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	<title>Fantasy &#38; Faith, by Dona Watson &#187; Book Spotlight</title>
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	<link>http://fantasyandfaith.com</link>
	<description>Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Faith in God</description>
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		<title>New Suspense Thriller by Jack Cavanaugh Explores the Supernatural</title>
		<link>http://fantasyandfaith.com/2012/01/25/new-suspense-thriller-by-jack-cavanaugh-explores-the-supernatural/</link>
		<comments>http://fantasyandfaith.com/2012/01/25/new-suspense-thriller-by-jack-cavanaugh-explores-the-supernatural/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:43:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dona Watson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Book Spotlight]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[D.L. Watson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dona Watson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fantasy Fiction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jack Cavanaugh]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Supernatural]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Can someone&#8217;s spirit possess another&#8217;s body without involving demon possession? This is one of the key questions raised in Jack Cavanaugh&#8217;s new supernatural suspense thriller, Behold. The main character in Behold is Damon, a brain-damaged teenager who repeatedly experiences a unique &#8230; <a href="http://fantasyandfaith.com/2012/01/25/new-suspense-thriller-by-jack-cavanaugh-explores-the-supernatural/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://fantasyandfaith.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Behold.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-3387" title="Behold" src="http://fantasyandfaith.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Behold-194x300.jpg" alt="" width="194" height="300" /></a>Can someone&#8217;s spirit possess another&#8217;s body without involving demon possession? This is one of the key questions raised in Jack Cavanaugh&#8217;s new supernatural suspense thriller, <em>Behold</em>.</p>
<p>The main character in <em>Behold</em> is Damon, a brain-damaged teenager who repeatedly experiences a unique phenomenon. When he has seizures, his spirit is flung back in history to possess another person&#8217;s body. When he lands in medieval France, he is thought to be a demon but in reality, finds himself aligning with a secret society to battle ancient evil and solve the mystery of the seven candlesticks found in the Biblical book Revelation. The supernatural battle of good versus evil extends back before creation to a struggle against an ancient evil entity that now seeks to kill Damon.</p>
<p><em>Behold</em> opens in Ephesus, A.D. 395, with a young man desperately fleeing for his life from an angry crowd of men sent by the goddess Artemis to destroy him. After a description of this young man&#8217;s flight, we find ourselves in the present day, where Damon introduces the story to us. This short section, entitled &#8220;The Art of Possession&#8221;, opens with:</p>
<blockquote><p>Essentially, it&#8217;s breaking and entering, only more personal. A lot more personal. Instead of being inside someone&#8217;s house, rifling through their medicine cabinet and underwear drawer, you&#8217;re inside their head, elbow deep in their unspoken secrets, repressed memories, and the traumatic events they&#8217;ve kicked into the back corner of the closet of their minds. I avoid the closets. Too many monsters lurking there.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><em>Behold</em> was a thought-provoking read that I breezed through, not willing to lay it down until I was finished. It made me think of the &#8220;special kids&#8221; my daughter worked with in middle school, of how we tend to feel superior to them, and of what God&#8217;s destiny is for each of us &#8212; all the while couched in the author&#8217;s rich imagination of the supernatural realm.</p>
<p>The book also reminded me of Cavanaugh&#8217;s previous <em>Kingdom Wars</em> books &#8212; a pair of books that remain among my favorites. If you liked <em>Kingdom Wars</em>, I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;ll like <em>Behold</em>. It has much of the same flavor in terms of pace, suspense and spiritual supernatural events.</p>
<p>There&#8217;s one more thing about the book I want to mention &#8212; it&#8217;s available in e-book form only. And, it&#8217;s only $2.99, at price that to me is well worth the story you will get. As you might know, not having an e-reader is no excuse for not getting the book. You can get Kindle software for your PC or Mac and read it on your computer.</p>
<p>In terms of ranking, I give <em>Behold</em> 4.5 stars out of 5. It will definitely be staying in my library and someday I&#8217;m sure I will go back and read it again.</p>
<p>You can purchase <em>Behold</em> from Amazon (for Kindle) or from Barnes &amp; Noble (for Nook). For more information, here are my affiliate links: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006P8DS0K/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=fanfai-20&amp;camp=0&amp;creative=0&amp;linkCode=as4&amp;creativeASIN=B006P8DS0K&amp;adid=08YBMGNYR27JMW8YXS65" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/behold-arthur-morgan/1108056517?ean=2940013873544&amp;itm=1&amp;usri=behold+cavanaugh" target="_blank">Barnes &amp; Noble</a>. In addition, check out the book trailer below.</p>
<p>You can find the author at: <a href="http://www.jackcavanaugh.com/" target="_blank">http://www.jackcavanaugh.com/</a></p>
<p><a href="http://fantasyandfaith.com/2012/01/25/new-suspense-thriller-by-jack-cavanaugh-explores-the-supernatural/"><em>Click here to view the embedded video.</em></a></p>
</p>
<p><span style="line-height: 12px; font-size: 12px; color: #999999;"><em>Disclosure of Material Connection: At times, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s </em><a href="http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #999;"><em>16 CFR, Part 255</em></span></a><em>: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”</em></span></p>
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		<title>Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins: Will the Movie Live Up to the Book?</title>
		<link>http://fantasyandfaith.com/2012/01/06/hunger-games-by-suzanne-collins-will-the-movie-live-up-to-the-book/</link>
		<comments>http://fantasyandfaith.com/2012/01/06/hunger-games-by-suzanne-collins-will-the-movie-live-up-to-the-book/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:33:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dona Watson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Book Spotlight]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[D.L. Watson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dona Watson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dystopian]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Science Fiction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Suzanne Collins]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;ve been hearing a lot about the The Hunger Games movie coming out on March 23, 2012, which is based on a trilogy written by Suzanne Collins. Friends kept telling me I needed to read this book so I finally broke down &#8230; <a href="http://fantasyandfaith.com/2012/01/06/hunger-games-by-suzanne-collins-will-the-movie-live-up-to-the-book/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://fantasyandfaith.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Hungergames.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-3302" title="Hungergames" src="http://fantasyandfaith.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Hungergames.jpg" alt="" width="126" height="193" /></a>I&#8217;ve been hearing a lot about the <em>The Hunger Games</em> movie coming out on March 23, 2012, which is based on a trilogy written by Suzanne Collins. Friends kept telling me I needed to read this book so I finally broke down and found a copy to read before the movie hits the theaters. Now, having read it, I can see why it was recommended to me. I think this book has the potential to become a classic in the YA (Young Adult) market.</p>
