The Gift by Bryan Litfin

First off let me apologize for being a little lax in my reviewing lately.  Since my last post on July 15 my wife and I have had our second little girl.  She was born on July 16 and is healthy and mom and baby are doing great.

Onto the review of the second book in the Chiveis Trilogy.  This book, much like the first in the series (The Sword), took me to a time where swords and not guns were the weapon of choice.  Horses were ridden and cars were just the rusty motorized carriages that littered the landscape.

Well Teo and Ana are exiled from their homeland because they will not renounce their God, who is know as Deu.  This story begins as they arrive over the mountain in the Beyond, and come in to a group of soldiers where Teo is employed as a mercenary.  A bit of a downgrade from his well respected title of Captain in Chiveis.  He is employed due to the ability that he has to wield a sword, and wield it he does.

Ana, on the other hand, comes to be befriended by some very wealthy ladies in the country and begins to struggle with moral issues, since there is s definite lack of morality in the country.  She is pursued by a Dojh (or prince/king) and Teo comes to the rescue, as the Dojh attempts to force Ana's hand in marriage.

The pursuit of the New Testament is the main story in this tale.  There are many other sub-plots that are mixed in for good measure.  Some seemed to drag along and others seemed to flow effortlessly.  Many of the new characters are very endearing and others make you want to jump inot the book and take them on yourself.

I am going to rate this a touch lower than The Sword, but still very much worth a read.

The Gift by Bryan Litfin

Rating: 3.5/5

Call of the Herald - Pre-Review Problem

So I'm again in a quandary.  I have just been offered a lent copy of Bryan Liftin's The Gift.  Which is the second in the Chiveis Trilogy.  I totally loved the first novel The Sword as you can see from my prior review.

http://nextonmykindle.blogspot.com/2011/06/sword-by-bryan-liftin.html

I am just about done with Call of the Herald, which has been slow at times, but I can definitely see myself finishing the series.  It is about a girl and her becoming the Herald of Istra.  The book has been well written and I anticipate the others to be that way as well.

Here is my plan ... I am 80% complete with Call of the Herald and the loan offer is available for 7 days from today.  I'm going to do my best to finish COTH over the weekend and download the loaned The Gift on Monday.  Sound like a good plan?  Here is the catch ... my wife is 100% pregnant and could give birth to our second daughter any day now ... that MAY throw a little wrench in the works.  I think I can make it to still read even though we'll have another little one in the house.

UPDATED 8/16/11 - Call of the Herald Complete!!!

I was able to complete Call of the Herald and loved it so much that I dove right into the second story.  Catrin Volker is just your normal farm girl, who struggles with the rich brats in the town.  She and her cousin Chase and her friend Osbourne mut endure abuse and torture daily.  Until ... one day Catrin is faced with a life or death situation.  Life wins ... at least HER life wins.  She protects those that she loves on numerous occasions, and is accused of being a witch with amazing powers.

She fights her way through this book with the help of those who have sworn to protect her.  Her cousin Chase, her friends Osbourne and Strom and her father's friend Benjin.  There are struggles and problems, and Brian Rathbone weaves a thread that develops over time.  The characters grow and it is quite enjoyable.

Rating: 4/5

The Sword by Bryan Litfin

It is my understanding that Bryan Litfin is a pastor who is very, VERY learned.  Valedictorian at University of Tennessee, Master's work at Dallas Theological Seminary, works at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.  He seems to have some brains!!!

Well, he has a great imagination as well.  He has created a world (really our world) where it is 400 years into the future, and has done it with clarity and grace.  The characters in The Sword are all at different places in their lives, spiritually, emotionally, physically and mentally.  Teo needs help (more than once), Ana is the helper (more than once), Maurice is the sage, Ana's parents are wishy-washy.  The realm of Chiveis is a beautiful place if you allow your imagination to see it.  There is evil, there is good, and there is a hope for a better place.  Don't try to read this all at once.  Allow yourself to drink it in and challenge yourself in your views.  I have to admit that I have been Teo in different points in my life.

I don't like to give away plots, so I will just recommend this book.  It makes you think about what it will be like in the future/past/future.  Read the book and you'll understand.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars