Fiction Addict

Genre: Science Fiction

Publisher: Penguin

Release Date: July 2010

Reviewed by Josh Olds

When the book’s protagonist is a computational demonologist who works for a secret British intelligence agency called the Laundry, you can have a pretty good idea that the book’s going to be…intriguing…and The Fuller Memorandum is certainly that.

Bob Howard lives life as a typical ordinary everyday computational demonologist, that is, he’s a type of mathematical exorcist who uses advanced and secret technology to battle the paranormal. It all begins when things go wrong, and everything spirals down from there. He’s already in hot water with the bureaucracy for accidentally killing a civilian during an exorcism, but things get worse when his boss goes missing. Like, end of the world worse.

The Fuller Memorandum was an ultra-above-top-secret document written by the Laundry’s founder describing the process of binding a demon known as the Eater of Souls to a human body. Back in the day, those who had bound the demon to a body had wanted to use it as the ultimate weapon. And now it looks like someone else wants a chance to tame the beast. Russians? Maybe. Cultists? Perhaps. Russian cultists? Don’t be silly. But it’s clear that they’re all involved somehow. As Howard searches for the memorandum, he finds himself drug into a middle of a battle that puts him face to face with the Eater of Souls.

Written in a sometimes-snarky, rarely-serious, tone, Charles Stross’s The Fuller Memorandum is a mishmash of science fiction, witty humor, outlandish happenstances, and social satire. The plot doesn’t go much of anywhere for about the first 100 pages or so, but once I acclimated to Stross’s storytelling methods – and once the story finally got itself rolling – I began to enjoy it. Stross seems to enjoy snarky humor more than plot sometimes, and occasionally the witticisms distract rather than enhance the plot (I get it dude. The iPhone is shiny. Calling it the JesusPhone every single time you mention it is a bit over the top.). Stross also has no problems with breaking the fourth wall on occasion, and most often this is effective.

So my conclusion is that I’m conflicted. It takes the reader a while to get used to Stross’s style and takes Stross even longer to begin focusing on where the story is going to go (though to his credit, Stross manages to tie in earlier events later on). I understand part of his goal was to satirize, and he does so to some effect, but at times the satire takes precedence over the actual story. The book’s second half blends the humor and plot a bit better and gets to the crux of the plot. No doubt this is something that sci-fi fans will want to read, and it was something I ultimately enjoyed, despite its flaws.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Young Adult

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication Date: April 2010

Reviewed by Shaun Stevenson

When I first saw that Dawn Miller would be releasing a title to the YA world, The Prophecy, book one in The Watchers Chronicles, I was excited. It sounded interesting from the back of the book, and seemed like it could be just what the Christian YA market needed: a strong sci-fi / fantasy novel to really help jump-start the genre. And then I saw the angel wings on the cover. And I thought, “This is trying to cash in on the new angels trend in writing (following on the heels of the still-going vampire one).” But I still gave it a try, and after closing the last few pages of The Prophecy, I must say that I left it with mixed feelings.

Five friends. Separated by dark forces that would want to keep them as far apart as possible. An ancient prophecy. About Watchers who would help lead the battle against the darkness. And in the middle of everything: Jonah, a strung-out kid who just can’t figure out life or anything else for that matter. He doesn’t know what to do… until the nightmares start. Sending him back in time to when he and his friends were young. And it may be that the past holds the key to their very survival against the evil that is coming after them all.

The beginning slams into action and is riveting, really, as Miller slowly paints the first few chapters with just enough edge and mystery to keep things going. I told a couple of friends right at the outset that they should go get a copy and start reading because it was good. Insanely good. But then I hit the middle. And then it dragged all the way out to the very bitter end, and promised another installment at some point in the future.

The problem for me came in a couple things. First, after a few chapters, the characters started piling up. It was getting harder and harder to figure out who was who, and who had done what, and why. I kept just getting more and more confused as to who exactly the main character was. And then I figured it out: there were about six main characters, all having about equal time to tell their part of the story. And that was the first thing that started bugging me. It would have been a much stronger novel if Miller had just brought things down to one or two main characters, three at the very most, and eliminated the head hopping chapter after chapter. Things got even worse when random side characters also got stage time — and when the whole host of strange names show up, it’s difficult to really follow who’s who anymore.

Second, a lot of the novel is told in flashback, which normally I don’t really have a big problem with. I’ve read some books with more flashbacks than The Prophecy and still enjoyed them a lot. The problem here is that the flashbacks mush together with the present story, and it became confusing at times as to what exactly was happening. I found myself lost more than once and had to re-read sections to figure it out. The other problem with the flashbacks was the fact that since we had so many main characters, each one had to tell their version and give just a few more details about the event, which soon got old.

Another thing that seemed to be problematic was the writing style itself. At times, I found myself flipping pages so quickly through the scenes and action that I lost track of time. But for bulks of the novel, I found myself distracted, lost without real concrete settings and descriptions of what exactly was happening. If Miller had gone through the book one more time and siphoned out those last few bumps, it would have made things a lot easier to follow and digest.

But, all that said, there was still something about the book that was intriguing and well-done. I found myself surprised at quite a few plot twists, which were actually fairly decent, and there were moments of action sequences where Miller truly shined in her writing style and just made things flow along. The other thing that I appreciated was the true-to-life feel of the dialogue. Nothing sounded stilted or written down. It felt real as the characters talked with each other.

In some ways, The Prophecy suffers from first-book-syndrome. It takes its time setting things up, and in the process, loses out on what it could have been if Miller had just really dove in and made this thing shine. I think that her follow-up will start to fall into that category, because obviously she has the ability to write it. From those peeks into her really good stuff, I know it’s possible for her to put out something that really stuns the reader and pulls them in. It’s just going to take some tapping into that part of her story-telling.

