Tag: Family

Thoughts on Sacred Cat Island

Title: Sacred Cat Island (A Cozy LitRPG Fantasy Novel)
Author: Harmon Cooper
Published by Boycott Books, LLC
Year: 2020
Format Read: Kindle
Pages: 646
Language: English
ASIN: B08LDSMGMT
Dates Read: 2025, February 20 to October 14

Introduction
Since I love to play video games, I wanted to read a book from the GameLit genre. I always see books from this genre advertised online. However, in the last few months, I have tried to start reading several recommended novels, but I could only make it to the end of the first chapter – if even that far. There was always something about these books that I disliked so severely! Either the writing was full of typos, there was too much profanity, it was too cheesy, or too wooden. Or, the plot wasn’t interesting, and the characters were not likable. Moreover, the series was unfinished and the author was on a prolonged hiatus, so the series may never be finished. And, the series was too long for me (I didn’t want to commit to 5 books or more right now). Finally, I found this novel, and I was able to complete it!

About
Initially, I assumed this novel was going to be about characters playing a video game or entering a video game as virtual avatars, and the first chapter would serve as an introduction to the characters starting the game. This assumption originated because all of the previous GameLit books that I had sampled had this “otherworld journey” as the main concept. I was taken aback when the character already had the quests and stats flash before him in the first chapter. The characters are already NPCs in an unnamed video game. The two brothers already exist in their “real world,” but the world has gaming elements built into its metaphysical system. Characters in a video game – but it’s their real life!

The first chapter introduces the characters and how the LitRPG elements work, such as the stats, levels, what Rowan and others can do or improve on, and inventory slots. Throughout the story, more information about the world’s RPG system and what can be accessed or how the world works is discovered by the characters or explained by exposition. The different people or NPCs seem to have varying knowledge about how the world or island works. Different quests or personal stats are shown by special formatting throughout the novel, like bold and center alignment. This formatting takes up quite a bit of space, so the book did not feel like 646 pages, as my Kindle version said it was.

Going with the Flow
The characters have unique names, but are not ridiculous or hard to pronounce. Several characters on the island have lots of quirks, but I enjoyed all of the different personalities. These NPCs act realistically, and if not for the LitRPG elements, it would have felt like a story about an actual town. The story deals with realistic issues, and there are deeply tragic parts. However, I would say that, overall, the story still has a lighthearted tone, bubbly and whimsical with elements of suspense, fantasy, and slice-of-life. Although the novel is slow-paced, I would say it was not boring, but I had to embrace the mindset that this was not going to be the action of a portal fantasy story. You have the father and the sons doing daily tasks, completing quests, planning to improve the island, and meeting the villagers. At the same time, you have the big mystery about why the mother did not want to come, why the father left his job, the island cats, and magical happenings. There is a real risk of dying and NPCs who have died or are dying. A very human story.

Among the story, the themes or concepts that stood out are the brotherly bond, the family bond, friendship, moving on with life despite circumstances, discovering the unexpected, hating change, growing to love a place you hated, growing up and balancing life via quests/responsibilities, and changing a life or town for the better!

Overall
Overall, it was an easy book to read and a nice entryway for me into GameLit. The 600+ pages flew by, but it just took me a while to get through it because I was busy with adult tasks in my real life! I wish I didn’t start and stop this book so much. I should have made myself continue on when I initially started in February, not becoming distracted in the evening. I enjoyed reading something different; I liked the elements, the basic plot, the characters, and the accessibility of the story. However, I did have some pet peeves.
-SPOILER WARNING-
The ending did not tie up all the loose ends that I thought would be resolved. Earlier in the novel, I got the impression there would be more information about the kitten that the boys adopted – like they were going to be able to communicate with the kitten and use him to solve a mystery. Also, I’m annoyed that Blanche did not get her happy ending when the story hinted that her problem would be solved if the boys helped her. I also had questions: are the boys returning to school or are they moving to the island for good? I thought there would be a bigger mystery about the mother and father. Not all of the quests were finished, but the boys know that they will have more time. I just thought that all of the quests would be completed by the end of the novel. I felt that the book needed a sequel to flesh out some more people and quests.

