Sariah is half way through Return of the Guardian King by Karen Hancock, and is so excited by the book, that she couldn't wait to give you her review. Here is the first half. Warning: there is a spoiler section that I've clearly marked, so if you don't want too much info, be sure to skip over that part.
Now, on to Sariah's Review part 1:
First let me say that I absolutely love this series. Karen's characters are so real and believable I find myself engrossed in the trials and often dream about what might happen next if I read too late at night. That being said, I waited over a year before I read book 3 because I knew the struggle Abramm was going to have to go through and didn't think I was up to facing it quite yet. But when April told me she wanted me to blog for book 4, I figured it was time to read book 3. And actually, it wasn't the torturous, monumental, aggravating dilemma I was expecting. Karen did a great job of portraying the character's mixture of insecurities, feelings and doubts without leaving me so frustrated I wanted to throw the book across the room. (Which I never do, but often want to with other authors.)
Not to say I wasn't frustrated at any point in the books. The Rhu'ema definitely need to die. Their manipulations and plottings remind me of Frank Peretti's Piercing the Darkness and This Present Darkness. The spiritual warfare that is going on all around the characters makes me wonder if that isn't at all similar to what is going on around us. Actually, it kind of scares me, especially when you see possessed people being used and plans being laid years in advance to bring about someone's downfall. But I guess that just goes to show that we need to have faith in God just as Abramm holds true to the Light and trusts in Eidon. I love the analogy, not only for it's witness of Christianity, but also of how it is expertly woven into the tale. It is definitely an intricate part of the tapestry, but at the same time I do not find it lecturesome or distracting from the story.
Spoilers
Okay, so I am at a point in the story where things are going well. Maddie has just told Trap that Abramm is alive. I can't wait to find out what the significance of the red dragon is (although I have my theories) and I really need to have Carissa and Trap work things out soon or I just might have to strangle them both. :o) But at least Maddie knows Abramm is alive now, so she is not going to go off and get married, or at least she better not! Oh and one more thing. I love the new enemy, Tapheina, though I really hope she gets it in the end. She is just downright wrong in my book! :o) I am sure there will be more scenes with her ahead and I anticipate hating her even more by the end.
End Spoilers
I am anxious to finally finish the series. But it will be a bittersweet moment as it always is when I have to say good bye to characters who have wormed their way into my heart. I would love to have the whole series on CD to be able to listen to whenever I want to revisit Kiriath but don't have the time to sit and read all four books again. Also, I loved the cover of book 4. Actually, I loved all the covers, but when I saw book 4, I was immediately captivated and wanted to sit down then and there and start reading. The power portrayed in that picture along with the title, put to rest all my fears of who will win out in the end. I know, I know, the good guy always wins, but at what cost? That is the question that keeps me reading at night. :o) On a side note, I am glad that I waited so long to read book 3 because if I had had to wait a year for book 4 to come out after that cliff hanger, I would have been very frustrated and annoyed with Karen. :o) Way to keep your readers hooked! But oh, you are cruel!!! :o)
I want to thank Sariah for being such a great friend and helping me out with this review. If this isn't enough to make you run to your nearest book store and buy the series, well then, there may be no hope for you. :) Just Kidding. Stay tuned, because Sariah will be back with the last half of her review in a few days.
A.
Now, on to Sariah's Review part 1:
First let me say that I absolutely love this series. Karen's characters are so real and believable I find myself engrossed in the trials and often dream about what might happen next if I read too late at night. That being said, I waited over a year before I read book 3 because I knew the struggle Abramm was going to have to go through and didn't think I was up to facing it quite yet. But when April told me she wanted me to blog for book 4, I figured it was time to read book 3. And actually, it wasn't the torturous, monumental, aggravating dilemma I was expecting. Karen did a great job of portraying the character's mixture of insecurities, feelings and doubts without leaving me so frustrated I wanted to throw the book across the room. (Which I never do, but often want to with other authors.) Not to say I wasn't frustrated at any point in the books. The Rhu'ema definitely need to die. Their manipulations and plottings remind me of Frank Peretti's Piercing the Darkness and This Present Darkness. The spiritual warfare that is going on all around the characters makes me wonder if that isn't at all similar to what is going on around us. Actually, it kind of scares me, especially when you see possessed people being used and plans being laid years in advance to bring about someone's downfall. But I guess that just goes to show that we need to have faith in God just as Abramm holds true to the Light and trusts in Eidon. I love the analogy, not only for it's witness of Christianity, but also of how it is expertly woven into the tale. It is definitely an intricate part of the tapestry, but at the same time I do not find it lecturesome or distracting from the story.
Spoilers
Okay, so I am at a point in the story where things are going well. Maddie has just told Trap that Abramm is alive. I can't wait to find out what the significance of the red dragon is (although I have my theories) and I really need to have Carissa and Trap work things out soon or I just might have to strangle them both. :o) But at least Maddie knows Abramm is alive now, so she is not going to go off and get married, or at least she better not! Oh and one more thing. I love the new enemy, Tapheina, though I really hope she gets it in the end. She is just downright wrong in my book! :o) I am sure there will be more scenes with her ahead and I anticipate hating her even more by the end.
End Spoilers
I am anxious to finally finish the series. But it will be a bittersweet moment as it always is when I have to say good bye to characters who have wormed their way into my heart. I would love to have the whole series on CD to be able to listen to whenever I want to revisit Kiriath but don't have the time to sit and read all four books again. Also, I loved the cover of book 4. Actually, I loved all the covers, but when I saw book 4, I was immediately captivated and wanted to sit down then and there and start reading. The power portrayed in that picture along with the title, put to rest all my fears of who will win out in the end. I know, I know, the good guy always wins, but at what cost? That is the question that keeps me reading at night. :o) On a side note, I am glad that I waited so long to read book 3 because if I had had to wait a year for book 4 to come out after that cliff hanger, I would have been very frustrated and annoyed with Karen. :o) Way to keep your readers hooked! But oh, you are cruel!!! :o)
I want to thank Sariah for being such a great friend and helping me out with this review. If this isn't enough to make you run to your nearest book store and buy the series, well then, there may be no hope for you. :) Just Kidding. Stay tuned, because Sariah will be back with the last half of her review in a few days.
A.
2 comments:
Oooohh, very good! And I'm one who had to wait over a year after reading book 3! Not kind to her readers, at all. LOL
Becky
Looks like an awesome read!
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