<p><em>The Hunger Games</em> is a dystopian novel set in an area that used to be Appalachia &#8212; in the book, still one of the poorest districts in Panem, the nation that used to be the United States. The districts that waged war on the Capitol lost the battle and have since been locked down by the nation&#8217;s rulers. One way to remind each district of their subjugation is that they are forced to compete in the annual Hunger Games competition. Each district is required to send two of their children, one boy and one girl, to fight in the games until only 1 of the total 24 contestants is left alive &#8212; something akin to the ancient Romans&#8217; gladiator games but set in an arena that covers a large area that forces the children to survive a fight not just their enemies but the elements as well.</p>
<p>When Katniss&#8217; little sister is chosen to be a contestant, this 16-year-old girl volunteers to take her place. Enter Peeta, the boy chosen from Katniss&#8217; district. Peeta is unique because rather than adopting the cold attitude of competition that the others have, he is intent on holding on to his humanity, even if he loses. He holds this attitude not only to maintain self-respect but also to prove that those in authority don&#8217;t own him. Katniss finds this vulnerability hard to accept in the face of being forced into an event that has become a pop culture mainstay of their society, something that the entire nation follows on reality television in great detail.</p>
<p>The reason I ask if the movie will be able to live up to the book is because the original work written by Suzanne Collins combines so well themes of communism, personal freedom (or lack thereof), defiance, and most of all, the struggles that exist inside the emotions and psyche of the main character. Traditionally, I find that movies have trouble accurately depicting a character&#8217;s inner struggles nearly as well as an author can in the pages of a book. Here one can explore these emotions and thoughts in great detail.</p>
<p>That said, I am greatly intrigued by the movie trailer and wonder if in this case the screenwriters and directors may have done just that. We&#8217;ll never know, however, until we get to see the movie. When that time comes I&#8217;ll be curious to hear what y&#8217;all have to say. I give <em>Hunger Games</em> 4 stars out of 5.</p>
<p>For now, though, what do you expect or hope to see from the movie? I&#8217;d love to hear from you! Just leave me a comment below.</p>
<p>The official movie trailer is posted at: <a href="http://www.thehungergamesmovie.com" target="_blank">http://www.thehungergamesmovie.com</a></p>
<p>You can find the author, Suzanne Collins, at <a href="http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/" target="_blank">http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/</a></p>
<p>If you want more information about the book, here are my <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=3rQBAXjKpvo&amp;subid=&amp;offerid=239662.1&amp;type=10&amp;tmpid=8432&amp;RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%252Fw%252Fhunger-games-suzanne-collins%252F1100171585%253Fean%253D9780439023528%2526itm%253D1%2526usri%253Dhunger%252Bgames" target="_blank">Barnes &amp; Noble</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0439023521/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=fanfai-20&amp;camp=0&amp;creative=0&amp;linkCode=as4&amp;creativeASIN=0439023521&amp;adid=0NGS43885ZY275QRKV5Y" target="_blank">Amazon</a> affiliate links.
</p>
<p><span style="line-height: 12px; font-size: 12px; color: #999999;"><em>Disclosure of Material Connection: At times, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s </em><a href="http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #999;"><em>16 CFR, Part 255</em></span></a><em>: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”</em></span></p>
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		<title>Methodical World-Building with L.E. Modesitt in Imager</title>
		<link>http://fantasyandfaith.com/2012/01/03/methodical-world-building-with-l-e-modesitt-in-imager/</link>
		<comments>http://fantasyandfaith.com/2012/01/03/methodical-world-building-with-l-e-modesitt-in-imager/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:22:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dona Watson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Book Spotlight]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[D.L. Watson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dona Watson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fantasy Fiction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[L.E. Modesitt Jr.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://fantasyandfaith.com/?p=3281</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Want a good example of a thoroughly and meticulously built fantasy world? I believe L.E. Modesitt, Jr. may be one of the best. First published in March 2009, it&#8217;s taken me a while to get to Imager, Book One of &#8230; <a href="http://fantasyandfaith.com/2012/01/03/methodical-world-building-with-l-e-modesitt-in-imager/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://fantasyandfaith.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Imager.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-3284" title="Imager" src="http://fantasyandfaith.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Imager-185x300.jpg" alt="" width="185" height="300" /></a>Want a good example of a thoroughly and meticulously built fantasy world? I believe L.E. Modesitt, Jr. may be one of the best.</p>
<p>First published in March 2009, it&#8217;s taken me a while to get to <em>Imager</em>, Book One of the Imager Portfolio. In fact, this is only the second of his books that I&#8217;ve read (the other being <em>The Lord Protector&#8217;s Daughter</em>) and yet I see a number of similarities in the way the two books are crafted. And &#8220;methodical&#8221; is definitely a key word in describing both books.</p>
<p>The story opens with Rhennthyl, the son of a leading wool merchant in Solidar, who avoids entering his family business in favor of becoming a journeyman painter and portraiture artist. He becomes so successful that his skill is equivalent to that of a master, and yet his master patron seems reluctant to allow Rhennthyl to achieve that rank.</p>
<p>However, when an explosion kills his mentor, he finds his life turned upside down. Rhenn discovers he is an imager, one of a small handful of people who can visualize things into reality. As such, he must leave his family to join the ranks of the other imagers at the Collegium of Imagisle. And so his new life begins, one fraught with danger and intrigue.</p>
<p>I found that although the plot in <em>Imager </em>moves slowly, I couldn&#8217;t stop reading it. The action is subtle, but this actually matches Rhenn&#8217;s new life. You see an imager must be subtle &#8212; more so than even an assassin and even more discreet than a spy if possible. This is because as a whole, imagers are feared by society, which is why they must live apart from others, and why they must be very careful and their actions surreptitious.</p>
