wove three things into Shadowcast in an especially notable way:

On Mason’s arc…

Mason’s character arc intrigued me. The choices he had to make were truly hard ones. I desperately watched as he wavered from his desire for revenge to wanting to be with his love interest, who was on the good side. I yearned for him to join the good side. The beginnings of a redemption arc are here.

On Romance…

We’ve all watched that movie where the characters fall in love at first sight, and a few scenes later, they’re making wedding plans. (Every princess movie I’ve ever watched XD) Physical appearances are, first, a poor way to judge whether or not someone would make a good wife, and second, do not make for a very deep relationship, nevermind a good story.

On the other hand, Grant showed us why Mason and Seria are perfect for each other. Mason has been revengeful and hateful all his life. Seria teaches him forgiveness and love. Seria overworks herself to care for her needs. Mason is willing to bend down far below his knightly status to wash laundry and help her support herself. Where one is weak, the other is strong, and the strong one builds up the weak. It makes for a beautiful romance that the reader desperately wants to work out!

On Gifts…

Grant’s idea of Gifts was unique, especially Mason’s Gift. It added an element of tension to the story. Mason had far more control, and the ability to twist that control, than if he’d just been a regular person. It also added to the allegorical aspect of the book, which, by the way, was also very well done!

The Beginning of Shadowcast was OK

One thing Grant could have done better was the first quarter of Shadowcast. I felt lost at the beginning. The prose was clunky, especially during fight scenes. (And believe me, as a writer, I know how hard fight scenes are!)

I wasn’t sure who exactly to root for because she switched back and forth from the point-of-views of two people on opposing sides. I knew Mason was the main character, but I would have liked Grant to stick with his POV more instead of switching back and forth at the beginning, since we could have gotten to know him better.

Overall, Grant excelled at creating character arcs and fitting those arcs together to make a story. Now let’s look at the second part of a story: theme.

Worldview

Shadowcast resonated with me so much! I loved Mason’s struggle between light and dark, and for the most part, Grant handled the story in a Christian light.

I would like to address one issue that brought my star rating down a little bit. This is probably the biggest issue I had with the book. Just a heads-up, I’m going to be looking at a somewhat touchy subject in Christian fiction: kissing and romance. I first want to make two things clear.

1) Kissing is not necessarily bad.

2) The reason I’m addressing this has to do with context. In other words, not every book with kissing in it has this problem.

Because my point of disagreement requires some context, I’m going to explain a little bit of the storyline, particularly towards the end of Shadowcast.

SPOILER ALERT!!!

.

.

The Context

In Shadowcast, in the enemy camp, a side character tries to seduce Mason (he refuses), and because they are on the evil side of the war, the reader gets the hint that this is a bad relationship in the midst of an evil camp. They kiss several times during these scenes. Now stick with me for a bit because this next part is where it crossed the line. 

At the end of the story, Mason kisses Seria. It should be the “lovers finally get together” kiss, but here’s the problem: Seria knows Mason’s not a follower of “the Lambient” (God). And she already knows she can’t marry a non-believer. Yet she still chooses to kiss him. Right after that, she tells Mason she can’t be with him because if she choses him, she’ll be opposing the Lambient, and so she walks away sadly.

What Do You Think About This?

I, as the reader, got the hint that this kiss was good and that something was broken when Seria walked away. Which is true. Something was broken. Someone was broken.

But my question is: How come a kiss/romance with Mason’s seducer is portrayed as wrong and a kiss/romance with Seria is portrayed as good, when in both cases, Mason is on the dark side? I felt a negative feeling when Seria walked away from that relationship. I felt regret, like the right thing for Seria in that moment would have been to go with Mason, despite him being on the bad side. But would it have been the right thing?

I don’t want to get too judgy here, because I also know that Shadowcast is the first book in a trilogy. This could be setting Seria up for an arc that will lead her to trust God more, and setting Mason up for a redemption arc. Also, maybe Grant wanted the reader to feel the regrets that Seria had when she walked away, or show the power of temptation and the fact that God forgives us even when we fall. I’m not sure.

Another Option

This is how I think Grant could have done it better: What if Seria had not kissed Mason because she loved him. What if Seria knew that by waiting, she was, first of all, not connecting herself emotionally to someone she knew she couldn’t marry, but also truly doing what was best for Mason and herself. Wouldn’t that make the reader feel so much more respect for her? It would show that the Lambient really meant something to her; he’s not just this Being floating around in space. We would still feel sadness and regret when she tells Mason no, but it would have been a victory for Seria, not a failure. 

Again, I am not saying this to judge. I have not read the other two books. I cannot know the author’s true intentions, and can only guess that this will be part of a greater character arc, but this is one thing that made me stop and think a bit. If you’d like to learn more about my thoughts on this type of book, read this article. (EDIT: Please see my note at the bottom of this article, written after I read the second book!)