Content Advisory
Although I would say the overall story is wholesome and has a light tone, there are some mature and intense elements. Some of the NPCs deal with grief, loss, mental illness, aging, and the dying process. The deaths are permanent like in real life, and apparently, there is no respawning mentioned. There is a brief description of a decaying body and the ensuing funeral of this NPC. Furthermore, this is a fantasy novel with supernatural elements like a ghost character and mentions of other ghosts. The word d*mn is used twice by adults. Some adults drink alcohol. Characters eat meat. The violence is generally mild and centered around fantasy fighting. Animals play and fight roughly.

Reviewing Beauty’s Daughter

Title: Beauty’s Daughter: The Story of Hermione and Helen of Troy
Author: Carolyn Meyer
Published by ‎ HMH Books for Young Readers
Year: 2013
Format Read: Kindle
Pages: 353
Language: English
ASIN: B00AUZS6K6
Dates Read: 2024, March 27 to April 14

In the past, I have read In Mozart’s Shadow and Patience, Princess Catherine by Carolyn Meyer. I loved them both. I appreciated her vivid use of first person, how she incorporated many historical figures into the story, and her deep emotional characters. I wanted to read another one of her novels, but I wanted to read a story with an ancient setting. I liked Troy by Adẻle Geras when I read it in middle school, so I decided to try Beauty’s Daughter. 

Hermione is an evocative, inquisitive, and assertive protagonist. This story focuses on Hermione’s perspective before, during, and after the Trojan war. Throughout the novel, her thoughts and feelings of her mother, as well as others, change over time. The characters are used to convey plots of the war and other Ancient Greek stories (in case the reader is unfamiliar with these). Basically, many pages of the story’s first part is a summary of the Iliad and other ancient lore paraphrased from Hermione’s perspective with an emphasis on her relationships to others. I have not read all of these legends or myths, but I am familiar with the basic plot of many. Despite all of the details and references to Ancient Greek stories and characters, this book was still  an easy read, and it is just the right length.

Due to the winding plot filled with many disappointments for the characters, I thought that the novel’s ending would be bittersweet, and I was prepared for the death or disappearance of Hermione or her lover. Also, I had gotten names and prior Greek stories confused. Orestes and Pylades are characters in this book, so I thought they were going to turn into stars or constellations by the end of the story. Fortunately, they do not, but I assumed this because I confused their names with Orion and Pleiades, persons from another myth I’ve either read or heard about. Anyway, the ending was alright, a little bittersweet, but the leads got a good ending. 

There is an author’s note where Meyer explains how she uses myths combined with much of her own imagination and creativity to create this novel. I do think that this book is an easy read for 12 and up, but there is suggestive content in keeping with the spirit of the values and myths. I would recommend it if you like ancient world literature and retellings. I think that I like the other novels that I’ve read by this author better because they seem to have a better structure and more likable extra characters. 

Reading A Tale of Two Cities

Title: A Tale of Two Cities
Author: Charles Dickens
Published by e-artnow Editions
Edition Year: 2013
Format Read: Kindle
Pages: 474
Language: English
ASIN: B00GMIM9QC
First Published by Chapman & Hall, in 1859
Dates Read: 2023, February 2 to 24

People rave over this book! The only book I’ve read by Dickens in its entirety is Oliver Twist. I probably should have read more of his works by now, so I decided to give this one a shot. I wanted to watch the movie with Ronald Colman, but it was recommended to read the novel before watching any of the movie versions.

Something cool about this edition is that it has the original pictures from Phiz/H.K. Brown. After reading the famous first line, I struggled to follow some passages of text. I had to reread a few several times. Dialogue is easy to understand, but the narrator’s descriptions can be long and intense. I wonder if this is because I haven’t read 19th century literature in a few years, so I have to readjust to the writing style. Sometimes, I had issues with knowing which character the author was talking about. However, chapters tend to be short (about 10 to 20 minutes to read) which helps. Also, the narrator gradually introduces characters and only focuses on one to a few a chapter which is also helpful. It was interesting to read the descriptions of the miserable conditions with some humor sprinkled throughout the text.