<p>In <em>Imager</em>, Modesitt also explores many angles of philosophy, which, again, remind me of <em>The Lord Protector&#8217;s Daughter</em>. Based on my limited experience with this prolific author, it seems this is part of his personal writing style. As such, the book would likely appeal to readers who prefer a philosophical approach to society, culture, and the intrigues of government. A corollary skill of this approach is Modesitt&#8217;s careful construction of said societies and relationships, of which this author is a master.</p>
<p><em>Imager</em> is not a book that I will likely read again, but I am hooked on the life and struggles of poor Rhennthyl. I&#8217;ve already started Book Two and will likely read Book Three. As such, I give <em>Imager</em> 3.75 out of 5 stars.</p>
<p>If you&#8217;d like more info, here are my <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=3rQBAXjKpvo&amp;subid=&amp;offerid=239662.1&amp;type=10&amp;tmpid=8432&amp;RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%252Fw%252Fimager-l-e-modesitt-jr%252F1100357019%253Fean%253D9780765360076%2526itm%253D4%2526usri%253Dimager" target="_blank">Barnes &amp; Noble</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0030EG13I/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=fanfai-20&amp;camp=0&amp;creative=0&amp;linkCode=as4&amp;creativeASIN=B0030EG13I&amp;adid=0AJKCEB4YFV6QV0PVSEQ" target="_blank">Amazon</a> affiliate links.</p>
<p>In addition, you can find the author at: <a href="http://www.lemodesittjr.com/" target="_blank">http://www.lemodesittjr.com/</a></p>
<p><em>How about you? Have you read any of </em>The Imager Portfolio<em> trilogy? Or do you have a favorite author that excels at world-building? Let me know in the comments below. I&#8217;d love to hear from  you!</em>
</p>
<p><span style="line-height: 12px; font-size: 12px; color: #999999;"><em>Disclosure of Material Connection: At times, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s </em><a href="http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #999;"><em>16 CFR, Part 255</em></span></a><em>: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”</em></span></p>
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		<title>Human Cloning Explored in Jill Williamson&#8217;s &#8220;Replication&#8221;</title>
		<link>http://fantasyandfaith.com/2011/12/20/human-cloning-explored-in-jill-williamsons-replication/</link>
		<comments>http://fantasyandfaith.com/2011/12/20/human-cloning-explored-in-jill-williamsons-replication/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:31:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dona Watson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Book Spotlight]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cloning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[D.L. Watson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dona Watson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[genetic engineering]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jill Williamson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Science Fiction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SciFi]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://fantasyandfaith.com/?p=3138</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Martyr stared at the equation on the whiteboard and set his pencil down. He didn&#8217;t feel like practicing math today. What did math matter when his expiration date was so near? His wrist still throbbed from Fido&#8217;s teeth. Martyr touched &#8230; <a href="http://fantasyandfaith.com/2011/12/20/human-cloning-explored-in-jill-williamsons-replication/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<blockquote><p>Martyr stared at the equation on the whiteboard and set his pencil down. He didn&#8217;t feel like practicing math today. What did math matter when his expiration date was so near?</p>
<p>His wrist still throbbed from Fido&#8217;s teeth. Martyr touched the strip of fabric he&#8217;d ripped from his bedsheet and tied around his wrist to stop the bleeding. He hoped the wound would heal before a doctor noticed it. A trip upstairs to mend it would be unpleasant, as the doctor would likely use the opportunity to perform tests. Martyr shuddered.</p></blockquote>
<p><a href="http://fantasyandfaith.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Replication-201x300.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-3142" title="Replication-201x300" src="http://fantasyandfaith.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Replication-201x300.jpg" alt="" width="201" height="300" /></a>So begins Jill Williamson&#8217;s <em>Replication</em>, a novel that explores the ethics of human cloning and God&#8217;s purpose for our lives. Couched in the pages of a suspenseful story, <em>Replication</em> follows the struggles of J:3:3, a human clone nicknamed Martyr because of his dedication to protecting the deformed Brokens from cruel clones who also live at the secret underground Jason Farms facility. Innocent, intelligent and curious, Martyr&#8217;s greatest desire is to see the sky before he expires on his eighteenth birthday.</p>
<p>Next we meet Abby Goyer, who comes home from school to find her apartment empty, all furniture, pictures and even her cat gone, the apartment stripped down to carpet and bare walls. She calls her dad, who tells her that they are leaving Washington DC and moving to Alaska &#8212; the plane leaves in three hours. Already rocked by her mother&#8217;s death from cancer, Abby reaches her new home and tries to navigate her way through the uncertainties of a small-town high school. The first person she meets, an arrogant jock named JD Kane, seems to show up everywhere she goes, much to her chagrin. Despite his good looks, his obnoxious and sometimes scary behavior causes Abby to avoid him at all costs.</p>
<p>The story takes a turn when Abby meets Martyr, a boy who eerily looks just like JD. Then things get really strange when Martyr tells her there are fifty-five boys living at Jason Farms and that he has less than one month to live before he expires. Abby tells him about the Creator of the Universe and how he has a plan for Martyr. But she falls into danger when she tries to uncover the truth; Martyr is torn between finding his intended purpose, caring for the Brokens, and wanting to be with Abby, the one he is convinced he was meant to have.</p>
<p><em>Replication</em>, an inspirational YA novel, is set to reach stores in January 2012. The book is Jill&#8217;s fourth published book, following on the heels of her award-winning <em>Blood of Kings</em> fantasy trilogy. You can find her online at: <a href="http://jillwilliamson.com/" target="_blank">http://jillwilliamson.com/</a></p>
<p>For more information regarding <em>Replication</em>, here are my affiliate links for <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=3rQBAXjKpvo&amp;subid=&amp;offerid=239662.1&amp;type=10&amp;tmpid=8432&amp;RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%252Fw%252Freplication-jill-williamson%252F1104324814%253Fean%253D9780310727583%2526itm%253D1%2526usri%253Dreplication%252Bthe%252Bjason%252Bexperiment" target="_blank">Barnes &amp; Noble</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0310727588/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=fanfai-20&amp;camp=0&amp;creative=0&amp;linkCode=as4&amp;creativeASIN=0310727588&amp;adid=09VB4EGBD359X5MX9DFS" target="_blank">Amazon</a>. In addition, you can watch two trailers for the book <a href="http://jillwilliamson.com/book-trailers/" target="_blank">here</a>, one from Abby&#8217;s point of view and one from Jason&#8217;s.
