Book Review- Implant

Welcome to the world of a universal cure. Gordon Harding didn’t ask for the life he has. He didn’t ask to be orphaned. He didn’t ask to go through life with cancer. And he certainly didn’t ask to be pulled into a future world without warning–a world where every human being is controlled by means of a medical implant. And when he learns that he’s the only one who can destroy the base of operations, he’s faced with an impossibly painful choice: either hide and let the world decay under this mysterious futuristic force, or rescue humanity from oppression, knowing that there’s someone out there who is willing to use any means necessary to stop him.







Pennington has done it again folks! Implant is my first venture into the genre known as dystopian, and it was a lovely first step. I feel a bit sentimental here, as Pennington's Firmament series was my first venture into the genre of scifi. She is an amazing author whom I respect and support greatly.

In truth, for the first two-thirds of the book, I expected to be posting a very different review on here. The story was rather slow, and I felt that there were some loopholes in the plot which did not make sense. I held on, however, because I loved the characters.

Pennington did a magnificent job of creating three unique and well-rounded characters to take the spotlight. None of the characters read like a typical "hero", or "knight in shining armor". They were fallible, annoying, and even physically fell short of what most would consider to be hero material. I loved all three for those very reasons. With these characters, Pennington captured what being a hero actually means in a very real sense. She appealed to my human side, as opposed to my superhuman desires. 

Gordon was not what you would call endearing, attractive, or even fun. And yet, you found yourself identifying and rooting for this scrawny kid who can't run for more than a few seconds without feeling like he's going to die. He whined, he was angry, he made poor choices, and he was incredibly insecure. But when the chips were down, Gordon Harding came out a hero.

Doc. I had a very distinct "Han Solo" flavor come to mind whenever Doc was around. Gruff and cynical, his persona was that of someone untouchable. But in brief flashes of vulnerability, you saw the heart of gold beneath Doc's dingy shirt and jacket. In the end, Doc came out a hero.

Neil Crater. I'm not intentionally keeping up with the Star Wars theme here, but Dr. Neil Crater was about as "Luke Skywalker" as they come. Passionate and eager, he felt things deeply and was angered when others didn't appear to care as much as he did. He was the fuel to the fire that kept the Rebels alive. He could be annoying and act like a know-it-all, but when it was all said and done, Dr. Neil Crater was a hero.

As I said, the characters kept me going. And when I reached about the two-thirds mark of the book, my faith paid off. Pennington did not disappoint me at all. Plot twists! A sudden change of pace, and a beautiful binding of all loose threads and plot holes. A show-down with a wonderfully creepy villain fulfilled my reader's desires entirely.

I was privileged to help Pennington out with some of the marketing for Implant. I am so thrilled to have had even a little part to play in this project, and I am so proud of Pennington for her skill as a writer.

Check Implant and Pennington's other works out on Amazon. Also, you can find her on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and her blog.

Book Review- Half-Blood

For all his years as a slave, Jace has known nothing but the hatred people hold for his mixed blood--one half human, the other half the blood of a race considered monsters. Always, he is the outsider and quickly learns it is better to keep to himself. Yet, when his volatile ryrik blood leads him to do the unthinkable, he is thrown into a world of violence and bloodshed. 

Forced to become a gladiator, Jace finds more and more of his heart dying as his master works to break down his will not to become the monster everyone believes he is. When a stranger interferes with his master's harsh punishment, Jace's world is upended yet again. But with it comes the possibility of hope that has long since died. Could the man possibly hold the key to escaping the hopeless darkness that is Jace's life? Is there such a thing as life beyond the cruelty of slavery? 

See where Jace's story all began . . . 

It has taken me forever and a day to get this review up. I actually won a copy of Half-Blood in a photo contest weeks ago. Then I had to read it (a very dangerous concept, reading a book for pleasure when you are desperately trying to finish high school). And finally I had to review it. But here it is now in all of its rushed glory.

*Tears and wailing*, oh Jace! Bless your heart, you poor baby! I wanted to reach into the words on the page and grasp the face of this gentle-hearted young man and sob, "You are not worthless! There is such a thing as love, and light! Hang in there sweetheart, Elom is sending help!"

