Day of War (Lion of War Series) by Cliff Graham Review

Finally ... another post regarding a book review.

Let me start off by saying that I have never read First or Second Samuel, but reading this book made me dive into the Old Testament with fervor.  David was an amazing person, with all his warts, problems, issues, lusts, and everything else he loved God above all else.

This book takes a small reference from 2 Samuel and novelizes it.  It is gracefully done, and follows not only David through a very trying time but it also follows his Three and the one who should also be considered Benaiah.  It gives great historical references and is so true to how things were in Davids time that you feel as if you are right there in the dust and grime.  It is extremely graphic in its description of the battles and how they tried to totally annihilate the opposing forces, not just make them surrender.  They tried to kill them all.

The story centers mostly on Benaiah and his struggles in his personal life, and how it is affecting his entire world.  He is a sturdy character and it is nice to see that some of the most important people in the Bible were really human as well.

I guess that Cliff Graham is going to be writing four more books in this series.  I'm interested to see how he is going to do it.  This is definitely a book that I'd recommend if you are into Biblical history.  From reading in 2 Samuel I see that the historical evidence is there for the basis of this story, and I appreciate Mr. Graham's ability to expound on what was handed down to us in the Scriptures.

I'm not sure what is next, but I'll let you know when I finish it.
Rating: 4/5

Dragon Ore by Brian Rathbone

Let me start off by saying that I really felt that this series was beginning to be drawn out.  That was until I started to read Dragon Ore.

This story chronicles the final installment to the Catrin Volker saga.  Catrin is (as normally the case) just a normal kid who is given some amazing powers.  She is the Herald of Istra.  Basically the incarnation of a goddess and has been given amazing powers.  Catrin has travelled all over the know world, from her home on the Godfist to the Greatland and on to the Firstland.  In her travels one thing has remained constant ... her friends have been there.  They have protected her and she has protected them.  She gained more friends and more enemies, and at the end she even decided to settle down.

This was a pretty cool series.  I was skeptical at first, but became enthralled in the world of Catrin Volker and her adventures.

See my other reviews on the series here:
Call of the Herald
Inherited Danger

Overall I'd give the series a 3.75/5, only because of the seeming longness of the story.  I'd rate Dragon Ore a bit higher , but it could have been better.

For Dragon Ore:

Rating - 4/5

Inherited Danger by Brian Rathbone

The Dawning of Power trilogy is getting better with each book.  Brian Rathbone is a very skilled author and develops the characters wonderfully.

Catrin Volker is the heroine and becomes bigger than life.  She struggles with the cards that she has been dealt, and that is mostly with moral issues.  Should she risk the lives of her friends and family?  Should she risk the lives of total strangers?  Should she do what she has set out to do?  She has her protectors; her cousin Chase, friends Osbourne and Strom, and her surrogate father Benjin Hawk.

She makes the journey to the Greatland in search of answers.  Is she really the Herald of Istra?  Can she control these powers that she is conflicted with?  Will Benjin stay at her side?  Will she ever see her father again?

Catrin finds out much more than she ever reckoned she would when she makes it to the Greatland.  She finds out more of her mother and her father, and how Benjin played a part in it all.

The story is a mixture of Hunger Games and Lord of the Rings.  There is a heroine, with magic and swords and special journeys that only the main character can complete with the assistance of her protector.  Catrin is much like Frodo, and Benjin is muck like Sam.  Catrin is much like Katniss and Benjin is much like Haymitch.  Both Frodo and Katnis are on a journey, like Catrin.  Both Sam and Haymitch are there to protect, much like Benjin.

I am excited to see where this story ends.  I have already begun to read Dragon's Ore, and am excited by the title.

Inherited Danger by Brian Rathbone

Rating: 4/5

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

Hunger Games Trilogy

I have to admit ... I'm a sucker for teen fiction.  Harry Potter was a staple of mine when I had knee surgery in 2003 and was stuck on the couch.  I know this doesn't necessarily qualify for "teen fiction", but I am always mesmerized by the Pevensie children in The Chronicles of Narnia.  Some people call Narnia "Children's Fantasy", even though some of the lessons taught throughout the series are very much directed at adults.

Anyway on the the review of this trilogy.

The Hunger Games Trilogy was so well written that it made me really want to go and compete in the Hunger Games ... for those that have read these books this might qualify me for being totally off my rocker.

The heroine is 16 year old Katniss Everdeen (awesome name), and she is at heart a great person.  Though conflicted in many ways, she seems to genuinely want to put others first.  Everyone from her mother and sister (Prim), to her friends (Gale & Peeta), to all other people in District 12.  She is also a crack shot with a bow.  She is one of the main sources of food for the people in District 12 as well, so people love her.  Peeta Mellark is just a baker's son, Gale Hawthorne is "Katnip's" (as he calls her) best friend, and Haymitch Abernathy is supposed to be her mentor for the Games.

Suzanne Collins has created a world from nothing, and it is fun to try to figure out where exactly District 12 is located.  How does District 12 still survive in the era that these books are created?  The overall premise is the fact that when government control gets to be too big, there will typically be problems for everyone involved.  Even the innocent teens that are forced to "compete" in the Hunger Games.

Collins continues the story into Catching Fire and on into Mockingjay.  These were both just a well written as the first, if not better.  You can see Collins style mature through the trilogy, just as Katniss matures.  In Catching Fire (like Empire Strikes Back) there are questions formed and concerns answered.  But it leaves you hanging ... in a good way.  I read these one after another, so I didn't have to wait for the "next installment".  It was enjoyable, and it kept me going for a couple of weeks to finish all three.

My favorite was Mockingjay.  At times when a series is written too much can be put into it, just to stretch it out.  Mockingjay does not dissapoint.  It answers so many questions that were left alone in the first two.  Katniss struggles with some pretty deep issues for a 17 year old girl, and shows wisdom beyond her years.  Let me know what you think.

PS- The Hunger Games will be coming to a theatre near you next March (2012).  I am pretty excited to see how the film adaptation will capture some of the minute details of Panem and the games.  Is it OK for me to be pumped up to see these movies?  I'm going to see it anyway.

PPS- I hope they do a better job of creating a movie than they did when Eragon was made into a film.  It was a great book, and the movie was TERRIBLE!!!

Ratings:
Hunger Games: 4.5/5
Catching Fire: 4/5
Mockingjay: 5/5

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