.

.

SPOILERS OVER. Welcome back everyone!

To sum everything up, I had a slight disagreement with the theme that I felt was portrayed at the end of Shadowcast, but other than that, I agreed with what the author wrote. As I said in the beginning, while I’m spending a good portion of this review on the negatives, I had an overall positive view of the book!

To Watch For

• Sexual Content: There are several scenes where a side character tries to seduce the main character, and also a few kissing scenes.

• Violence: The story revolves around a war, although no wounds or killing are described in extreme detail.

• Sorcery: While not explicitly stated, it seems to be implied that the generals of the dark side are controlled by evil spirits.

I am dying to read the next book, ya’ll. If you get Shadowcast, be sure you have the other two close at hand! I think I’m going to buy them sometime this month, so you can look forward to book reviews on the last two books soon.

PAPERBACK PRICE: $19

DATE PUBLISHED: 2023

Buy on Amazon

Visit Website

EDIT: Hello, all! Having read the second book, Lightshed, I now have new insight into Grant’s intentions with the first book, and overall, it’s a positive view. As I predicted, the author used Seria’s choices in the first book to propel her to guilt and eventually repentance in the second. I still would have rathered that the author give us a feeling of dread as Seria crept closer and closer to Mason and joining the dark side, especially during that last kiss scene, which I felt none of. That would have solved the problem of us wanting them to get together even though Mason was still on the bad side. Regardless, I think it is a worthwhile read, especially if you read the second book alongside it. Take a look at my review of Lightshed here.

The post Shadowcast appeared first on Jubilee Anderson.

Reviewed by Jubilee Anderson

GENRE: YA Dragon Fantasy

RATING:

COMP TITLE: Lord of the Rings

One boy…

One dragon…

A world of adventure.

When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon soon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself.

Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic, and power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds.

Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands.

Writing

There are debates as to whether Eragon is extremely cliched or excitingly fresh. I don’t think it’s accurate to say either. Each author has a set of things he is good at, and things he needs some work on. 

On Metaphors…

Paolini excels in crafting vivid metaphors to describe things. I felt like the page came alive through these metaphors, and it helped me learn a lot about the characters. Here are some examples of vivid language I gleaned from the text:

“Exposed like an unrolled map”

“An impressive array of knives swung from his belt.”

“His black beard was roiled and knotted like his jaw muscles.”

On Plot…

There were definitely a few cliches in the plot, and yes, many ideas were borrowed from the Lord of the Rings. Eragon’s arc follows the “chosen one” arc. Elves are obviously tall, beautiful, and more skilled than humans at everything. Eragon’s mentor says something very similar to Gandalf in an intense action scene.

“Run, you fool!”

This being Paolini’s first novel, I can understand why his book was cliched. When you first start out, it’s hard not to copy what you’ve seen in other books.

However, one thing I noticed was that Paolini did take Eragon’s “chosen one” arc a step further. As Eragon takes on his role, he learns responsibility. A mentor of Eragon instructs him in his role of leadership by telling him thus:

“You must be kind and wise to all, for they put their trust in you. Don’t speak flippantly or without thought, because your words will have impact far beyond what you intend.”

I think there is some truth to these words. The Bible, especially the book of Proverbs, tells us that our words and actions have impact on others besides ourselves. We ought to be wise with our words, and not fools.

Now that we’ve talked a little bit about Paolini’s prose and writing style, let’s look at the core of the story: the theme.

Worldview

I want to start this section off by saying that I cannot 100% know Paolini’s worldview based solely off of the book Eragon. However, it is nearly impossible for an author not to insert at least a portion of their worldview into their stories. At the very least, the following ideas are the beliefs of Paolini’s characters.

I discovered some very interesting quotes in this book. I have listed four of the most interesting ones below, along with my thoughts on them.

On Following Your Heart…

“What does your heart say?”

Our modern world is infused with this idea that one should follow his own beliefs. “Follow your heart,” they say. But if we who are inside this world cannot see beyond ourselves to the Truth, how will we be able to judge rightly? We need Someone to come in from outside and show us what Truth means. I think I would rather say, “Follow your Creator.”

On Forgiving and Forgetting…

“If you can’t forgive, at least forget.”

Eragon’s companion said this to him after he slayed a weaponless man Eragon wanted to show mercy to. Eragon is furious at his companion, but his companion begs for forgiveness. Again, this hearkens to a teaching that we ought to “Forgive and forget.” It is true that we ought to forgive. But the reason for our forgiveness flows from the amazing truth that Jesus forgave us of all our sins, and so we ought to forgive others, not simply because we should be nice to everyone or because we should “do unto others.”

On the Subject of Gods…

“He fervently thanked all the gods, known and unknown.”

and…

“What god would do this? Show yourself!”