The story’s suspense slowly builds; despite the difficulty reading some sentences, I wanted to continue reading. The story gradually becomes easier and more intriguing to read. The story ends with another famous quote that I would hear, but I had no idea that it was from this book. There were a few side characters that I wish had more of an ending. I liked this novel better than Oliver Twist, but it’s not my favorite novel ever. I look forward to reading other works by Dickens.

Reading The Abbess of Whitby

Title: The Abbess of Whitby: A novel of Hild of Northumbria
Author: Jill Dalladay
Published by Lion Fiction
Year: 2015
Format Read: Kindle
Pages: 380
Language: English
ASIN: B0156O6148
Dates Read: 2023, January 7 to 28

I found this book while browsing for different types of Christian books to read. I wanted to read a biography or historical fiction novel about a nun. Although I was unfamiliar with Hild of Whitby or Northumbria, this book seemed interesting.

The story takes place in 7th century Northumbria. This is a prose novel, but like a play, the author lists virtually all of the characters who will be in the story at the start of the book. She also lists maps, a family tree, and well-titled chapters. All of this detail before the story begins made me wonder if I would be able to keep up with all the details through the story, but it ended up being nothing to worry about. I like Dalladay’s writing style. Many sentences are packed full of detail, unusual words, and read rhythmic like poetry.

All types of events and adventures happen fast: conquests, battles, festivals, riding, etc. Many characters are historical figures, and many events that occur are recorded in history. While Hild is the novel’s main character, many others receive ample attention. I’ve never read a novel with so many historical characters, but thankfully, I was able to keep up. I only confused around 3 characters because they had similar sounding names.

The dynamic in the first part of the novel was the most intriguing to me: King Edwin and his people are pagans. Queen Elthelberga is a Christian from another place whom he married. She came to his kingdom with her own chaplain, monks, and other Christian people. Her chaplain is constantly striving for a Christian influence in the kingdom. Hild is growing up during this time. She, her sister, and mother are handmaidens to the queen and serve the king’s court.

Hild and others have to accept a compulsory baptism. She still prays to older gods and believes in them for years. Eventually, she grows to appreciate the Christian teachings and the monks’ gospel work. The dynamic with her husband and son are so fascinating, deep, and tragic that I was surprised that they were some of the few non-historical characters. By the last part of the book, she is helping to lead a double monastery or mixed community. This was cool to read about. You have people who are a part of the order but lay people as well. They help each other out. It seems like an amazing community with people of different stations. The monks spread literacy, travel to other places, and just seem to have so much peace and joy in life. A lot of people visit as well. They trade scrolls of scripture and enjoy teaching. Hild helps operate the community and the infirmary for the sick. The children help, play, and hunt. Caedmon makes a cameo, and he makes music.

This book was amazing to read, and I loved it. I especially enjoyed reading about the love that the different Christians had for each other and the gospel; this made me feel like I was transported far above the daily grind. I read online that the author passed away in 2019; I would have loved to read more of her books.

Some Quotes:

The chapel looked like a workshop: plain, bare wood, with monks on either side of a cross on a table. The queen knelt, head in hands, soft skirts fanning out in the straw. In a monotone, one group echoing the other, the men chanted softly. Mesmerized, Hild felt herself relax. So this was Ethelburga’s secret. Far from kindred, ill-matched consort of a fierce old warlord, prey to insult and pain, she always shed calm. It came from worshipping her God. There was no climax, none of Thor’s frenzy, no High Priest or sacrifice. The singing simply stopped, leaving an echo in the stillness. Then the monks bustled forward like ordinary men. (pg. 42)