I may have to reread some parts from Resistance and The King's Scrolls with Jace and Kyrin. I need to read the moments where he is given a chance to show how truly gentle and caring he is. And I  especially need the moments when Kyrin refuses to give up on him, or reaches him with a gentle word or touch. It's that or therapy, so I figure rereading the books is cheaper.

Regardless of all of the pain this book brings to your poor heart, it was so neat to finally get a deeper glimpse into Jace's background, well, his soul really. Knight forcing you to endure Jace's suffering only made him all the more real a character, and it only made the other books seem richer. I have an even greater appreciation for who Jace is, and who he will continue to become. 

And I am so shipping Kyrin and Jace even more than I ever was before! Let's hope we get some more relationship developments in the next book, Samara's Peril.

Check out the fantastic author Jaye L. Knight on her website, Facebook, and Twitter. And check out the other books in her Ilyon Chronicles on Amazon. There is also more Ilyon fun here.

Book Review- Machiavellian

On their way back to Earth from the newly discovered world of Kainus Ge, the Surveyor rescues the personnel of a malfunctioning science station. Young medical assistant Andi quickly befriends the newcomers, particularly the charming captain, but things get complicated when the scientists offer the impossible--a way to improve the barren planet and the lives of all its inhabitants. There's only one problem: their solution requires the Surveyor to enter the one area of the galaxy which is off-limits to travel. As the Captain struggles with his decisions, Andi and her father become suspicious of the “accidents” that keep happening on the ship. Could it be coincidence, or is someone trying to sabotage their mission? Can they uncover the truth in time to stop the Captain from wrecking his career and losing his ship forever?





Does the end justify the means? That's really the big moral dilemma presented in Machiavellian. You would think that it might be something of a cliche, but Pennington does a fabulous job handling the question.

There are a lot of raw emotions in the characters carried over from In His Image, particularly by Andi. This gave the book a great feeling of continuity and really made the series feel well put together.

Again, Andi is very real to life as she struggles with a situation where truth and her emotions are colliding.

I will say this, I am about ready for another book, and even more than that, I NEED A ROMANCE! I am about ready to start a petition to get fella for Andi.

Check out Machiavellian on Amazon and read my reviews for Radialloy and In His Image.

Book Review- In His Image

It was supposed to be a routine check of a parched planet. That was what Andi expected when she joined the small exploration team, but when their shuttle crash landed, the unthinkable happened — they encountered intelligent life. Now stranded on the strange world, the team accidentally angers the iron-fisted leader of the village, and the compassionate intervention of a young native named Elasson may be all that's keeping them alive. Their shuttle seems beyond repair, the oppressive heat is sapping their strength, and the local ruler is determined to execute them. Can Andi help find a way to escape before it's too late?









This book is probably my least favorite of the Firmament series, with Radialloy being my top favorite. That fact has nothing to do with poor writing, I just hate sandy deserts. Trust me, this is book you want to read in air conditioning.

I love how normal and real to life the character of Andi is. She is very intelligent and resourceful, and yet, she has a very humble attitude about herself. She loves her people deeply, and earnestly desires to know the truth.

However, desiring to know the truth and actually figuring out what truth is are two very different things. One of the very best features of this series is Pennington's skill at weaving very difficult questions about morally gray areas. Or, in the case of this book, what to do when what you believe and know to be true seem to be contradicted by what you see or experience. These books force you to think.

I loved the character of Elasson in this book. He is sweet, intelligent, and has a very caring heart. I loved the way Pennington wrote how he and Andi bridged the communication gap of two different languages. I personally love languages and have spent a great deal of time trying to imagine how I would communicate with someone when there is a language barrier. Even as I was reading this book I was coming up with ideas of how Andi could express herself to Elasson.

One thing that did bug me about this book was I could not tell for sure if two characters had fallen for each other or not. I feel like it was maybe hinted at, but perhaps I am just suffering from heat stroke. Applause to Pennington once more for upsetting my ego, and I thought I was so great at smelling out a romance!

All in all, In His Image is a fantastic book and very vital to the ongoing Firmament series. Check it out on Amazon! And check out my review for the first book in the series, Radialloy. 