All said, The Prophecy wasn’t a total waste of time. It was definitely intriguing, but it might be handy to make a little scorecard for yourself as you read — just to keep track of the people… and the flashbacks.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Drama

Publisher: Algonquin

Publication Date:  August 2010

Reviewed by Marianne Peters

Barnacle Love has haunted me for weeks. I thumb through it almost against my will, revisiting the visceral prose and atmospheric stories, tales of immigrants’ dreams and the realities that quench them.

Manual Antonio Rebelo is a man who straddles two cultures, but who feels at home in neither one. The first half of the book tells how he came to Canada from the Azores to find wealth and success, away from the immediate reach of his mother. Maria Rebelo is a cruel, selfish woman who openly prefers Manual to his other siblings and whose evil influence corrupts their lives, even from across the sea, as eventually all his siblings follow him to Canada in part to escape her. Maria’s tainted love creates conflict between the characters and in Manual, who craves his mother’s approval, but feels guilty that he has all of it.

Despite his acquired patriotism, Manual does not blend into his adopted country. The close-knit community of Portuguese immigrants and, eventually, alcohol, ease his loneliness, but do not restore his dreams. The second half of the book follows Manual’s son Antonio, who feels only his father’s disappointments, not his hopes, and who is bewildered by the superstitious island culture he knows only through his parents. He is a loyal son who longs to see his father succeed, but he eventually chafes under “the Dream” his father has tried to pass along to him.

Like tiles in a mosaic, each story-chapter adds to the tale of the Rebelo family, whose members are connected through layers of tradition and loyalty, but also through self-sacrifice and revenge – a “barnacle love” that clings to, but also damages, its host. The latter chapters are set in 1970’s Toronto, imagined through specific details that transport us to that time and place. Images from the stories reveal themselves like folklore: a fish called “Big Lips”, a bed full of broken seashells, a bloody wedding gown, a statue of Mary with chipped toes, and a lonely dory adrift in the ocean. The characters are starkly, but compassionately drawn, especially Manual, who is by turns noble and helplessly inept. We are left asking, how much of his ruin was his own, and how much of it was the humiliation he suffered trying to become Canadian and leave his past behind?

Barnacle Love is a beautifully written tale of an immigrant’s experience in a new land and the aftermath, as Manual finally understands that “a dream is not responsible to the one who believes it.”

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publication Date: September 2010

Publisher: WaterBrook

Reviewed by Anne Barnhill

In her latest book, Lady in Waiting, Susan Meissner uses the familiar technique of the frame story; that is, a story within a story.  In this instance, the outer layer of the tale is set in current-day Manhattan, where Jane Lindsay owns an antique shop.  Her husband of twenty-two years, Brad, has just told her he needs some “time to think” about their marriage and has taken a job in New Hampshire.  Her only child, Connor, is in college, and her nearby parents continue to let her know their opinions about her life in no uncertain terms.

In the second part of the frame, the story revolves around Lady Jane Grey, great-niece of King Henry VIII, deceased, and cousin to the boy-king, Edward VI.  Lady Jane has been portrayed through history as a young girl who was used to stage a coup after Edward’s demise.  She, along with her 16-year-old husband, Guildford Dudley, was named as Edward’s successor, rather than Princess Mary, old Henry’s daughter.  She reigned as Queen for nine days before Mary took back her throne.  Jane Grey ended up losing both the crown and her head.  Meissner’s version adds the hope that somewhere along the way, Jane Grey had more control over her life than it seems.  She also gives Jane a dear friend, her seamstress, Lucy, who becomes important to Jane as someone in whom she can confide.

The devise on which these two stories turn is an antique ring that shows up in some new merchandise arriving from England.  Jane Lindsay discovers the ring in the spine of an ancient prayer book and is fascinated by it, primarily because the inscription has her name on it–Jane.  In Latin, there is also a verse from the Song of Solomon, “You have captured my heart, my sister, my bride.”  Jane becomes obsessed with finding out more about her ring.

As the stories unfold, we see some similarities emerge between the lives of these two women separated by five hundred years.  Both women seem helpless in the face of what happens to them.  Both seem overpowered by their parents’ expectations and the mores of the time.  Both have strong faith and both end up making a life-altering decision and taking the responsibility for that choice.

Meissner is a competent writer whose prose takes on more energy in the historical portion of the story than the contemporary.  And this is one of the difficulties with the frame story.  Both stories should have equal intensity and sustaining interest.  Unfortunately, this balance is very difficult to achieve.  Meissner does not quite master it and the historical portion of the book carries more danger, more heartfelt characters and a better plot.  I find it hard to care much whether Jane Lindsay’s marriage works out or not.  In fact, I discover a large part of me is disappointed with the outcome of her story.

On the other hand, the story of Lady Jane Grey and her seamstress, Lucy, is fraught with life or death situations, arranged marriages and intrigue.  There is much more at stake here than the survival of a mediocre marriage.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Young Adult

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Publication Date: October 2010

Reviewed by Shaun Stevenson

War with Venezuela. Oil shortages. Global warming. Riots. And that’s just the beginning in Suzanne Weyn’s new novel Empty. Gwen Jones lives in rural Sage Valley, a small town near the Hudson River, and things are starting to get interesting. Gas prices have soared beyond most people’s budgets, and even worse, gas is in short supply everywhere. And as the oil crisis continues, people are only getting edgier. Soon they’re going to grow desperate – especially as the grocery store shelves look emptier and emptier. Can Gwen and her friends survive in this new and changing world? Or will they succumb to the panic and end up destroying themselves?