</p>
<p><span style="line-height: 12px; font-size: 12px; color: #999999;"><em>Disclosure of Material Connection: At times, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s </em><a href="http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #999;"><em>16 CFR, Part 255</em></span></a><em>: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”</em></span></p>
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		<title>Heather Burch Dips into Paranormal Fiction with &#8220;Halflings&#8221;</title>
		<link>http://fantasyandfaith.com/2011/12/15/heather-burch-dips-into-paranormal-fiction-with-halflings/</link>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:30:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dona Watson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Book Spotlight]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[D.L. Watson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dona Watson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fantasy Fiction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Heather Burch]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Paranormal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[YA]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[What happens when the offspring of fallen angels and human women are tempted with forbidden love? Obedience, respect, and love in the face of mortal danger are the themes that form the skeleton on which Heather Burch&#8217;s new book Halflings &#8230; <a href="http://fantasyandfaith.com/2011/12/15/heather-burch-dips-into-paranormal-fiction-with-halflings/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://fantasyandfaith.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/halflings.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-3108" title="halflings" src="http://fantasyandfaith.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/halflings-198x300.jpg" alt="" width="198" height="300" /></a>What happens when the offspring of fallen angels and human women are tempted with forbidden love?</p>
<p>Obedience, respect, and love in the face of mortal danger are the themes that form the skeleton on which Heather Burch&#8217;s new book <em>Halflings</em> is built. The story follows Nikki Youngblood, a self-assured 17-year-old whose life is turned upside-down when a quartet of hell hounds appear. While fleeing for her life, three mysterious and attractive boys come to her rescue and Nikki soon finds that her life will never be the same.</p>
<p>What Nikki doesn&#8217;t know is that the three boys are the offspring of fallen angels and human women. They were sent to the Earth to protect her, but as Mace and Raven grow closer to their charge, the focus of the mission begins to waver. Relationships between Halflings and humans are strictly forbidden, and Mace struggles to honor the rules he has kept until now. Raven, however, has no problem breaking such rules &#8212; though Nikki is the first girl who has made him want to turn away from the darkness that tempts him. But Nikki doesn&#8217;t want to choose between the two, especially since choosing either would result in the loss of their eternal reward. And yet, in the midst of this triangle, Nikki and her three guardians find themselves pitted against more than just hell hounds. However, the source of the true threat facing them remains elusive.</p>
<p><em>Halflings</em> is one of a growing number of sci-fi and fantasy books being introduced by publishers that have traditionally focused on Christian faith-based books. I don&#8217;t read a lot of YA fiction, but this one caught my eye and the publisher agreed to send me a copy to review. Publisher Zondervan&#8217;s publicity group is putting <em>Halflings</em> in the same camp as Stephanie Meyer and Lauren Kate. I can&#8217;t testify as to whether that is a fair comparison or not because (gasp!) I haven&#8217;t read either of these popular authors. So many books, so little time.</p>
<p>What I do know is that <em>Halflings</em> was a fun read. I love Nikki, the gutsy, motorcycle-riding, martial arts expert. I love her self-sufficiency and desire to tackle any problem head-on, even if it has fur and teeth.</p>
<p>As for the Halflings themselves, I can picture the three attractive young men as they turn the heads of all the girls, and my heart breaks for Raven with his bad-boy attitude that actually hides a heart full of pain. I mourn with Mace as he struggles to work past a love for Nikki that, if he gives in, will earn him a place in hell. The third boy, Vine, is a great supporting character who is dependable, strong and full of innocent, boyish charm.</p>
<p>Will, the boys&#8217; guardian, has heartache of his own to deal with, penance to make for past sins. And yet, his goodness and devotion to God is as diametrically opposed as one can get to the putrid, terrifying hell hounds that would love nothing better than to sink their fangs into Nikki&#8217;s flesh. &#8220;Why?&#8221; you ask. If I told you, that would ruin the fun. You&#8217;ll have to read and see for yourself. (Hint: the author does a pretty good job of stretching this out, teasing the reader and throwing out just enough tidbits to keep one guessing. I love it when the author treats us as intelligent readers.)</p>
<p>On the &#8220;con&#8221; side, romance is not my favorite genre to read by far so I was a bit worried about that angle, wondering if it would be strong enough to make me want to put the book down. But I found it well-done &#8212; not too strong and yet full of tension and uncertainty. To me, the book is more suspense than romance and for me, that&#8217;s a good thing. The paranormal twist combined with the suspense provided a nice balance for me. And yet, if you are a YA romance reader, I think <em>Halflings</em> will fit the bill just fine.</p>
<p>Overall, I give <em>Halflings</em> 4 stars out of 5. The book hits shelves in January 2012 and I look forward to the next books in the series. Book 2 <em>(Guardian</em>) and book 3 (<em>Risen</em>) are both scheduled to be released later in 2012.</p>
<p>It just so happens that 5 copies of <em>Halflings</em> are being given away on Goodreads. If you&#8217;re interested, the deadline to enter the contest is December 30, 2011. Here&#8217;s the link:<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/14463-halflings" target="_blank">http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/14463-halflings</a></p>
<p>For more information on Heather Burch&#8217;s <em>Halflings</em>, here are my affiliate links to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0310728185/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=fanfai-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0310728185" target="_blank">Amazon</a> and <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=3rQBAXjKpvo&amp;subid=&amp;offerid=239662.1&amp;type=10&amp;tmpid=8432&amp;RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%252Fw%252Fhalflings-heather-burch%252F1104331403%253Fean%253D9780310728184%2526itm%253D1%2526usri%253Dhalflings" target="_blank">Barnes &amp; Noble</a>.</p>
<p>I&#8217;m hoping to interview Heather and post the results of that sometime in the near future. I&#8217;ll keep you posted on that one. Meanwhile, you can find her on the web at:<br />
