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.
I’m trying to find fiction to read. I’ve heard of this author before in Christian circles. When I browsed this series, the plot sounded incredible.
Title: Embers Series: Abiassa’s Fire Serial: Book 1 Author: Ronie Kendig Published by Enclave Publishing Edition Year: 2019 Format Read: Kindle Pages: 370 Language: English ASIN: B07P2N2YQN Dates Read 2023, September 3 to December 30
The writing is so clear. The story reads smoothly. It reads like a movie. I can perfectly picture characters, their expressions, and movements. I thought this power or “magic system” was really cool, and it’s a gift from a being called Abiassa. Characters who can wield the flames are called Accelerants or Incipients depending on their path.The fantasy names for different characters, places, and ideas in the world are very unique and stylish. However, sometimes, the characters have a mysterious way of talking as if they are referencing events that happened in the world’s history before the novel. Sometimes, the characters talk as if they are referencing something that happened behind the scenes that is unknown to the reader. Moreover, this is probably the most that I’ve seen sentences without pronouns used consistently throughout a novel. Instead of “She mended it,” it’s “Mended it.” I guess writing like this is for the purpose of keeping the action from stifling. The author/editor may also have felt that some pronouns are unnecessary because the reader knows who the action belongs to without the use of the pronoun in the sentence. Additionally, I could grasp biblical themes and outlines of biblical characters in the story and dialogue. I could see echoes of the books by the Old Testament prophets and the Book of Revelation. It’s interesting that the protagonist is a prophesied apocalyptic figure who is hesitant and fleeing from his role. Overall, this first book was a good adventure that ends with a cliffhanger.
Title: Accelerant Series: Abiassa’s Fire Serial: Book 2 Author: Ronie Kendig Published by Enclave Publishing Edition Year: 2019 Format Read: Kindle Pages: 472 Language: English ASIN: B07P1J62CX Dates Read December 30, 2023 to February 23, 2024
After the first chapter, the next several chapters were boring. Haegan is captured (again), but once he is freed, the story gets interesting again. However, he is a reluctant hero the entire novel. He is constantly doubting his identity. There is more information on the different supernatural entities or superpowers in the world. This phrasing that leaves out pronouns is continued into this novel (and the next). By this point, there are too many side characters with cool, but wild fantasy names. Fortunately, there is an index in this book and the next. Anyway, I’m glad to learn more about this world, the powers, and Abiassa.
Title: Fierian Series: Abiassa’s Fire Serial: Book 3 Author: Ronie Kendig Published by Enclave Publishing Edition Year: 2019 Format Read: Kindle Pages: 433 Language: English ASIN: B07P1JXS7H Dates Read 2024, February 23 to March 26
This book is much more fast paced with more characters. Some side characters that were introduced just completely disappeared from the story. There were a few twists and surprises. Although this book in the series mostly kept my interest, I started to get tired of all the battles and strategy dialogue. I just wanted the story to finally finish and stop stalling. I liked the ending, and I believe that most of the big things in the plot did resolve by the end of the novel. Well, I thought the main villain would get a more dramatic end. Also, the final endings for a few key characters seem to be inconclusive after the final battle. I wonder what happens to them? Does the father recover? What happens to Drracien? What happens to the Prince’s other friends that traveled with him this entire time? Do they get an ending to their story?
Overall Impressions and Other Comments
I loved the story’s concept, but I felt that the execution could have been better. I loved the names and magic system. Although there was a boring part and moments that dragged, the series kept my interest. By the third book, there were too many names and side characters for my tastes. I like how the author portrayed the different romantic couples. Each pair had a unique “style” so that the couples did not seem like cookie cutter lovebirds. I liked the ending, but I wish that more information was given about other important characters.The Kindle versions that I read had quite a few typos in each of the books. I loved how the author wove biblical concepts into the story. Like the protagonist, some biblical prophets would doubt God and do their own thing. The series parallels real world questions about mysteries and scriptural truth when it comes to God’s actions in the world, free will, and spiritual empowerment. Overall, it was an enjoyable read.