Weyn has crafted a truly frightening tale set in the near future, all based on the premise: what would happen if oil actually ran out? What would be the ramifications for regular people trying to live day to day? And she sets out to tell us a story centering around three high schoolers, Gwen, Tom, and Nikki, to challenge thinking and deal with a hard topic in a realistic way.

Going into the book, I knew what it was basically about, and that worried me in a way. I was afraid that this would turn into another environmental treatise, just trying to tell me a bunch of facts and that I should change the way I lived. Of course I don’t mind trying to live in a way that doesn’t affect nonrenewable resources, but it almost seems like media in the past few years can’t find another subject to beat to death. From movies and books to documentaries, the message of green living is always around. And while at times it did feel like Weyn was trying to give me a lesson or two on not wasting resources, most of these discussions were limited to a paragraph, and even then I only found about two sections in the whole book that really seemed preachy.

The characters are fairly well done, and their way of speaking felt true to life. Weyn also throws in some interesting plot twists that really made me gasp out loud and want to keep going. The book itself was fairly quick and easy to read, and the ending comes around in a good way. I was wondering how on earth she could end the novel – since things kept getting worse and worse as it went along. But the ending is realistic and well-brought together, without feeling like I had just read an article on green living.

Overall, while preachy at a couple quick spots (which were easy to get past), Weyn does a good job of crafting a solid story around a realistic and ominous idea. There was plenty of suspense and action to keep things moving, and Empty is definitely one that I would recommend for someone looking for a book that goes a little deeper than others.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher:  Touchstone

Publication Date:  July 2010

Reviewed by Jennifer Roman

In Southeast Africa, the village of Kura is one of several tribes of prehistoric peoples living under a matriarchal system.  The Mother is the leader of the tribe, and every summer, the men go hunting or trading to provide for the families while the women stay behind and prepare for the upcoming winters.  In spring, there is a Bonding Ceremony in which a woman, based on seniority, chooses a mate.  Whistle, the leader of the Kura, has to choose a new mate because her traditional one does not come back from the previous year.  This year, she chooses Bapoto, a male who is previously unfamiliar to the tribe.  He brings with him new ideas about mating, leadership, and society in general.  The tribe eagerly goes along with his ideas, but Snap, Whistle’s oldest daughter, does not.  It is frowned upon to question the Mother, who also goes along with Bapoto, and eventually, Snap, pregnant and alone, sets off on her own to be away from Bapoto’s ideas.  Snap learns to live on her own and in whom she can trust when she creates her own society.

Told from a very interesting perspective, Daughter of Kura attempts to provide insight into people when they are still evolving from animal.  These people have body hair and can run on all fours.  Rather than speak, they can only make noise or communicate through a sign language.  They do not yet have the ability to start their own fire, so they must protect and transport whatever fire they have.  It is a very difficult world in which people are still very much prey in the chain of life.  At times it is difficult to figure out what is happening because the characters use sounds to express themselves, and the reader may not always pick up on the intent.  Also, Austin makes a point of saying, “she signed” or “she made the motion of arguing” instead of just saying “she argued.”  While this is probably very true to historical data, at times it can cause confusion or interruption on the part of the reader.

This story is rich in history and in standing up for what one believes.  It is admirable that Snap is willing to risk her life and the life of her baby in order to leave what she believes to be an oppressive force overcoming the village.  What Snap finds to be an oppressive force, however, rings of the beginning of spirituality and religion.  Bapoto suggests that it is important to pray to the Great One before a hunt; while someone is recovering from an illness or injury; or during a festival.  He wants to change the mating system so that women have the same man for life.  He also creates a mourning time for people who have died.  Some things he does, however, are unpopular with the tribe.  He chooses a mate for Snap and in trying to force the union, allows the new mate to rape Snap.  He creates a feeling of oppression in the entire village by not allowing others to talk to Snap when she challenges his opinions.  He starts to take over the entire village and usurp Whistle’s power.  He just seems to want to take over everything.

Austin succeeds at describing prehistoric humans and what their everyday ordeals are; the story seems to make sense.  Considering how difficult the topic could be, and the historical accuracy issues, Austin does a great job with this book.  It is educational and entertaining at the same time.  It’s not necessarily a “feel good” book with a perfectly happy ending, but issues do get resolved in a “real-world” manner.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Psychological Suspense

Publisher:  Broadway

Publication Date:  July 2010

Reviewed by Jennifer Roman

Thirty-something suburban mom Gwen Raine buys a bag of pot from a former boyfriend to share with her best friend, and takes a hit off a joint in a public park before heading home to her family and a much-needed weekend away at the family’s lake house.  Unfortunately, she is in a car accident, in which the other driver dies.  Gwen is not at fault, but the police search her car and find the bag of pot in her car.  She is forced to take a blood test at the hospital and, under pressure from the local police force, gives up the name of her supplier.  The resulting series of events tests Gwen’s friendships, her marriage, and even changes the life of an innocent girl forever.

The novel Stash is written in many people’s perspectives, and gives different reasons that people do what they do.  It offers an inside look into what a “model” family deals with and how stupid decisions affect people in ways nobody sees.  It also explores what a suburban town will- and will not- tolerate in order to keep its good feeling about itself and its residents.

The characters are all fairly complex and interesting: Gwen is a mom who will do anything for her children and husband, yet she smokes pot on a somewhat regular basis and visits an ex-boyfriend on occasion.  Her husband, Brian, works too many hours and feels the pressure to perform well at work while still being there for his family.  He is currently involved in an ethical issue at work that could make or break the company.  Jude, Gwen’s ex-boyfriend and current supplier, has a college-age daughter whom he protects to the point of being overprotective.  He is a successful restaurant owner but has a growing drug business on the side.  He is considering retiring from the drug business but wants one really big sale before he retires.   Together, these characters, as well as a few auxiliary ones, make for some tough situations and interesting reading.