Book Review- Radialloy

The year is 2320. Andi Lloyd is content with her life as the assistant to her adoptive father, a starship doctor, but her secure world turns upside down when she begins uncovering secrets from her past. When her father mysteriously starts losing his mind, she finds that she can no longer count on him to guide or help her. With mutiny breaking out on the ship, and two factions desperate for a valuable secret she holds, she must race to help her father and herself before time runs out.











In preparation for the release of J. Grace Pennington's book Implant, I decided to review her Firmament series.

This was truly the first real science fiction book I had ever read. I chose well. Radialloy literally kept me at the edge of my seat and constantly guessing. Towards the end of the book, I wasn't sure if it the story was going to end well or not. I figured Andi would probably make it out since she has the special privilege of nine lives that comes with being the main character. But I had absolutely no faith that anyone else would make it.

If you are wondering if this book has a Star Trek feel, then yes, you would be correct. But this is a much more earth based type of Star Trek. No emotionless Vulcans or aggressive Klingons to take the spotlight, nor are they needed, the plot of this story and agony of the characters is about all that you can handle. But do sit back and enjoy the fine luxury of living on a Starship. The setting of this book was beautifully used to accent and highlight the intensity of the story.

Something I greatly appreciate about this series and Pennington's writing is that she weaves very true-to-life spiritual problems into her characters' lives, without making it feel pushy or domineering. Andi is a real person with very real struggles and emotions. She is a very relate-able character in that way.

But my favorite part? The fact that Pennington was able to keep me guessing, right up until the last moment! That doesn't happen often, I have become a pretty adept mystery solver and am very quick about getting all of my ducks in a row, or, so I thought.

No, Pennington upset my self-satisfied little idea that I knew what I was doing when it came to solving mysteries and accusing the "bad guys". She left my ego shattered on the floor and forced me to clip up and hang on for dear life like all of the other mortal readers out there.

And the ending? Gah! The closest thing I have to compare it to would be the endings of the Cooper Kids books written by Frank Peretti. In that series, after having a series of events that leaves you breathless and nauseous, it always comes down to a single moment that must be perfectly timed or else all is lost. The ending of Radialloy is very similar in that it all comes down to a single moment of timing.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good, heart-pounding story and the science fiction genre. Five stars all the way!

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You can check Radialloy out here on Amazon. Also, be sure to check out the awesome Facebook party I am hosting on August 19th, 10:30-11:00 in celebration of Pennington's latest book, Implant.

And one, final thing. Guess who's writing a guest post that will be featured here on alivemasterpiece August 16th? That's right! Pennington herself! Please come check and it out and support this talented author.

(N-Depth) Movie Discussion- Age of Ultron

This is my first of my new "N-Depth" posts where I discuss movies on a much deeper level. For those of you who have a fear of spoilers be of good courage, these posts will enable me to get out all of my "feels" about a movie and also enable me to write spoiler-free reviews.




Now, down to business.




Phase 2 of Marvel's movies definitely had a different feeling than the Phase 1 movies. Those were origin stories, more lighthearted and framed like fun adventures. I've seen Avengers countless times and I still enjoy it as fun movie where I can get a good laugh and some good explosions/fight scenes.


But just like every phase has to come to a close, and a new, often more serious one begins, so we must accept that Marvel is also getting down to the serious business of writing superhero movies with greater consequences and gravity. Avengers: Age of Ultron was definitely the most desperate of our Phase 2 movies.




The Avengers themselves were each tested, made mistakes, and had to come to grips with who they were, and what their choices had cost the world. Yeah, I wouldn't want to be Tony Stark right now.