<a href="http://heatherburchbooks.com/" target="_blank">http://heatherburchbooks.com/</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff0000;">NOTE ADDED 12-20-11: I see that a related short story with graphic novel-type illustrations is now available from the Amazon Kindle store <span style="color: #ff0000;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006MG3GUC/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=fanfai-20&amp;camp=0&amp;creative=0&amp;linkCode=as4&amp;creativeASIN=B006MG3GUC&amp;adid=0XRN9GH3NHP205VFPBFB" target="_blank">here</a></span> &#8212; download is free.</span></p>
<p><em>Do you read paranormal YA fiction? What is your favorite? I&#8217;d love to hear from you so let me know, ok?</em>
</p>
<p><span style="line-height: 12px; font-size: 12px; color: #999999;"><em>Disclosure of Material Connection: At times, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s </em><a href="http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #999;"><em>16 CFR, Part 255</em></span></a><em>: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”</em></span></p>
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		<title>Here&#8217;s an Excerpt of the Alloy of Law Audiobook</title>
		<link>http://fantasyandfaith.com/2011/12/13/heres-an-excerpt-of-the-alloy-of-law-audiobook/</link>
		<comments>http://fantasyandfaith.com/2011/12/13/heres-an-excerpt-of-the-alloy-of-law-audiobook/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:08:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dona Watson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Audiobooks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Book Spotlight]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brandon Sanderson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[D.L. Watson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dona Watson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fantasy Fiction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Steampunk]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://fantasyandfaith.com/?p=3084</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Yesterday I posted my review of Brandon Sanderson&#8217;s new steampunk book, The Alloy of Law, a continuation of the Mistborn trilogy. Today I&#8217;m offering a sample of the audiobook, compliments of Macmillan Audio. Click link to hear: Alloy of Law Audiobook &#8230; <a href="http://fantasyandfaith.com/2011/12/13/heres-an-excerpt-of-the-alloy-of-law-audiobook/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><a style="color: #1b8be0; font: normal normal normal 15px/normal 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.625; text-decoration: underline;" href="http://fantasyandfaith.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/AlloyAudiobook.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3089" style="color: inherit; font: normal normal normal 15px/normal 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.625; border-style: solid; border-color: #bbbbbb; margin-top: 0.4em; float: left; display: inline; margin-right: 1.625em; height: auto; max-width: 97.5%; width: auto; margin-bottom: 1.625em; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-width: 1px; padding: 6px;" title="AlloyAudiobook" src="http://fantasyandfaith.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/AlloyAudiobook.jpg" alt="" width="175" height="175" /></a></span></p>
<p>Yesterday I posted <a href="http://fantasyandfaith.com/2011/12/12/the-alloy-of-law-by-brandon-sanderson-steampunk-extraordinaire/" target="_blank">my review of Brandon Sanderson&#8217;s new steampunk book, <em>The Alloy of Law</em></a>, a continuation of the <em>Mistborn</em> trilogy. Today I&#8217;m offering a sample of the audiobook, compliments of Macmillan Audio.</p>
<blockquote><p>Click link to hear: <a href="http://fantasyandfaith.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/AlloyOfLaw_webclip.mp3">Alloy of Law Audiobook Sample</a></p></blockquote>
<p><a href="http://fantasyandfaith.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/AlloyAudiobook.jpg"><br />
</a>You can get a free copy of the entire <em>Alloy of Law</em> audiobook from Audible with a free trial membership. If you&#8217;re interested, you can help support my website by clicking here on my affiliate link: <a href="http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-5476581-10358792" target="_top">Try Audible Now and Get A FREE Audiobook!</a> Thank you!
</p>
<p><span style="line-height: 12px; font-size: 12px; color: #999999;"><em>Disclosure of Material Connection: At times, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s </em><a href="http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #999;"><em>16 CFR, Part 255</em></span></a><em>: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”</em></span></p>
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		<title>The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson &#8212; Steampunk Extraordinaire</title>
		<link>http://fantasyandfaith.com/2011/12/12/the-alloy-of-law-by-brandon-sanderson-steampunk-extraordinaire/</link>
		<comments>http://fantasyandfaith.com/2011/12/12/the-alloy-of-law-by-brandon-sanderson-steampunk-extraordinaire/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:30:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dona Watson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Book Spotlight]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brandon Sanderson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[D.L. Watson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dona Watson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fantasy Fiction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Steampunk]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[The measure of a person is not how much they have lived. It is not how easily they jump at a noise or how quick they are to show emotion. It&#8217;s in how they make use of what life has &#8230; <a href="http://fantasyandfaith.com/2011/12/12/the-alloy-of-law-by-brandon-sanderson-steampunk-extraordinaire/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<blockquote><p>The measure of a person is not how much they have lived. It is not how easily they jump at a noise or how quick they are to show emotion. It&#8217;s in how they make use of what life has shown them. ~Waxillium Ladrian from <em>The Alloy of Law</em></p></blockquote>
<p><a href="http://fantasyandfaith.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/AlloyofLaw.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-3069" title="AlloyofLaw" src="http://fantasyandfaith.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/AlloyofLaw-192x300.jpg" alt="" width="192" height="300" /></a>Oh&#8230;my&#8230;goodness. I just finished reading <em>The Alloy of Law</em> by Brandon Sanderson. As you probably know by now, I am an unabashed Sanderson fan, but I was surprised to see how in many ways, I forgot I was reading his work. <em>The Alloy of Law</em> does not read like any of his other books.</p>
<p>No, rather than one of his finely drafted fantasies, <em>The Alloy of Law</em> is probably the best steampunk book I have ever read. In its pages I found heroism, uncertainty, criminal intent, beauty, and mystery &#8212; and a main character, Waxillium Ladrian, a wildly heroic lawman reminiscent of Wyatt Earp but with a healthy helping of Allomantic powers thrown in, and a dash of wisdom to boot (see the quote above for a sample).</p>