The book, since it is based on drugs, does have some touchy areas.  There are some brutal murders and some bloody fights.  There is a thwarted rape scene and some foul language.  There are several sexual situations, and of course, there are scenes in which characters use drugs.  It’s not the kind of book a young person or one sensitive to violence should read.  Anyone willing to look into the nasty world of the drug trade in the suburbs, however, will be intrigued by what happens and how people deal with situations.  Stash delivers with its ability to entertain and to keep the reader hooked.  It is not going to be a timeless classic, but it does manage to entertain.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Drama, Suspense

Publisher:  Atria

Publication Date:  March 2010

Reviewed by Jennifer Roman

Jodi Picoult has a reputation for making readers think while being entertained, and she has accomplished that again with House Rules.  The protagonist, Jacob Hunt, is an eighteen-year-old with Asperger’s.  He is on the high end of the spectrum, meaning he can function very well considering his situation.  He is verbal and highly communicative.  He loves CSI-type shows and never misses an episode of his favorite television show: Crime Busters.  Jacob likes to create crime scenes and have his brother or mother try to solve the “crimes.”  When his tutor’s death becomes a real-life crime scene, Jacob is arrested and put on trial for her murder.  His brother, Theo, already feels as though he is pushed out into the cold because their single mother spends all of her time taking care of Jacob’s needs.  When the trial comes, Theo is even more alone.  He struggles with feelings of guilt over resenting all of the time, attention, and money that their mother must put into Jacob’s care.  Emma, their mother, struggles to hold down a job and lead a somewhat normal life while taking care of a child with a disability.  Everyone struggles after the arrest and at the subsequent trial trying to get Jacob a fair chance when his disability makes him look guilty.  One must consider if the penal system should make any accommodations for people with special needs.

The book is entertaining because even though the reader is told up-front what happens and “who done it,” the rest of the characters don’t know and have to figure it out.  Each chapter progresses the story, but each one is told in a different person’s perspective.  Just when the reader thinks he has something figured out, someone else comes along and tells things from a different angle.  This makes the book flow smoothly while keeping the reader interested.  One may have certain opinions or preconceived notions when starting the book, but by the end the opinions may change, or at least will stop to consider someone else.  Picoult really hits the mark in this one because she gives Jacob’s perspective as well, which is very hard to do with someone who is on the Asperger’s spectrum.  Even if the reader is not interested in Asperger’s, there is enough happening throughout the story to keep one entertained.

This book has a mixture of clean and “caution” moments.  Emma is raising two boys and is trying to be a good role model for them, but now and again she slips and uses profanity.  Jacob doesn’t necessarily understand it so he repeats it.  Theo, in his rebellion, uses it frequently.  There is a murder, and the scene is described in some measure of detail.  Emma has a sexual relationship with Jacob’s attorney, and while it is not described in detail, it IS a casual relationship.  These are things that might be typical in one reader’s perspective but that may cause another reader for concern.

After reading House Rules, I am torn between my original perspective on Asperger’s and what has been shown to me.  Picoult opens up a new scenario, a new world, without being preachy or without pushing her opinions onto anyone.  She effectively makes the reader think and put himself into the shoes of the characters that could easily be the family across the street.  The book is well-written and perfect for someone wanting a good read WITH a thought-provoking insight.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Romance

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication Date: June 2010

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

Rodeo Queen, Natalie Adams thought she lost everything down beneath the weight of the tractor that took her father’s life. At 22, she is forced to take over the family ranch and raise her two siblings — a rebellious teenager and a lonely child. Natalie believes she’s hit rock bottom. Instead, more trouble knocks on her door in the form of her long lost and presumed dead step-mother.

Jared Logan arrives in Diamond Falls to pastor his first church — a congregation that resists change. He isn’t prepared to meet Dillon, a boy in dire need of a male role model, but a fishing trip plunges him into the middle of a breaking family. As Jared attempts to befriend Dillon and help the struggling family, the proud and independent Natalie fights him every step of the way.

In Seeds of Summer, Deborah Vogts shows that the best way to face our fears is through faith. Natalie is forced to confront the faith she turned away from as a child, while Jared wrestles with his motives for becoming a pastor. Vogts also tackles the complicated issue of mixed faith relationships.

Seeds of Summer sticks to the classic boy-meets-girl plot. While the plotline and conversations felt cheesy at times, I still enjoyed this easy read. I recommend Seeds of Summer to anyone looking for a good, clean romance with Christian values.

Review copy provided  by publisher.

Genre: Children’s

Publisher: Scholastic

Publication Date: August 2010

Reviewed by Shaun Stevenson

I was really excited to see that Margaret Peterson Haddix was going to be writing the final installment in The 39 Clues series. I had always been a backstage fan of Haddix’s books, and I knew she would be able to bring book ten, Into the Gauntlet, right where it needed to be to finish strong. And I definitely wasn’t disappointed — it took me just a few hours to devour the book, as I was insanely anxious to see how everything would finally end.
Things have not been easy for Dan and Amy. They’ve been close to death numerous times, betrayed by both close friends and evil relatives, and they’ve discovered one shocking secret about their family after another. And now, it’s coming down to the wire. Who will come away with all the clues and become the most powerful people in the world? To make things even worse, Isabel Kabra will stop at nothing — even if it means the death of her own children — to get her hands on the final clues. Can they stop her before it’s too late? Can Amy and Dan save the fate of the entire world? Or will everything crumble to pieces here at the very end?