It seemed appropriate to start with Tony Stark/Iron Man, since it is thanks to him that we have Ultron in the first place. Without a doubt, you can depend on Tony to come up with a funny line. His delivery of humorous lines is just fantastic, he and Han Solo rank up there among the best of 'em. Tony is amazing with inventions, gadgets, and all other sorts of techy/nerdy paraphernalia. I said all of that to let you know that I truly do love Tony. That being said, Age of Ultron revealed in a deeper way some fatal flaws in Tony's approach to the world. He's always been the smartest, he's always been the richest, and he's always the guy with all of the answers. In Tony's world, there is no God, no, he is the god. He sincerely believes that it is his job to save/protect the world, to decide how to do that, and then to carry it out. Hence, Ultron. But in truth, Tony takes on way more responsibility than should be given to any one man. In Age of Ultron, Tony was prompted by fear to create something to protect the entire world. I don't blame the guy for being afraid, and I believe that he made the mistake because he cares so much, but as long as anyone tries to play God, there will be consequences. I do think that Tony realized some of this by the end of the movie, where he was much humbler and decided to step away from the chaos for a while. As far as his interaction with the other Avengers goes I really enjoyed it. There was such a sense of teamwork and a deep bond between them. I also think that he and Steve had developed a greater appreciation and understanding for each other, very different from the first Avengers. They are polar opposites in many ways, but there is a definite connection. Unfortunately, the lines were definitely drawn for the next Captain America movie, Civil War, and I dread to see Tony and Steve at odds. I do, however, believe that in their heart of hearts, they care enough about each other to reconcile in the end. Even the best of friends fight each other. One of Tony's Best Lines- "That man has no regard for lawn maintenance."

Now on to my favorite guy. One moment while I look at this poster....ok, I'm back. Ah, what to say. Cap, or Steve, has had a roller coaster of a journey. He's been at this game longer than anyone else on earth. He has been the man of his time, then a man out of time, and now a man adjusted to the time but with the same principles. It takes quite an individual to go through what he has endured and still remain intact with what you believe. Cap is the definite leader of the Avengers when it comes to tactics and strategies, he's a soldier, so he already has the mind for combat situations and the many variables involved. But more than that, Cap is always thinking on a moral level, with preservation of human life and freedom as his number one priority. While all of the Avengers work hard to protect people, no one else lives it out so thoroughly as Cap. I ached for him in this movie, as I have ached for him in every movie. When Scarlet Witch gave Cap a vision it was of a dance back in the 1940s, where everyone was celebrating the end of the war. He kept looking around at all of the people celebrating. Yet all he could hear were the sounds of war. The cameras flashing were like explosions, spilling drinks were spilling blood, and the entire vision had a red overcast to it. And then, Peggy, the love of his life, comes up behind him and asks for her dance. He can't stop looking around, not even when she says, "Steve, the war is over, we can go home now." And suddenly, it's all gone, the room is empty, Peggy is no longer there, and he is left alone. This sums up how Steve feels about his life. His entire adult life has been about war, and while he used to dream of a home and a family, he has lost hope that that will ever be his reality. It's like that dream grew old with Peggy. He has given up on the idea of a family and settled with the idea of being a soldier for the rest of his life. I don't blame Cap for feeling that way, but honestly, it scared me that he set his face in the direction. I feel like they are setting him up so that he is unattached and heroic, and then, a few movies from now, he will die some heroic death. That is definitely one option they could take, or, and this is the one I am hoping for, maybe they are setting him up to meet some incredible person who helps him realize he can have a life besides one of war, and maybe he would decide to retire and have a family. I doubt it will happen, but a girl can dream. Cap's Best Line- "If you get hurt, hurt 'em back, if you get killed, walk it off!"

I feel like Widow has evolved the most of all of the Avengers. She has the most horrible background story of anybody, and while she hides it well, you can often see the torment behind her eyes. She has come so far as a human being. Opening up her heart, allowing herself to be vulnerable, and allowing herself to feel. I think her friendship with people like Hawkeye, Steve, and even to a degree, Nick Fury has really helped. She is open now, ready for the next step. I believe she is even getting war-weary, and would just like to find a place, and a man, to settle with. I adored her sweet romance with Bruce Banner. The fact that she picked him out of a group very deliberately and said, "You, I want you." He almost can't fathom it. They were very beautiful together. Both have experienced some pretty horrendous trauma. I believe they feel something in the common that there are pieces of themselves that they despise, and no matter how much good they do, they both fear what they are capable of. She was so alone at the end of the movie, Banner had taken the easy, and what he believes is noble, way out and left her alone. I can't wait to see what Marvel does with these two, their stories are too compelling to leave hanging. In a way, she and Steve are in the same boat. They both have nothing else to turn to other than being soldiers. Oh well, at least they have each other as friends. I dearly hope that Marvel gives them both a deserving ending. Her Best Line- "I adore you....*kisses Banner and then shoves him off of ledge*....but I need the other guy right now."