“Erpwald!” Edwin had heard him. “Come and ride with me! About the route…” “Honoured, my lord.” He spurred forward: too eagerly for her liking. He was friendly, funny, and she wanted to know him better. Coifi, the king’s priest, awaited them in a hilltop grove, his white robes shining through the trees. His stance, his stillness, made Hild shudder; someone had told her that, before living memory, Eostre’s maid was herself the spring sacrifice. “Name?” With a start she saw Coifi holding out his arms for the child. “Anfled.” Edwin’s voice rang out. “To Woden’s shrine,” Coifi cried, bearing the baby into the trees. “Follow me!” (pg. 51)

Credo in unum Deum… Surprisingly soon she was, slowly and laboriously, writing the familiar Latin words. I believe in one God… And she really did, she realized with amazement. It had taken an age to shake off Thor and the fear of woods and thunderclaps, but at last she was winning through. Her new God did not mete out erratic punishments. He loved her as his daughter. “The Creed, summary of Christian belief,” Utta explained. “That and Jesus’ model prayer. The two basics.” And with a new clarity she understood why each convert must take them to heart before being baptized. (pg. 253)

About Miles Morales: Spider-Man

Title: Miles Morales: Spider-Man
Author: Jason Reynolds
Published by Marvel Press
Year: 2017
Format Read: Kindle
Pages: 273
Language: English
ASIN: B071723XCR
Dates Read: 2022, November 17 to November 20

Not only are there superhero comics, but there are prose novels as well. There are several Marvel young adult fiction superhero novels that seem interesting. This one was very highly rated. Honestly, I’ve never read Spider-Man comics. I know about Miles Morales from the movie Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) and the Spider-Man animated series that aired from 2017 to 2020.

In this novel, I liked the vibrant portrayal of his parents, his best friend, and his home life. One of the things that I appreciated the most is the spirituality and religion. To read this in superhero fiction is a rare experience for me. Usually and lately, young characters in animated series, movies, and fiction books are portrayed as living in a secular vacuum: religion is never mentioned and spirituality has no effect on their culture and values. It seems that when organized faith is mentioned nowadays, it’s associated with something negative- fanaticism and anti-progress. I appreciated the mother being a loving, devout Catholic who makes her son attend mass with her. Although Miles does seem to be nominal Catholic, he does not portray the faith negatively, and I do cherish this realistic religious flourish.

This book is extremely detailed about Mile’s school life and classes. Miles is basically emo the whole novel, and half of the novel, it’s like you are taking the class assignments along with Miles and classmates. Peter Parker is not in this novel. Mile’s father, best friend, and the main superpowered villains know his secret identity. The uncle knew as well because it was partly his reason that Miles received the spider bite in the first place. Throughout the story, he constantly has flashbacks and premonitive dreams about his uncle’s death and weird stuff leading up to the confrontation with the villain.

I thought the villain was going to be a notable character in the Marvel universe, but I had no idea who this guy was. I think that he is an original villain crafted by Reynolds. There is no deep explanation of the villain. If I go by his book description, he’s basically a zombie version of Jefferson Davis, the President of the Confederate States of America. Reading this book. I see that the author is trying to show the importance of education and trying to overcome obstacles in your path to success. He wants to show the social influences and war shaping America when it comes to helping and not hindering black youth.

There are no more than a dozen mild cuss words and less than a handful of Christ’s name taken in vain, although I had hoped that the language would have been cleaner. Also, there is some coarse talking and mild violence.
This book was okay, but I expected more action and less brooding from Miles and company, but there were a few funny moments.

Thoughts on The Oddling Prince

Title: The Oddling Prince
Author: Nancy Springer
Published by Tachyon Publications
Year: 2018
Format Read: Kindle
Pages: 288
Language: English
ASIN: B083G69DWZ
Dates Read: 2022, November 4 to November 11

This is the first book I’ve read by Nancy Springer. I’m trying to find books to read in the fantasy genre that are standalone. Many of her books are not on Kindle, and she has been writing for decades. So many of her books seem like gripping reads. I could not get this book’s blurb out of my head, so I decided to read it.