The writing is just as strong as any other Haddix book. And she brings an extra something to the series that makes it really shine — the characters have become deeper than some of the early cardboard-cast relatives from the earlier books. And this one is the longest yet — coming in at a hefty 300+ pages, there’s plenty of action, humor, and heartache to keep things really going. More secret messages are hidden in the book, and the one at the very end will make readers really on edge. Because perhaps the race for The 39 Clues isn’t over…

** SPOILER WARNING **

One thing that did kind of bother me in a sense is the fact that the series doesn’t actually end. The story arch that is created here in these ten books does end, but things twist around at the very end and leave things hanging for another book or perhaps another whole series to come. I wasn’t ready for the series to end, but in some ways I wanted things to tie up nicely. To actually end. A lot of books in the children’s market aren’t quite ending anymore — making room for possible sequels, which is great sometimes, but it’s also nice to see something end. And end well.

** END SPOILER WARNING **

Overall, The 39 Clues series is worth the investment. It’s fun, it’s easy to read, and it’s challenging in some aspects as we travel with Amy and Dan and watch their character growth over the course of the books. Rick Riordan and Scholastic definitely came up with something well done and conceived, and it was nice to read something for the younger market that wasn’t just another book.

Book purchased by reviewer.

Genre: Young Adult / Children’s

Publisher: Dutton Children’s Books

Publication Date: May 2010

Reviewed by Shaun Stevenson

I had never read a John Grisham novel before Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer. But, since it seemed like everyone I knew had read at least one of his books and enjoyed it, I thought I’d give his first young adult novel a chance. I wish I hadn’t. I tried to enjoy the book, but in the end, Grisham really just let me down.
On the jacket, the story sounded great. Amazing even: a huge murder trial. And it seems as though the only person who knows the truth is Theodore Boone, a local kid who dreams of being a lawyer someday. But today his dreams might be happening because he has to show Honorable Judge Gantry that he really does know who committed the murder. But something’s holding him back — there are people who would love to see Theo silenced. Forever.

** SPOILER WARNING **

Based on what seemed like a good plot, I dived in. And I kept waiting for something to happen. Anything even. And it wasn’t even until page 109 when Theo actually becomes involved in the plot. It turns out that an acquaintance of Theo has a cousin who was at the golf course when the murder took place in the up-scale Waverly Creek neighborhood. And this cousin saw the murder go down. Only problem is that said cousin happens to be an illegal immigrant, and if he goes to the police with the truth, he might be deported. Theo soon becomes obsessed over whether to say anything about these facts to anyone. And it soon goes beyond overboard with his worry. There is never any physical danger to Theo, or this cousin, and by the time the book starts to wrap up, still nothing significant has really happened. The idea behind the plot is definitely a good one, but it had virtually no direct bearing on Theo’s life. There just wasn’t enough of a threat hanging over Theo to hang an entire story on.

Even with the ominous and ever-present villain Omar Cheepe hanging around, nothing happens. There is plenty of foreshadowing that Theo might get hurt — that this cousin might be found out — but nothing ever does happen. It almost felt like I spent the whole novel waiting and waiting, and by the time I reached the end, I couldn’t wait to be done.

** END SPOILER WARNING **

One other thing that really bothered me about the whole book were the characters themselves. It seemed like everyone had been cut out from cardboard — Theo was a goody-two shoes kid, who never did anything wrong. Mr. Mount was the typical mentor / teacher to Theo, who for some reason called all of the boys in his class, “Men.” The parents felt like they were barely there and barely involved at all, and of course there was the estranged Uncle Ike, gruff and off-putting at first, but willing to help later on. I never really felt like I connected with anybody, and to be honest, Theo never experienced any sort of character development. He’s pretty much the same kid we meet at the beginning and the same kid who exits the book.

The writing itself was not bad. Grisham definitely knows how to turn out good sentences and paragraphs and even describe the judicial system without being boring. But at times, I felt like I could have had more fun reading a text book on law written by Grisham instead of this poorly conceived young adult novel. I was half-curious if Grisham has been reading anything current in the young adult / children’s market. Because he sounds highly out of touch with this generation and the way they interact and think.

All said, I’m not ready to dismiss Grisham as an author. I would love to read one of his novels that have good plot twists and well-thought out characters. But Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer is definitely not, and never will be, that novel.

Book purchased by reviewer.

Publisher: David C. Cook

Publication Date: June 2010

Genre: Historical, Romance

Reviewed by Kaci Hill

Sometimes, I break out of my “comfort genres.” I’ve read one of Linda Windsor’s Moonstruck books, and I know she tends to bounce back and forth between historical and contemporary romance. So I accepted the book because, my preferences aside, the woman can write. That, and what’s not to be intriguing about a book that combines Celtic lore, Arthurian lore, a lost line of Davidic kings (yes, King David), and Joseph of Arimathea?

Oh, but then it gets complicated: A family feud began when an enchantress came between two brothers and one brother became so angry he massacred the woman’s clan. She prophesied that, by way of her daughter, the end of their hate would come—then killed herself. The daughter escaped. Twenty years later, a young healer named Brenna and her wolf rescue a prince from an attack that would have killed him. She nurses him back to health, alone in a cave, while the rest of the world faces the repercussions of a supposedly murdered prince.

I liked the story. It was difficult to put down. And I really don’t want to criticize it too much.  The characters are inviting and quite amusing at times.  Ronan, the prince, is quite ill for a good portion of this story—which means Brenna is left to talk to the wolf or to a nightmare-riddled patient bound by fever and tormented by inner demons for  several chapters of the book.

Now, and it may just be that I really read mostly fantasy and suspense (or a good old adventure story), but I will say, the problem was, there was no real fear of how things would turn out, because I was told in advance and the characters don’t ever fully question it. (Ronan does, to a degree, but he lives off Brenna’s faith sometimes.) Moreover, I had a hard time believing Ronan or Brenna could fall in love so quickly. Sure, he was with her for months—but mostly at death’s door during those months. To me, that was far too quick, and a bit forward for a young healer squeamish about having a man in her cave (even unconscious and . . . drugged).  Likewise, Brother Martin is a likeable character, but pages of sermon slow it down.