Bruce, Bruce, BRUCE! Oh baby, it's time to give yourself a break. Banner is so adorable. He is this insanely intelligent guy who has a heart of gold, and the macho rating of about zero. Think about it, his best guy friends are all macho just by their very existence, and here he is, the rather shy dork who would be more at home in a lab or with children than fighting alien invaders. I think this is why Widow loves him, she doesn't see him as the Hulk, the thing he fears most, she sees him for the gentle and complicated human being that he is. He almost can't believe that anyone could feel for him like she does, but he responds so eagerly to her affection. It broke my heart when he was crying for her as she was relating a bit of her past, the fact that her ability to have children was taken from her. She is very much a broken woman, and he is very much a broken man. But together, they feel a little bit more whole. And then at the end of the movie, he leaves without a trace, believing that he is doing the right thing for Natasha. *Bangs head on wall repeatedly* Oh Banner, come home! She's waiting for you, come home sweetheart! Don't live in fear anymore! You won't hurt her, you will take care of her. Go home, she needs you. I do believe that Banner will eventually have to make a choice to embrace the Hulk as well as he embraces his scientific genius. His journey is taking longer than we'd hoped, but he is making progress. I just can't wait until he arrives there, and I certainly hope that Natasha is there waiting for him when he does. Banner's best line- "Uh, guys, is this a code green? Guys?"

On to our favorite Asgardian prince! Thor was a bit more detached emotionally from this film than he was the last Avengers. But considering that it was his confused and dramatic younger brother on a killing spree the last time, it is understandable. Thor's evolution was very defined. He went from being a war monger and self-centered jerk to a wise and kind man. He has great power, but he doesn't abuse it. Honestly, his part in Age of Ultron was a little difficult for me to follow. I believe they intended for the events surrounding him to be a bit more cryptic. Or maybe I am just a stupid earthling who can't comprehend the mysteries of the MCU, but I highly doubt that. I did enjoy Thor's more relaxed attitude. He has obviously been spending more time on earth, and has learned to loosen up some of that Asgardian formality and just chill out. I especially enjoyed his scenes surrounding the party near the beginning of the movie. His ''my girl is better than your girl" competition with Tony was adorable. I wish they could have brought Jane into this movie, their relationship together is the cutest. He's so big, she's so little, and he worships the ground she walks on. Adorable. I expect we will see a lot more of his influence as more is revealed about the Infinity stones, since he has a wider knowledge of the overall universe than any other Avenger. Thor's Best Line- "Jane's better."

I'm not entirely sure what to say about Vision here. I didn't entirely understand his conception, all I know is that he ended up with all of the good that Ultron was supposed to have. Sorta like Luke somehow got all of the good stuff from Padme, but avoided the junk from his father Anakin. Vision was a mysterious character, and I found him intriguing. I don't know exactly what he is, but I know that he feels steady, peaceful, and focused. He somehow managed to get the true message out of Ultron's scrambled ideas, and has a much better perspective on the world. His voice is very soft and soothing, and his eyes are beautiful. I am interested to see what they do with him in the future. Oh, and I definitely saw some sparkles between him and Scarlet Witch, whom he actually marries in the comics. How that works in real life, I have no idea, but let me tell you this, beautiful eyes will be passed on to their offspring. Vision's Best Line- "I was born yesterday."

"He's fast and she's weird." Thanks Hill, for summing that up. Scarlet Witch/Wanda was beautiful for starters, her eyes were huge, and you could tell that despite her pain, her heart was tender. I adored the relationship between her and her twin brother. While she was immensely powerful, she still allowed herself to be sheltered and protected by her brother. I think that shows a sweet vulnerability about her that makes her more approachable. I loved watching her movements, Elizabeth Olsen trained with a dance choreographer rather than a stunt trainer. It was noticeable, she was graceful and dramatic. I like how she has to feel the effects of whatever she does to other peoples' minds. That'll make you think twice about messing with someone else's brain. I feel like she has got huge potential as a character, and I can't wait to see more of her. Wanda's Best Line- "It's my job."


