Review: DragonSpell

DragonSpell by Donita K. Paul
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the book. What I liked about it was the Christian undertones in a fantasy novel (as someone who has been accused of not being a good Christian because I enjoy fantasy novels, this was a big plus, and the reason for the fourth star). I didn't enjoy how easily everything seemed to go for the main character, Kale.

She begins as a slave. Suddenly, she is freed and wants to move up in the world to become a servant. She's waylaid along the way when it is discovered that she has the ability to locate dragon eggs. Her life only improves from there.
That's not to say that there is zero conflict in this book, but very little of it affects Kale directly, and all of it is easily resolved and tied up in a neat little bow.

I would recommend this book for kids/teens looking for a fantasy book with a Christian slant. I'd hesitate to recommend it to friends/family that I know are not Christian, because I'd be concerned that the implied message would be that I'm trying to convert them. I think anyone who enjoys fantasy could enjoy this book, but I doubt that someone who is not Christian would enjoy it.

Review: A Certain Slant of Light

A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Slow in starting, but pretty good once it got going. I wanted to give it 3.5 stars, and usually I do round up. This time, however, it just didn't seem to warrant that fourth star. Hopefully the second book is as enjoyable as the first.



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Review: A Certain Slant of Light

A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb

My rating: 0 of 5 stars



Slow in starting, but quite good once it got going. Hopefully the second book is as good as the first.



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Review: Secrets She Left Behind

Secrets She Left Behind by Diane Chamberlain

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The more books I read by this author, the more I want to read. It helps a LOT that they are all either set or have scenes in an area I remember well - Camp Lejeune/Jacksonville, NC. This one in particular takes place almost exclusively in that area, as one of the main characters first came to the area due to her husband's being stationed on Camp Lejeune.

An odd sense of deja-vu came over me near the beginning of the book when the move to NC was discussed. One of the main characters, Sara (my name) moves from Michigan to NC in 1988 (the year I moved from MI to NC) because her husband Steve (my father's name) is a Marine stationed on Camp Lejeune (that's why we went)... a little bit creepy and a little bit cool all at the same time.

I have since discovered that this is a sequel, so I will definitely be looking for the first book in the very near future.



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Review: A Little Princess

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I have always loved this story. As a child, what drew me to it is the fact that the main character has my name. Now, I just love the idea of a child who is secure enough in her own ideas about who she is (at the age of 11!) to take all of the abuse that is heaped upon her but still maintain her imaginative spirit and ability to help others.

A great story and one that I will read many more times, I'm sure.



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Review: Durable Goods

Durable Goods by Elizabeth Berg

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I'm not sure what I was expecting from this book, but at the end I felt as though I had not found it. Katie's life is very similar to mine at that age (the major difference being the absent mother). I lived with a military father who was often more violent than he should have been with his two daughters, I didn't have many friends, and moving from place to place was simply a fact of life.

The ending seemed rather abrupt. Just as the story was starting to really move and I was getting interested, the book was over. No real conclusion, just *poof* turn the page and it's an interview with the author instead of another chapter.

It wasn't terrible - it brought back a lot of childhood memories of living on and near USMC bases and the lifestyle of a military brat. But I definitely was left wanting more.



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Review: Chasing Francis: A Pilgrim's Tale

Chasing Francis: A Pilgrim's Tale by Ian Morgan Cron

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Many Christians question their faith from time to time. But when a pastor questions his faith in front of the entire congregation during a service, things will never be the same for either the pastor or the church. This book is about just such a crisis of faith, and what the pastor does to reclaim his faith in himself and his faith in God.

I found this to be an exceptionally interesting, if not a fast read. I felt the need to stop and reflect now and then upon what I was reading or had just read. I like books like this - books that make me think about how my life relates to what I am reading. Chase's journey to discover whether he still believes in God is simple, yet takes some complicated twists and turns. I had hoped for a different conclusion, but it is what I was expecting.

I was given an advance copy of this book in exchange for a fair review. I was not required to give a good review; the opinions expressed herein are my own.



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