On top of all this, I counted at least three exorcisms as a means of ending the conflict. An exorcism by itself isn’t the issue. I believe demons exist and that they can oppress and possess people, and I believe that they can be exorcised. The problem is that exorcisms are a bit like faked death or resurrection scenes: You can pull it off once, pretty much, with little to no complaint. Its okay to trick the audience into thinking a character is dead, but if you do it with five characters you break the suspension of disbelief. Likewise, an exorcism is a perfectly legitimate option (and, in dealing with oppressive spirits, not a bad option in this book), but if too many conflicts peak with an oppressing or possessing demon that much be extracted, you’ve effectively broken the fourth wall.

And yes, I understand that’s part of who Brenna is: She can heal body and soul. She’s a restorer of sorts. She purges evil the same way she purges infection from a wound.  But I needed something there.

I suppose, in the end, my thought is this: Brenna is a woman of immense faith. She’s a prophetess and a healer, and she’s a unique breed who understands both her strengths and her weaknesses, knows when to take up her bow and when to become the peacemaker.

But as a believer myself, I don’t need explanation. Ronan’s struggle between faith and pride, between his old life and his new, don’t need exposition.  The story stands on its own without it, and if everyone accepts the deceased prophetess’ oracle as deeply as Brenna, then it releases some of the tension and doesn’t allow her to stand out quite as much as she should.

I will say, when Ronan’s ultimate enemy was finally revealed, I had dismissed him from the list, even though he made sense, so I was as surprised as everyone else. Like I said, Windsor can keep you reading.  She writes believable characters, puts a ton of research into her novels, and can pull you along as long as she wants.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Children’s / Young Adult

Publisher: Egmont

Publication Date: April 2010

Reviewed by Shaun Stevenson

It’s hard to come across a new series that really leaves an impression and actually makes you want to keep reading. With great novels out there for the tween market right now (Percy Jackson, The 39 Clues, etc.) I’m always a little bit skeptical trying to find something new. What if I don’t end up enjoying the book? What if it’s just a waste of time? So when I picked up my copy of Middleworld, book one in The Jaguar Stones by J & P Voelkel, I had pretty low expectations. It looked like it would be a fun romp of some kind based on the back of the book, so I gave it a try. And I’m glad I did. Because now I can’t wait for book number two in December.

Max Murphy is pretty much a selfish kid who doesn’t want anything to do with the Mayans or his parents and their archeology craziness. He’d rather just stay home and video game it up. But when his parents disappear, and Max has to go to San Xavier to find them, suddenly, nothing is as it seems. Evil men are out for the sacred Jaguar Stones, and once they have all five can anyone stop the coming apocalypse? Traveling through dark temples, the jungle, and secret passages, can Max stop the end of the world before it’s too late?

The action never stopped in Middleworld. It felt like the authors kept ramping it up more and more throughout the entire book, and it went even up to the very end. There’s plenty of humor here too, and it’s pulled off in a good way. And the main character goes through one of the best character growth arcs that I’ve seen in a long time — making the book really feel like something more than just your basic action novel. Fantasy fills things up along the way, and readers will learn a lot about the Mayan myths — much like Rick Riordan pulled off with Percy Jackson or The Kane Chronicles in Greek and Egyptian mythology.

Tweens looking for a good fix until the next Riordan novel or just looking for a good fantasy/adventure story will definitely enjoy Middleworld. And the end of the book only promises more good things to come. I know I’ll be watching for book two, and hoping the Jaguar Stones are safe until then…

Review copy purchased by reviewer.

Recently Jake Chism and Tim George sat down with Jeff Gerke, the founder of Marcher Lord Press. Listen in as we discuss the origin of MLP, the upcoming MLP titles, and the status of Christian speculative fiction in today’s market.

More about Jeff:

Jeff Gerke has been called the de facto gatekeeper of Christian speculative fiction. After his own six novels were published (under the pen name Jefferson Scott) and his time spearheading the launch of a fiction imprint dedicated to Christian speculative fiction at a major Christian publishing company, Jeff branched out on his own to launch Marcher Lord Press, an Indie publishing house billing itself as the premier publisher of Christian speculative fiction. His popular fiction how-to book The Art & Craft of Writing Christian Fiction is available through Amazon or Marcher Lord Press and his new craft book from Writer’s Digest Books, Plot versus Character, releases in October 2010. Jeff lives in Colorado Springs with his wife, teenage daughter, 10-year-old son, and 2-year-old adoptive daughter from China.

You can also subscribe to our podcast via iTunes.

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Jake Chism and Tim George share the line with novelist T.L. Hines to discuss his new book, The Falling Away. Listen in as we talk about the theme of addiction in the story, the idea behind “the killbox”, and zombie love stories.

Check out our reviews of The Falling Away.

More about T.L Hines:

Author T.L. (Tony) Hines mixes mysteries with oddities in a genre that has been dubbed “Noir Bizarre”.  In books such as The Unseen, Waking Lazarus, and The Dead Whisper On and his latest THE FALLING AWAY (due in September from Thomas Nelson Books),  Hines leads readers into areas that are often unexplained but always intriguing.  As such, Waking Lazarus received Library Journal’s “25 Best Genre Fiction Books of the Year” award.  Now In THE FALLING AWAY, T. L. Hines delves into issues ranging from teen homelessness to post-traumatic stress disorder in order to peel back greater truths about redemption

Tony L. Hines has been a professional writer for more than 20 years, with articles appearing in publications as varied as Log Homes, Food & Wine, and Travel & Leisure. In 2001, Tony authored his first published book, the nonfiction Billings: A Shining Star in Big Sky Country (CCI Publishing), a historical portrait of Montana’s largest city.