Oh Quicksilver! You whooshed onto our screens, into our hearts, and then, YOU DIED!!! WHAT THE HECK!?!? I did NOT see that coming, and I am still aching over it. Quicksilver/Pietro was simply adorable. He had a fun, almost boyish attitude, and definitely an ornery streak (ha, streak, see what I did there :) I adored, I mean, adored the relationship between him and his sister. She was his first priority, and they seemed to share one heart. I couldn't believe it when he died, it was so sudden, and entirely unexpected. I don't know what to say, only that I hope Cap's line of, "If you get killed, walk it off" was meant for him. I have some hope, considering that we thought Coulson was dead in Avengers, yet through the efforts of his intrepid fan base he was brought back to life and given his own show. Return to us Quicksilver, return dear boy! Pietro's Best Line- "What, you did not see that coming?" 


And now, ladies and gentlemen, I saved the best Avenger in this particular movie for last....



Yes ladies and gents, Hawkeye was the shining character, the anchor, the foundation of the Avengers team. He was the solid ground that kept them all from plunging into the abyss. I know, that sounds disloyal for a diehard Cap babe, but believe me, Cap would want me to tell you all the truth. In the Avengers, Hawkeye had a little over twelve minutes of screen time, not a lot of time to make an impression. Apparently the writers felt that it was about time to reveal just who this rugged and mysterious archer truly is. Hawkeye has a family! Yes, this stoic and still waters man has got the cutest little family this side of the Atlantic. It was so neat the way that they let you in on his dear little secret. The team is all broken up, Hulk just leveled a good chunk of a city, everyone else is shaken and traumatized, and Iron Man is feeling a huge weight on his shoulders. Quietly, Hawkeye takes them to the only safe place for them in the world at the moment, his home. A sprawling farmhouse that is sunny, cluttered, and full of love. If his wife, Laura, got any cuter, the screen would have cracked. Her pretty hair, gentle face, and adorable pregnant belly kind of make the movie for me. You saw the shift in him as soon as he stepped in the door of his home. He's not just a ruthless agent, he's a loving husband, and doting father. This sweet world is such a contrast to everything else in the Avengers' world, they were somewhat taken aback by it. I think it was very special the way the writers incorporated Hawkeye's home life into the dramatic and terrible events of this movie. It kept this movie grounded, and reminded you, and the other Avengers, that most of life is not just alien invasions and maniacal robots. It's families, and homes, and sweet, ordinary lives that make up the world. Hawkeye showed his clear head and wisdom during the final battle, something we didn't get to experience in Avengers. And while I ached, I hurt, when Quicksilver died, I am SO glad that Hawkeye made it. He had something to live for and some people to come home to, and I couldn't have been happier. One of Hawkeye's Best Lines- "No one would know...."

Final Thoughts

I loved the opening sequence, it was so action(y). The way the Avengers all clicked together to make the perfect team was just awesome. And that slow-mo action shot? Movie magic man, movie magic. That's the unique fun of superhero movies, they have the most awesome action shots.

I loved that Natasha gets to live somewhat vicariously through Hawkeye's family. She can never have a natural family of her own, but she can enjoy some of the sweet moments that can only be had in a family.

I love that Hawkeye's family was featured as a symbol of stability, beauty, and refuge. The way it was depicted was very complimentary of the high purpose and beauty of families.

I love that Falcon has joined the Avengers, he was one of the best aspects of Winter Soldier, and I can't wait to hear more from him.


The brave little tech guy (whom we have dubbed Sylvester) from The Winter Soldier has returned on the save-the-day hellicarrier! If you don't remember him, he was the one who stood up to Rumlow and said, "I'm not gonna launch those ships, Cap's orders." EEEE! I love this little dude, he was so courageous!

Banner come home!

Mr. Joss Whedon, we are begging you, bring Quicksilver back one day.

Cap, there is a future somewhere, you don't have to die.

Thanks for bearing with me folks, I know I can be longwinded, but like I said, this post is in-depth. There is much, much more to be said about the Avengers, but I believe I have said my fill.