The chapters are like – “Chapter the First….Chapter the Fourth…”- I’ve never seen that before; that’s amusing. I thought that the fey were fairies like Tinker Bell, but in this story, they are like elves. The brother Albaric is a beautiful fey boy, even after becoming mortal. He is an oddling in both the place he left and in the mortal world because of parentage and circumstances. He feels like an outcast, but his half brother cares for him deeply, comforts him, and attempts to help him find peace.

Aric has nothing but love for his sibling and constantly expresses this in word and deed. Throughout the novel, these siblings are really touchy-expressive, and there is quite a bit of hand holding and hugging. While I really appreciated the profound affection that Aric had for his fey sibling Albaric, by Chapter the Twelfth, it started to seem a bit strange. I actually wondered if Aric was gay and romantically in love with his brother. In that chapter, lots of women are visiting this house and they are interested in him as a marriage candidate. However, Aric shows a lack of interest and sort of mocks them. When he finally shows a tad of interest in one girl, the conversation they have is about Albaric and what a wonder he is. Aric makes Albaric sing; the scene is written in a way that displays Aric oozing with devotion like his bro is a rock star. However, the brothers are just close brothers; Aric does fall in love with a female (albeit with a rather young one and a bit abrupt in my opinion).

The king, who is the boys’ father, acts capriciously throughout the whole novel. His character is dark and foreboding. The way he acts and the way people act toward him reminded me of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. I kept feeling like this book was going to end in a dark or ambiguous way, so it was hard to enjoy the read. The ending is alright. Thankfully, the king is better and misfortunes reversed; however, it was a bit unclear how exactly Aric and Albaric “healed” everything. Albaric was the most likable, in-depth, and captivating character by far, and I hope to read other books with characters like him. The recommended age on Amazon was 10 to 18, but 14+ due to suggestive themes and violence seems more accurate.

Regarding Daughter of Rome

Title: Daughter of Rome
Author: Tessa Afshar
Published by Tyndale House Publishers
Year: 2020
Format Read: Kindle
Pages: 378
Language: English
ASIN: B07T32RZMF
Dates Read: 2022, October 22 to October 30

The book was captivating. Every chapter is an adventure. The character, themes, and touching moments really pack a punch, and there is an edifying sermon every chapter. After reading Thief of Corinth, I wanted to read another book by this author. Priscilla and some others make a cameo appearance in Thief of Corinth. Some characters from that novel are mentioned in Daughter of Rome. I like how Afshar’s novels are somewhat linked, but they are not a series so a person can start with any book. At the start of the novel, I knew why Priscilla was trying to see the physician even before the reason was revealed. This was the only predictable part of the book for me, and the rest of the book was more unforeseeable and engaging. 

The book gave me the impression that it would mainly be about Priscilla, but Aquila seems to have an equal part. They start out as both outcasts from their world who come to find love and acceptance. I love how the book shows that they are partners in ministry.  For some reason, while reading this book, I kept imagining it as an anime. I wish there was an anime like this and relatively clean, popular and made especially for Christians. I especially loved how the story demonstrates Christian characters releasing or overlooking offenses, being able to love, extending hospitality, and showing grace even to some of the most infuriating people. I enjoyed how the story shows both married and single people caring for each other in a community and having deep love, concern, and relationships with each other like adopted siblings.

One scene that I thought that could have been crafted better is when certain characters go to rescue Paul from a kidnapping. The scene reminds me a bit of “The Beggar’s Opera” by John Gay. Also, when the dog Ferox is introduced, I was given the impression that there would be a mysterious path there that would be eventually unraveled. He’s a mysterious dog that shows up out of nowhere. He saves Priscilla and is a part of the family but there’s no unraveling or discovery of his origins like there is for the orphan Marcus. Sometimes, to me, the romance scenes were very passionate and a bit more descriptive than I anticipated or thought necessary. Also, who gets her brother’s “estate” at the end or does it go to creditors? The book is a great read overall, and I look forward to reading Afshar’s other works.