In 1995, Tony founded H2O Advertising with his wife Nancy. In 2003, after eight years of growth, they merged their company with Wendt Advertising (www.iwendt.com) to create the largest advertising agency in the Northern Rockies. From 1995 to 2002, Tony was also the Managing Editor and a contributing writer for Locations magazine, a publication published by the Association of Film Commissioners International (www.afci.org) to promote on-location film production around the world. Locations is distributed to the feature film and commercial production industries.

Tony’s writing has received numerous awards, including state and regional Addys, Silver Microphones (national radio advertising), Tellys (national television), Golden Spikes (PR writing awards) and the Print Magazine Regional Design Annual. He was also selected for the inaugural edition of the “40 Under 40” awards, presented by Western Business News to influential Montana business leaders 40 years of age or less. Today, Hines is recognized as an opinion leader on social networking and new media.

Tony’s long list of past odd jobs includes trimming Christmas trees, sorting seed potatoes, selling strawberries, and cleaning cadaver storage rooms. As a teen, he was undefeated in air guitar competitions (a record of 3-0), in which he performed songs by ZZ Top.

To interview T.L. Hines or request a reviewer copy of THE FALLING AWAY, contact Allen Media Strategies Aaron Leistner at (703) 589-8960 or aaron@allenmediastrategies.com.

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Genre: Thriller, Political

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Publication date: September 2010

Reviewed by Jeremy Taylor

Power Down marks the emergence of a major new talent in the political thriller genre—no small feat in a field already packed with big names like Vince Flynn, Brad Thor, and David Baldacci. In terms of sheer entertainment value, author Ben Coes and his hero, the unusually but memorably named Dewey Andreas, are easily and immediately competitive with the very best the thriller field has to offer.

When Islamic terrorists simultaneously attack a U.S.-owned oil rig off the coast of Columbia and a huge hydraulic dam in the wilderness of northern Canada, the world waits in fear for the repercussions of such a devastating blow dealt to America’s power supply and infrastructure. But while politicians and bureaucrats tremble and wring their hands, rig boss and former Army Ranger Andreas steps forward to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice and that nothing like this will ever happen again. Working with industry insiders who truly understand the ramifications of the deadly attacks, Andreas quickly makes progress toward identifying the true nature and origin of the remaining threat. But first he has to get himself out of harm’s way and avoid ending up the victim of an assassin’s bullet. With a mole in the CIA working against him and dozens of viable targets still at risk, time is short. And the consequences of failure are unthinkable.

Power Down is a straightforward, fast-paced, and exciting story in the tradition of Tom Clancy and Stephen Coonts. The central threat is realistic and dramatic and feels like it could appear in tomorrow’s headlines. Coes uses a creative mixture of research and imagination, the result of which is a mostly realistic and believable terrorist scenario that is as frightening as it is plausible.

Coes, who used to be a White House speechwriter, demonstrates good command of language and has a sense of story pacing that is surprising for a first-time fiction author. The characters are likeable, if a bit formulaic, and there are a few welcome surprises in the cast, such as the patriotic head of the American energy conglomerate, and the villain, whom Coes paints with a decent back-story motivation rather than resorting to cartoonishness. Objectionable material is minimal but not absent; sensitive readers should be prepared for lots of violence and some inexplicit sexual content.

In an uncertain—not to say depressing—real-world economic and political environment, it’s refreshing to read a story where the characters, for the most part, respond the way you wish people would in real life. Power Down is a great debut and should easily secure a place on the best-seller lists and atop the thriller market.

Review copy provided by St. Martin’s Press.

Genre: Literary Fiction

Publisher: Crown

Publishing Date: April 2010

Reviewed by Ashley Barrett

Buckley Pitank never wanted to see the red dirt of his Arkansas hometown again. But after losing his mother, Abigail, in a fatal lightning strike, Buckley returns to Arkansas and his abusive religious stepfather. The Reverend declares that God judged Buckley’s mother for running away with Buckley to a seaside town in Texas. Buckley himself feels judged by God, who took Abigail and left him with the Reverend.

In Buckley’s desperation to better understand lightning strikes, he goes to New York and spends six years writing The Handbook for Lightning Strike Survivors.

Lightning touched Becca Burke as a child. No one took her claim seriously until lightning struck her again as a teenager. After reading Buckley’s book, she feels that someone understands what she experienced and so she writes to him. Her letter, the only contact he’s ever received from a reader, leaves a lasting impression in Buckley’s mind.

Eventually fate introduces Becca and Buckley in person and they help each other find closure from their troubled pasts.

Overall, I enjoyed The Handbook for Lightening Strike Survivors. I had a lot of fun seeing how all the loose ends of this story fit together by the end and I especially appreciated the literary quality without the usual doom and gloom message. The characters endure a sad set of circumstances, but they emerge more or less in one piece.

However, the characters of The Handbook for Lightening Strike Survivors often put themselves in unsavory situations so readers sensitive to graphic sexual content and drug use will want to steer clear of this story. But those who frequently read literary fiction may consider The Handbook clean compared to other books in the same genre.

Debut author Michele Young-Stone gives us a story with interesting, deeply flawed people and satisfying prose. I recommend this book for readers who enjoy unique, interwoven story lines about broken people that meet a hopeful, if not happy, ending.