Among the Hidden from the Shadow Children series is the first work of dystopian fiction that I remember reading. I thought that it was a fascinating book so I read several more of the series. This was around 2005 to 2006 when I was in 7th grade. I do not think that I finished this series because the library may not have had the final couple of books. In 9th grade, we read 1984 as a class requirement. In 12th grade, we had to read some dystopian fiction as a requirement for class. The works that I remember are The Handmaid’s Tale, Brave New World, and 1984 again. I became sick of dystopian fiction. I never became interested in the series that my peers liked such as The Hunger Games, The Selection, and Divergent. However, some time ago, I stumbled upon the Giver Quartet on Amazon. I decided to give the dystopia genre a retry. The only other book that I remember reading by Lois Lowry is Number the Stars in 6th grade.
Title: The Giver Series: Giver Quartet Serial: Book 1 Author: Lois Lowry Published by Clarion Books; Reprint, Media Tie In edition Year: 1993 Format Read: Kindle Pages: 99 Language: English ASIN: B003MC5N28 Dates Read 2023, March 7 to March 17
I loved the short chapters and easy to understand dialogue. At less than 100 pages, this is definitely the book to introduce someone to the dystopia genre. I thought that the worldbuilding was amazing. I was actually okay with the ambiguous ending, and I interpreted that the characters made it. This book was better than any dystopian fiction book that I have read, and I liked that it built suspense. In the back of the book, she explains why she ends the book like that because she wants readers to ponder for themselves; also, they can read the other books in the series to find out what happens to Jonas and the boy. In the back of the book, there is also the Newbery Award speech and information about the origins of this story.
Title: Gathering Blue Series: Giver Quartet Serial: Book 2 Author: Lois Lowry Published by Clarion Books; Reprint edition (September 25, 2000) Year: 2000 Format Read: Kindle Pages: 225 Language: English ASIN: B003JFJHRK Dates Read 2023, March 30 to April 16
Wow, what a tough village! It seems like a place more Indigenous, spiritual, and ancient than the suburban community in The Giver. A new main character, Kira, lives in this village. Jealousies, arguing, rivalries, harshness, and hostility. We read about her journey and how she wants to change the community. However, this book seems to end abruptly. You do get a line or two about Jonas from the previous book. I felt like the book needed one more chapter to smooth out the ending. It’s a companion book and not a sequel, but it deals with similar themes. The book setting feels like it takes place 100 years before The Giver, but it’s actually the same time period.
Title: Messenger Series: Giver Quartet Serial: Book 3 Author: Lois Lowry Published by Clarion Books (April 26, 2004) Year: 2004 Format Read: Kindle Pages: 194 Language: English ASIN: B003JTHWKK Dates Read 2023, April 16 to April 23
This book takes place after Gathering Blue. I liked the mention of Jonas and Gabe in the Village. This community is the more altruistic one that Kira finds out about in the previous novel from her friend Matty. Although Messenger is interesting and fast paced, once again the ending leaves something to be desired. The big things that are happening are not explained as well as I would have liked. I would have appreciated a deeper metaphysical explanation of the powers/gifts and the Trading.
Title: Son Series: Giver Quartet Serial: Book 4 Author: Lois Lowry Published by Year: 2012 Format Read: Kindle Pages: 405 Language: English ASIN: B008454X2Y Dates Read 2023, April 23 to May 13
The book’s setting coincides with the events of the previous book and ends several years afterwards. Many of the main characters from the previous books are in this one. This one is focused on Gabe’s birth mother Claire. During the book, Claire ends up in a sea village untouched by modern conveniences. The names of the characters are very pretty- Alys, Bethan, Einar, Andras. A lot of interesting things take place during the book, and this novel also references back to the previous books. The author tries to better explain what happened in Messenger and tries to fill in the shoddy worldbuilding with explanations. Moreover, several parts of Son were too specific and made the book drag on. Despite tying everything up from the previous books for a final ending to the series/quartet, I still felt the ending was somewhat unsatisfactory. I’m glad that everything ended well for Kira, Jonas, and Gabe, and Claire, but I still wonder about the final fate of The Giver and the community that Jonas and Gabe originally left. I’m still confused about the mystery of how Claire got her youth back. Does this mean that all of the people got what they traded back since Gabe defeated the Trademaster? What about Einar? Was he restored.? I’m also not sure if I cared for the “deal with the devil” bad guy. I’m not sure if I like how this quartet jumped from fighting a dystopia to just battling Satan.