<p>Waxillium Ladrian is a noble-born man who left the aristocratic circles of Elendel to serve as a lawman in the wild frontier Roughs. However, when his uncle dies, he is left with the responsibility of returning to Elendel to manage the family estate, previously one of the most influential houses in the city but now rundown, the result of gross mismanaged by his now-deceased uncle. But when robbers begin stealing vast amounts of riches and priceless metals, he is torn between being the gentleman who will bring his house back from ruin and returning to his passion of being a powerful, nearly unbeatable lawman determined to bring the criminals to justice.</p>
<p>Enter Steris Harms, a cold, stern woman and potential fiancée; her beautiful, kind cousin Marasi; Wayne, a miscreant and Wax&#8217;s former companion in the Roughs; and Tillaume, a conscientious butler determined to keep Waxillium on the right path. These characters and a host of others set the stage for a rollicking romp of gunfights, bravery and heroism. Toss in the element of Allomantic powers introduced in the Mistborn trilogy, and you end up with a tale the likes of which I&#8217;ve never seen. (Allomantic powers comprise the ability some people genetically inherit to ingest and burn one or more of sixteen metals that will grant them the ability of pushing and pulling off of metallic surfaces, creating bubbles that will slow or hasten the passage of time, of being able to heal themselves very quickly if not instantaneously, and a host of other talents.)</p>
<p>I would recommend this book to anyone with even a vague interest in fantasy and/or steampunk fiction. I for one couldn&#8217;t hardly put the book down until I was finished. In fact, before I finished, I was already thinking about how much fun it would be to read it again. I love, love, love this book. Needless to say, I give it a 5 out of 5 stars.</p>
<p>If you&#8217;d like more information, here are my affiliate links: <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/alloy-of-law-brandon-sanderson/1100850816?ean=9780765330420&amp;itm=1&amp;usri=alloy+of+law" target="_blank">Barnes &amp; Noble</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0765330423/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=fanfai-20&amp;camp=0&amp;creative=0&amp;linkCode=as4&amp;creativeASIN=0765330423&amp;adid=043HCDA5QDXV4R32THX1" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.</p>
<p>To find the author, here&#8217;s his website: <a href="http://brandonsanderson.com/" target="_blank">http://brandonsanderson.com/</a></p>
<p><em>Do you have a favorite steampunk book? Or have you already read </em>The Alloy of Law<em>? I&#8217;d love to hear what you think. Just leave a comment below.</em>
</p>
<p><span style="line-height: 12px; font-size: 12px; color: #999999;"><em>Disclosure of Material Connection: At times, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s </em><a href="http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #999;"><em>16 CFR, Part 255</em></span></a><em>: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”</em></span></p>
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		<title>Lady Lazarus by Michele Lang Puts A New Spin on WW II</title>
		<link>http://fantasyandfaith.com/2011/12/05/lady-lazarus-by-michele-lang-puts-a-new-spin-on-ww-ii/</link>
		<comments>http://fantasyandfaith.com/2011/12/05/lady-lazarus-by-michele-lang-puts-a-new-spin-on-ww-ii/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:54:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dona Watson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Book Spotlight]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[D.L. Watson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dona Watson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fantasy Fiction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Historical Fantasy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michele Lang]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[I damned my soul in the summer of 1939. I did it for the noblest reasons, the best ones &#8212; to save the people I loved; to make a terrible wrong turn right. So begins the Prologue of Michele Lang&#8217;s &#8230; <a href="http://fantasyandfaith.com/2011/12/05/lady-lazarus-by-michele-lang-puts-a-new-spin-on-ww-ii/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em><a href="http://fantasyandfaith.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/LadyLazarus.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-3024" title="LadyLazarus" src="http://fantasyandfaith.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/LadyLazarus-185x300.jpg" alt="" width="185" height="300" /></a>I damned my soul in the summer of 1939. I did it for the noblest reasons, the best ones &#8212; to save the people I loved; to make a terrible wrong turn right.</em></p>
<p>So begins the Prologue of Michele Lang&#8217;s <em>Lady Lazarus</em>, a book first published by Tor in September 2010. The protagonist in the tale is Magda Lazarus, whose life changes in 1939 with her sister&#8217;s terrible vision that Nazi Germany will overrun Europe and exterminate millions of people, including her own family. And so Magda sets out to change the course of events and protect her sister and childhood friend, truly the only family she has left.</p>
<p>Aiding her in her quest is her guardian angel, Raziel. As they become personally acquainted, her relationship with Raziel threatens to become more, an event that could lead to him walking away from his angelic duties, possibly with terrible consequences. Nonetheless, Magda sets out to find the long-lost Book of the Angel Raziel, even as she is pursued by SS werewolves and a Nazi wizard.</p>
<p>I found <em>Lady Lazarus</em> to be an intriguing tale and possibly different from any other book I&#8217;ve read. Historical fantasy can be that way. It&#8217;s the big &#8220;what ifs&#8221; that drive stories such as this. I commend Michele Lang for her vivid imagination and creativity as she crafted this book. It is a dark tale rife with witches, wizards, demons, werewolves and vampires and, although we know the ultimate, historical outcome to World War II, Lang keeps the reader in suspense by, if by nothing else, the inclusion of these fantasy characters.</p>
<p>If you are attracted to dark fantasy fiction with a hint of romance, you might want to give <em>Lady Lazarus</em> a try. Personally, I give the book 3.75 out of 5 stars. I found it an entertaining read that I wouldn&#8217;t mind reading again, however it probably wouldn&#8217;t be on the top of my stack. All the same, there is enough suspense at the end of the book that I wouldn&#8217;t mind checking out the sequel, <em>Dark Victory</em>.</p>
<p>For more information, here are my affiliate links: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005M4P2A2/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=fanfai-20&amp;camp=0&amp;creative=0&amp;linkCode=as4&amp;creativeASIN=B005M4P2A2&amp;adid=17KJWVX3GRB5XMVZGXC3" target="_blank">Amazon</a> and <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lady-lazarus-michele-lang/1100356923?ean=9780765362957&amp;itm=1&amp;usri=lady+lazarus" target="_blank">Barnes &amp; Noble</a>.</p>
<p>You can find the author at <a href="http://michelelang.com/" target="_blank">http://michelelang.com/</a>.</p>