These statements say something about what Paolini believed about God. What exactly it says, I am not quite sure. It seems that he believed in a Being up in the sky, but not a personal one. Interestingly, Paolini seems to have some sort of moral code, as Eragon clearly states that murder of an unarmed person is evil, and stealing is wrong, but the basis for this code goes unmentioned.

I am not totally sure what Paolini believes, but it is not Christian worldview. However, just because something is not Christian does not mean we can’t and shouldn’t read it. It simply means that when we read things like this, we know what the Bible says so that we can test these ideas against the Word of God.

If you’d like to learn more about Paolini’s worldview, I found two articles expanding on some of the thoughts I had in this section. Please note that I have not read other articles from this person, so use discretion when browsing content on his website. This article was specifically on Eragon, and the following article, while on book 2 in the Inheritance Cycle, digs deeper into Paolini’s worldview than the first article.

To Watch For

• Swearing: There are several mentions of characters cursing. The words “damned,” “ass,” and “hellfire” are each used once.
• Sorcery: A witch prophesies the future. Witchcraft and fortunetelling are portrayed as something good that helps the main character.
• Sexual Content: Eragon removes a woman’s shirt to heal a deadly wound and sees her bare back.
• Violence: There are descriptions of dead bodies, including that of an impaled baby, whip wounds, men getting shot with arrows/stabbed, broken bones. One character describes a religious sect that makes limb offerings and drinks blood.

Overall, I enjoyed reading Eragon. Despite the differences in worldview, he wrote a book that kept me hooked until the end. I really appreciate Paolini for having a satisfying ending, since I do not have time to be forced into reading the entire series if it ends in a cliffhanger! My good irl friends may convince me to read the next one, though.

Have a blessed day!

PAPERBACK PRICE: $9

DATE PUBLISHED: 2002

Buy on Amazon

The post Eragon appeared first on Jubilee Anderson.

by Molly McTernan

Book Review by Jubilee Anderson

Normally, I review fiction books, but I think this book is worth putting here.

Poetic Surrender is a faith-based collection of poetry by Molly McTernan. It includes themes of faith (obviously), friendship, and everyday life.

I was recommended this book for a long time. I kept hearing about it, seeing the cover, and reading Molly’s poetry on her website. Finally, I bought it. I read it at least twice on the first day.

So many of the poems connected with me. I felt like Molly had experienced some of the same things as me — love of books and writing, loneliness, life with family and siblings. My favorite poems are “Who I Write For,” “I Want a Friend,” and “Bluebird.” She has room to grow as a poetry writer, but it’s the themes that really connect to me. God is using this book for good! It has fully earned 4.5 stars.

Poetic Surrender was an encouragement in faith. A reminder. A reminder to love, to write for God, to be thankful, to see the small moments in life. Like the bluebird on my windowsill. Or the color red. Or the sound of the violin. I did not regret a penny of what I spent!

Do you read poetry? What kind of poetry do you like? Respond to me here!

The post Poetic Surrender appeared first on Jubilee Anderson.

by Millie Florence

Book Review by Jubilee Anderson

Everlasting Blue, Slam Dunk Orange Dragon Fruit Pink…

Seven-year-old Jamie Johnson is obsessed with collecting paint cards. In fact, it’s the only thing that can distract her from fighting with her older sister, during the long, boring summer. Until, that is, a mysterious girl moves in next door. Laren Lark is almost thirteen, a homeschooler, and a passionate poet.

Despite their differences, the two girls quickly become friends and Jamie begins to think that the summer doesn’t have to be so boring. After all, Laren says that adventure can be found anywhere—it’s all about where you look.

I first read this book as a PDF after signing up for Millie’s email list. I finished it the same morning, and was late for breakfast. Even though I read the PDF for free, (and you can, too!) I ended up buying two copies; one for my younger sister and one for my girl cousins.

This is the best MG contemporary sister book I’ve ever read! Even though the main character is seven, I could still relate to her struggles. Even though I don’t have older siblings, I related to her annoyance with her older sister. I have a large family just like her. I related to her friendship with a unique girl who was way older than her.

The parents didn’t simply preaching lessons to Jamie. They were loving, and especially the mom, was present. She was there. A friend, a mentor, Mommy to Jamie.

I loved all the poems and poetic language. I loved the paint cards, the library, and the fun holidays on the calendar each day. This is a five-star read!

The ending of Honey Butter is so beautiful. I came away encouraged to love my sister. Sometimes in the moment of an argument, it’s easy to see little sisters as annoying, but they’re not. They are blessings from the Lord — Every single sibling I have is a blessing.

This is your next family read-aloud, or the present for your sister’s birthday! It’s short, but worth it!

PUBLISHED: 2017

PAPERBACK: $12

Visit Millie’s website and get Honey Butter for free or read my book review on The Balter of Ashton Harper!

The post Honey Butter appeared first on Jubilee Anderson.