Overall Impressions and Other Comments
I now understand why the first book is considered a classic and the rest of the books are not mentioned as much. I also see why only a movie was made of the first book. The Giver is now my favorite dystopian book. It was more calm, contemplative, and clean than the dystopian fiction books that I have read in school. I get that books in this genre usually don’t have extremely happy endings, but I would have liked for the endings of the last three books in this quartet to have felt more satisfactory. In this series, it was a neat touch to give many of the characters powers and magical talents.
Title: Illusionarium
Author: Heather Dixon
Published by Greenwillow Books
Year: 2015
Format Read: Kindle
Pages: 368
Language: English
ASIN: B00M70YWS2
Dates Read March 29 to April 8 2022
This is probably my first steampunk novel. The book was mentioned on a few blogs so I decided to read it. The author has some other novels that seem exciting, so I may read those later. After reading this fantastic story, I was surprised that there were less than 100 reviews on Amazon. It was a deep and fascinating story with wonderful worldbuilding. Reading this book was almost like watching a movie- not all novels can make me feel this way. Also, I never knew what to expect next, and it was a quick read. The world is based on 19th century England with detailed steampunk elements such as airships and unique technology. I appreciated Dixon’s innovative words and concepts such as orthogonagen, polarage, fantillium, the Venen, Illusionarium. The book is in first-person, and the protagonist Jonathan Gouden narrates the story. The narrative voice is realistic; you can tell he is a teenager, very intelligent, a bit awkward, and still trying to figure out some sentiments. I enjoyed his footnotes, an extra creative touch. To me, all of the other main characters have vibrant and unique personalities as well. Some of the characters are based on real people from 19th century England. Not only does the writer build the steampunk world that I just described, but also she builds an alternative world as well which is a derelict and dysfunctional version of Jonathan’s world. This is the world that the villain who brings the Fantillum comes from, along with the Venen. That world serves as a warning, and the characters have to make moral choices. There is a lot of meaning packed into the plot of this original young adult novel. There are a few twists and not all are happy, but eventually the main heroes find the right way, and it is a good ending.
I wanted to read a fairy tale retelling, and I decided to try out this book. The Fairest Beauty is a retelling of the fairy tale, Snow White. This version of the classic fairy tale does not contain common elements of magic and fantasy; however, it has a Christian-biblical worldview.The setting is Bavaria during the Holy Roman Empire; the scenes are written as realistic historical fiction. There are several devout and pious Christians, especially the main character, Sophie. She prays frequently, reads scriptures, and often recalls what the priest told her in the past. Characters discuss forgiveness and redemption and ponder the will of God. The duchess is the mean queen, and although nothing fantastical happens when she talks to her mirror, generally, her every thought and her every action is eccentric and malevolent. Some themes and takeaways from this book are Sophie’s abuse and her desire to be loved and cherished, Gabe’s sibling rivalry, the downfall of evil (Psalm 10), and God’s protection. Finally, a happy ending (or beginning of the next chapter in life). It was great to read this Christian retelling of a fairytale. I did not know what to expect, but the book was fine. It was very creative how the author reworked the reality of this classic story.
Dates Read January to February 2021
Title: The Piper’s Pursuit
Author: Melanie Dickerson
Series: Hagenheim/FairyTale Romance Series(10)
Published by Thomas Nelson
Year: 2019
Pages: 321
Format Read: Kindle
Language: English
Several fiction recommendations appeared on my Amazon account; this novel’s plot description seemed pretty interesting so I decided to read it. This is the second book by Melanie Dickerson that I have read. It’s a reimagining of The Pied Piper of Hamelin, and it is another young adult medieval romance fairy tale with a Christian worldview. It’s around the 14th century in the Holy Roman Empire. The heroine, Katerina, is brave and strong with a disdain for arrogant men like her stepfather and the new guy in town, Steffan, who is the Duke’s “prodigal” son. They try to work together to figure out the mysteries in town: the children disappearing, the rat infestations, the beast attacks. They eventually uncover her stepfather Hennek’s wrongdoings and the story really takes off; it’s a suspenseful adventure. Steffan and Kat learn about each other and begin to trust each other and dismantle assumptions. Katerina has to be strong because her stepfather is abusive to her and her mother; she has to be the one to protect them and handle issues. Steffan felt wronged by his place in life such as being the younger son and not getting the inheritance. In the story, it’s revealed that disobeyed his father and he feels ashamed of this. The father is a Father God figure in that he forgives his son and shows him love and mercy.
A Love So Wordy 