<p><em>What about you? Do you have a favorite dark fantasy you&#8217;d like to recommend? If so, leave a note in the comments below. I&#8217;d love to hear from you.</em>
</p>
<p><span style="line-height: 12px; font-size: 12px; color: #999999;"><em>Disclosure of Material Connection: At times, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s </em><a href="http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #999;"><em>16 CFR, Part 255</em></span></a><em>: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”</em></span></p>
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		<title>Peter Orullian&#8217;s &#8220;The Unremembered&#8221; Reminiscent of Robert Jordan</title>
		<link>http://fantasyandfaith.com/2011/12/01/peter-orullians-the-unremembered-reminiscent-of-robert-jordan/</link>
		<comments>http://fantasyandfaith.com/2011/12/01/peter-orullians-the-unremembered-reminiscent-of-robert-jordan/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 02 Dec 2011 01:12:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dona Watson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Book Spotlight]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[D.L. Watson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dona Watson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fantasy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fantasy Fiction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Peter Orullian]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[I first came across Peter Orullian when he interviewed Brandon Sanderson. (You can find the interview here.) It wasn&#8217;t long until I found out Peter had a new book coming out with Tor called The Unremembered. I read the synopsis and &#8230; <a href="http://fantasyandfaith.com/2011/12/01/peter-orullians-the-unremembered-reminiscent-of-robert-jordan/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Unremembered-Book-One-Vault-Heaven/dp/B005X4CEW0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1322785734&amp;sr=8-1" target="_blank"><img class="size-full wp-image-2988 alignright" title="Unremembered-cover-art_175" src="http://fantasyandfaith.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Unremembered-cover-art_175.png" alt="" width="175" height="260" /></a>I first came across Peter Orullian when he interviewed Brandon Sanderson. (You can find the interview <a href="http://www.orullian.com/writing/brandonsanderson_interview.html" target="_blank">here</a>.) It wasn&#8217;t long until I found out Peter had a new book coming out with Tor called <em>The Unremembered</em>. I read the synopsis and thought, &#8220;This looks interesting. I&#8217;ll have to keep my eyes open for that one and put it on my TBR stack.&#8221; And that&#8217;s saying something. If you&#8217;ve seen my embarrassingly tall to-be-read stack of books, you&#8217;d know what I mean.</p>
<p>Nonetheless, when I did come across the book, I nabbed a copy and stuck it on top of my stack. After finishing a couple of other books I had promised to check out for a few people, I finally got my hands on it and settled down in a corner for a new adventure. The book didn&#8217;t look too big so I figured it wouldn&#8217;t take me very long to read it. But after a couple of days I found I wasn&#8217;t quite halfway done and got to thinking &#8220;This book is longer than I thought.&#8221; I thumbed to the back and found that while it&#8217;s not as thick as some of Tor&#8217;s other doorstop books (which I love, by the way), it&#8217;s actually 687 pages and according to my unofficial estimates, I figure it&#8217;s somewhere upwards of 320,000 words. Now that&#8217;s a respectable book. Anyone who can write a book that long and get it published by Tor definitely has my respect.</p>
<p>As you probably saw in the headline, there were parts of this book that reminded me of Robert Jordan&#8217;s <em>Wheel of Time </em>series. (If you&#8217;re curious, you can find anything you want to know about the <em>Wheel of Time</em> series at one of the premier fan sites: <a href="http://www.dragonmount.com/" target="_blank">http://www.dragonmount.com/</a>.) In particular, <em>The Unremembered</em> opens with Tahn, a backwoods young archer forced to flee inhuman creatures invading his village by being led away by a mysterious, competent warrior into who-knows-where. While the plot follows the type of storyline laid out by Jordan, Orullian does a good job of developing believable characters, each with a separate set of complications to deal with. The villains are real and the book opens with immediate conflict &#8212; oh, and by the way, if you&#8217;re one of those people who usually skips the prologue, <em>don&#8217;t</em>. You&#8217;ll be sorry &#8212; and probably will be quite lost as the story develops.</p>
<p>If you&#8217;ve read many of my reviews, you&#8217;ve probably seen by now that I try very hard not to give any spoilers. That&#8217;s a real pet peeve of mine so I won&#8217;t go too far into the plot. I&#8217;ll just let you read what the publisher wants you to know beforehand. Here&#8217;s the official blurb:</p>
<blockquote><p>The gods, makers of worlds, seek to create balance &#8212; between matter and energy; and between mortals who strive toward the transcendent and the natural perils they must tame or overcome. But one of the gods fashions a world filled with helllish creatures far too powerful to allow balance; he is condemned to live for eternity with his most hateful creatures in that world&#8217;s distant Bourne, restrained by a magical veil kept vital by the power of song.</p>
<p>Millennia pass, awareness of the hidden danger fades to legend, and both song and veil weaken. The most remote cities are laid waste by fell, nightmarish troops escaped from the Bourne. Some people dismiss the attacks as mere rumor. Instead of standing against the real threat, they persecute those with the knowledge, magic, and power to fight these abominations, denying the inevitability of war and annihilation. And the evil from the Bourne swells&#8230;</p>
<p>The troubles of the world seem far from the Hollows, where Tahn Junell struggles to remember his lost childhood and to understand words he feels compelled to utter each time he draws his bow. Trouble arrives when two strangers appear &#8212; an enigmatic man wearing the sigil of the feared Order of Sheason and a beautiful woman of the legendary Far. They&#8217;ve come to take Tahn, his sister, and his two best friends on a dangerous, secret journey. Tahn knows neither why nor where they will go. He knows only that terrible forces have been unleashed upon mankind and he has been called to stand up and face that which most daunts him &#8212; his own forgotten secrets and the darkness that would destroy him and his world.</p></blockquote>
<p>I found <em>The Unremembered</em> to be a good debut epic fantasy novel and look forward to seeing how Orullian grows as a writer. When book two in the series comes out, it too will go on my TBR stack.</p>
<p>I give <em>The Unremembered</em> 4 out of 5 stars. For more info, here are my affiliate links: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Unremembered-Book-One-Vault-Heaven/dp/B005X4CEW0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1322785734&amp;sr=8-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a> and <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unremembered-peter-orullian/1100188863?ean=9780765325716&amp;itm=1&amp;usri=unremembered" target="_blank">Barnes &amp; Noble</a>.</p>