Genre: Thriller

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication Date: May 2010

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

At the frantic request of Sam Watson, a lifelong family friend, archaeologist Dilara Kenner shortens her excavation trip in Peru and hurries back to Los Angeles. Sam won’t share any details, but he insists she tell no one about their conversation. At their rendezvous, Sam informs her of a group planning an attack that will kill millions in an attempt to create a new and “better” world. Sam claims he has discovered they are the same group responsible for her father’s disappearance three years ago. Her father, renowned archaeologist Hasad Arvadi, had spent his life searching for Noah’s Ark and, according to Sam, Hasad found proof of its existence, but never had the chance to share his discoveries. Before Sam can tell her everything, he is poisoned. With his final breaths he tells her to elicit Tyler Locke’s help and gives her several key words, “Hayden … Project … Oasis … Genesis … Dawn …” At first, Dilara is tempted to brush off his words, but when a Black SUV runs her into oncoming traffic, she realizes her mistake. Dilara doesn’t understand why, but she knows one thing for sure, she must find Tyler Locke and figure out how he fits in to the mess that has just taken over her life.

Tyler Locke is an engineer and co-founder of Gordian Engineering. He is doing a job on the Scotia One oil platform when he receives a puzzling call from a so called Dr. Kenner. Dilara travels to the Scotia One and Tyler believes she’s crazy especially when she insists the key to preventing the attack is finding the lost ark. But when he witnesses a couple attempts on her life, the last one intended for him as well, Tyler is forced to admit there may be truth in her words after all.

So begins Dilara’s and Tyler’s adrenaline pumping race against the clock to not only save their own lives, but millions of innocent people. The cat-and-mouse hunt will not only take them across countries, but also continents as they search for an unknown threat as well as a historical artifact that many doubt ever existed.

The Ark by Boyd Morrison offers an interesting mixture of the past, present, and maybe not so distant future. Dilara is a representation of those who believe there can be some truth to the Biblical stories, even if not literal. Tyler on the other hand, only believes what he sees.

The line between reality and fiction is so blurred in this book; often the reader won’t know one from the other. This gives the novel a realistic feel despite the large amount of unrealistic content such as the disease they discover, or some of the technology used. For the most part, I enjoyed this blur between reality and fiction. I liked not always knowing what was real and what belonged to Morrison’s imagination. However, I felt disappointed by his loose interpretation of the Biblical story. Still, since it is a piece of fiction I don’t believe the loose interpretation takes away from the novel. For romantics, a budding romance does spark between the two characters, but it never takes over, the novel remains a thriller through and through. The Ark offers a fun and interesting read that I would recommend to those who enjoy a good-paced thriller.

Review copy provided by Simon & Schuster.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher: Tyndale House

Publication Date: September 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

When we last left these beloved characters, the future looked bleak. Hildemara Rose, Marta’s daughter, was ill with tuberculosis again and needed Marta’s help. It was a hard battle that she fought to keep her sanity together while asking her mother for help. She knew that it would be difficult. Even knowing that, she didn’t realize how long she would struggle with the mistakes that were made or how far the tendrils of these roots would grow.  Generations would feel the ripples from this decision.

As we weave through the lives of Hildemara, her daughter Carolyn and later, Carolyn’s daughter, May Dawn Flower, we get to experience the heartache and joy that comes from being a parent. Because of the way that Rivers crafted the stories of these five women, she gifts the reader with insight into the characters that she wraps in the powerful emotions that come with parenting.   Patterns of behavior erupt into circles of dysfunction throughout the generations but never with spite or malice. Everything’s based on simple miscommunication and misunderstanding.  Sometimes, as a reader, it’s frustrating to see the mistakes being made. You might want to yell or shake the book a little as you go, but the moments of amazing beauty and grace outshine these frustrations.

Her Daughter’s Dream reminds me of a poem about the way God works in our lives. The poem states that as we live our lives and God does his work, it’s like a tapestry. We can only see the underside of the tapestry which isn’t neat or pretty or beautiful. But when it’s done, we can see God’s perspective and it’s a masterpiece. This book felt that way. There were moments when I was reading and I had to stop because it was too painful for me to move on. My heart was heavy for these characters and I couldn’t shake the heartrending emotion of the moments. But then like a magnet I would be drawn back to the story and would find myself so enraptured in the story that I could not put it down. Once I’d completed the book, I could see the painful twists and turns in the story for the beauty they added to the whole. To say the least, it was stunning.

Made up of gorgeous characters and painfully real dialogue and plot twists, Rivers does not shy away from the hard topics. She plunges into the heart of these difficult issues much like opening a painfully infected wound. She gives them fresh air and covers them in the healing grace of God’s word so easily that it’s hard to remember that this is fiction. This is a book crafted by someone and yet it feels as if you’re watching someone’s life unfold before you.

With incredible passion, and a deftness of word, Francine Rivers takes mother daughter relationships and transports them away from the perfect fantasy that is so often seen in books and movies and brings it home to a gripping reality that is sure to touch mothers and daughters everywhere. These two books, Her Mother’s Hope and Her Daughter’s Dream, are perfect gifts for anyone in your life who is a mother, daughter, grandmother or granddaughter.  Few books these days really change your life as you’re reading. Her Daughter’s Dream accomplishes this and more.

Review copy provided by Tyndale.

Listen in as Jake Chism, Lori Twichell, Josh Olds, and James Andrew Wilson analyze and dissect Ted Dekker’s latest novel, Immanuel’s Veins. What did we think about Dekker’s use of the first person? Is this a Books of History Chronicles novel? Vampires or no vampires? We’re tackling all of these questions and lots more. Enjoy!!

SPOILER WARNING!!!! This podcast review contains spoilers throughout. If you have not read the book proceed at your own risk!

Check out our recent podcast interview with Ted Dekker and our print reviews of IV.

(NOTE: The interview with Ted Dekker referenced in this podcast was recorded in March 2010 and can be found here).

You can also subscribe to our podcast via iTunes.

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