Please, feel free to join the discussion in the comments, I love hearing feedback and would like to know what you thought of the movie.

Book Review- The Song of the Wren-Falcon (Mary Ruth Pursselley)

 

"Come. Let us go and sit somewhere comfortable, and I will tell you the story."

Orienne Seritan is a loyal Adelfian who wants nothing more than peace for her country and a life free from the darkness and violence of war. But when the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy entangles her life and the fates of those she loves with the destiny of an embittered traitor, she finds herself being dragged even deeper into the darkness.

Enemies are pouring over her nation’s borders. People she loves are dying. The cryptic prophecy offers no clues as to who will be left standing at its end...nor does it disclose the magnitude of the role that Orienne is destined to play.

 I finished reading this book several days ago, but it was the sort of book I had to mull over  before I felt that I could give it a proper review.


First of all, I have the pleasure of personally knowing the author and having her for a friend, so that fact made this book so much more personable to me. I could practically hear her voice when I was reading some of the dialogue, the phrasing and tone were exactly like her manner of speaking in real life.


What I Didn't Like
I have to be honest, it took me a while to get into this book. The prophecy was, as it says in the above description, cryptic. I read, and reread, and reread it in the front of the book before starting the story, but that did not help. Once I got into the story I did appreciate that the author put one phrase of the prophecy before each chapter, so at least I knew what part of the prophecy was supposed to be happening. However, I did wonder a time or two if I was dumber than I thought, since I could not connect the dots between the characters and how they were a part of the prophecy. But about two-thirds of the way through the book the pieces began to fall into place, and some very helpful conversations took place between characters that finally enabled me to understand what it all meant.


My only other critique I think would be that I would have appreciated a name pronunciation guide. Unfortunately, due to the way I advanced in reading when I was little, pronunciation seems to be an Achilles heel of mine. It has been my experience that fantasy authors take full liberty in creating some of the weirdest names possible that have odd spellings, which makes it a nightmarish world for someone like me. While the author of Wren-Falcon kept her names much simpler, I still would have liked to know for sure that I was reading them correctly.


What I Did Like
The overall tone of this story is most definitely dark, so don't expect a light read. It begins dark and leaves you feeling pretty hopeless for the majority of the book, but in the end, it wraps up in a much lighter way, and you finish feeling full and satisfied, as though you have paid your dues when it comes to suffering and now you get the sweet reward of a good ending.


It took me a while to understand the geography of this world. I flipped back to the map in the front many times before I began to get my compass straight. It made me feel as if this was a much more real world, one that was more complicated and had to be studied in order to be understood.


I loved the description of the capital Adelfian city Farindel. A city built into a mountain covered in buildings with beautiful architecture, colors, and districts where street musicians play and artists show their colorful wares. And a very sacred garden that is filled with light. It was like Minas Tirith meets Dale and Cair Paravel all in one. I wish Farindel was real place so that I could explore it.


I loved the depiction of God as Shield. It was such a comforting illustration.


I loved the way the author created government ranking for the kingdom of Adelfia. The Ransom is made up of six "Sons of the Shield", with the First-Born being the leader. It gave a distinctive quality to the culture created in this book that made it feel fresh.


What I Want More Of
This book is the first of six I believe, since there are six prophecies. This particular story took place in Adelfia, where the main character is from. I enjoyed learning about their nation, and their way of doing things. But a few other nations were introduced, and I would like to know more about the culture and backgrounds of Meador, Athragani, Arcamere, and especially, Moritar. I hope that some of the characters in the other books get to come from these other nations, so that I might get a full view of this world.


Speaking truthfully, I had a hard time connecting with the main character Orienne. I don't know that this was fault in the writing or the character herself, I just didn't feel a connection at all. I actually bonded more with her brother Allegar, who I loved, some of the other Ransom, and the other main character, Sorek. I would love to connect deeply with the star character in the other books.


It was such a pleasure for me to get read a book written by a friend and fellow writing comrade who I greatly admire and enjoy. Mary has worked so hard to reach this place and she should be proud of what she has accomplished. This book is a work of art that needs to be shared.


You can purchase her book and journey to Adelfia here! And please, check out her blog over Enter the Writer's Lair.