<p>You can find author Peter Orullian at <a href="http://www.orullian.com" target="_blank">http://www.orullian.com </a></p>
<p><em>The Unremembered</em>, Book 1 of The Vault of Heaven, by Peter Orullian<br />
Publisher: Tor Books, April 2011<br />
ISBN-10: 0765325713</p>
<p><em>Are you a fan of epic fantasy? I&#8217;d love to know who your favorite authors are. Leave a comment below and let us know! Maybe we&#8217;ll find someone new to put on our shelves.</em>
</p>
<p><span style="line-height: 12px; font-size: 12px; color: #999999;"><em>Disclosure of Material Connection: At times, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s </em><a href="http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #999;"><em>16 CFR, Part 255</em></span></a><em>: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”</em></span></p>
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		<title>Boogeyman Resurfaces in &#8220;The Stuff of Legend&#8221; by Mike Raicht, Brian Smith</title>
		<link>http://fantasyandfaith.com/2011/10/27/boogeyman-resurfaces-in-the-stuff-of-legend-by-mike-raicht-brian-smith/</link>
		<comments>http://fantasyandfaith.com/2011/10/27/boogeyman-resurfaces-in-the-stuff-of-legend-by-mike-raicht-brian-smith/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:55:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dona Watson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Book Spotlight]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brian Smith]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[C.P. Wilson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Charles Paul Wilson III]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[D.L. Watson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dona Watson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fiction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Graphic Novels]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Horror]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mike Raicht]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Do you remember times when, as a kid, you would be in bed and in the dead of night you would look up to see something in your room that made your heart pound in fright? I was not a &#8230; <a href="http://fantasyandfaith.com/2011/10/27/boogeyman-resurfaces-in-the-stuff-of-legend-by-mike-raicht-brian-smith/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-2840" title="stuffoflegend" src="http://fantasyandfaith.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stuffoflegend.jpg" alt="" width="160" height="160" />Do you remember times when, as a kid, you would be in bed and in the dead of night you would look up to see something in your room that made your heart pound in fright? I was not a fearful child, but a couple of times I did find myself cringing in the dark from a perceived monster, which usually turned out to be clothes harmlessly hanging in the doorway of my closet. In <em>The Stuff of Legend, Book 1: The Dark</em>, such an event turned out to be not quite so harmless when a little boy is snatched by the boogeyman and carried off into the dark. But the story in this graphic novel is not about the boy &#8212; it&#8217;s about the toys that stage a rescue.</p>
<p>Enter the Colonel, who leads an intrepid band of compatriots comprising an Indian princess, a bear, a pig, a jester, a duck and a ballerina into the realm of the Dark. There, in the face of betrayal, death and hardship, they face the boogeyman and his army of forgotten, lost, now-evil toys.</p>
<div id="attachment_2839" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 247px"><a href="http://cpwilsoniii.deviantart.com/gallery/?offset=72#/d1xfcoh" target="_blank"><img class="size-medium wp-image-2839 " title="The Boogeyman" src="http://fantasyandfaith.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/boogeyman-237x300.jpg" alt="" width="237" height="300" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Illustrator: C.P. Wilson III</p></div>
<p>Be forewarned, this is not a child&#8217;s book. The dark yet masterful illustrations created by Charles Paul Wilson III (see his boogeyman at the left, click on the image to see his website) would probably give the little ones nightmares, but I believe many older teens and adults would appreciate the artist&#8217;s skill as well as the positive themes of the story written by Mike Raicht and Brian Smith. I agree with the publisher when it says, &#8220;<em>The Stuff of Legend</em> is a haunting and ultimately redemptive tale of loyalty, camaraderie, and perseverance.&#8221;</p>
<p>When the book was first released in 2009, it quickly sold out and a second printing was immediately ordered. Since then several subsequent editions in the series have been released. For more info on the series, <a href="http://www.th3rdworld.com/book/The-Stuff-of-Legend" target="_blank">click here to visit Th3rd World Studios</a>.</p>
<p>Just in time for Halloween, I&#8217;d like to pass along to you a copy of the trade paperback version graciously given to me by <a href="http://graphic-novels-manga.suvudu.com/" target="_blank">Del Rey</a>. To enter, email me before November 3 at <em>contests@(no-spam)fantasyandfaith.com</em>. (Before you press &#8220;send,&#8221; make sure to remove (no-spam) from the email address.) Make sure to include your snail mail address in your email. I only ship to the U.S. or Canada, so please keep that in mind when you enter. Multiple entries will be disqualified.</p>
<p>You can connect with the creators of <em>The Stuff of Legend</em> at:</p>
<p>Authors:<br />
Mike Raicht, Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/mikeraicht" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/mikeraicht</a><br />
Brian Smith, Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/yourpalSmitty" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/yourpalSmitty</a></p>
<p>Illustrator Charles Paul Wilson III is on on Twitter at: <a href="https://twitter.com/cpwilsoniii" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/cpwilsoniii</a>. You can see some of his other artwork at:<br />
<a href="http://cpwilsoniii.deviantart.com/" target="_blank">http://cpwilsoniii.deviantart.com/</a></p>
<p>You can order a copy of the book by clicking here on my affiliate links:<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345521005/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=fanfai-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=0345521005">The Stuff of Legend, Book 1: The Dark</a> (Amazon)<br />
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stuff-of-legend-brian-smith/1100259394?ean=9780345521002&amp;itm=2&amp;usri=stuff%2bof%2blegend" target="_blank">Barnes &amp; Noble</a></p>
<p>I love to hear from you! If you have any favorite horror books, let us know what they are by leaving a comment below. Happy Halloween!
</p>
<p><span style="line-height: 12px; font-size: 12px; color: #999999;"><em>Disclosure of Material Connection: At times, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s </em><a href="http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #999;"><em>16 CFR, Part 255</em></span></a><em>: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”</em></span></p>
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