Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart

Clever. As I ponder back over this book, I'm struck by how truly clever it is! I confess that this is the first of Chuck Black’s books that I’ve read. And in choosing this as the first, I was jumping into the third book in a series, which made the style of storytelling take some getting used to. It’s compelling. Sir Dalton is young and in training for his future. We see the misperceptions of his youth regarding some of the people around him. He’s put himself on quite a high horse, but post-training he hits some Reality neck-deep and head-on. While some aspects of his Christian allegory pull the reader out of the story in an attempt to hit the message home, it's the deeper journey and struggles of the main character that I found surprised me in the end.

Dalton faces very real and life-threatening adversaries. He's not your typical storybook hero in that we see him face his greatest adversary in his personal struggle with doubt. Also unique in this telling of the story, there's no magic switch that is flipped "explaining" his overcoming the doubt; instead, we see a wiser soul walk beside him and encourage and guide him in overcoming.

While I'm not the target audience of this book, I'm intrigue by the series and anxious to read the next book!
-LMS

Book Summary: Sir Dalton, a knight in training, seems to have everything going for him. Young, well-liked, and a natural leader, he has earned the respect and admiration of his fellow knights, and especially the beautiful Lady Brynn. But something is amiss at the training camp. Their new trainer is popular but lacks the passion to inspire them to true service to the King and the Prince. Besides this, the knights are too busy enjoying a season of good times to be concerned with a disturbing report that many of their fellow Knights have mysteriously vanished. When Sir Dalton is sent on a mission, he encounters strange attacks, especially when he is alone. As his commitment wanes, the attacks grow in intensity until he is captured by Lord Drox, a massive Shadow Warrior. Bruised and beaten, Dalton refuses to submit to evil and initiates a daring escape with only one of two outcomes—life or death. But what will become of the hundreds of knights he’ll leave behind? In a kingdom of peril, Dalton thinks he is on his own, but two faithful friends have not abandoned him, and neither has a strange old hermit who seems to know much about the Prince. But can Dalton face the evil Shadow Warrior again and survive?

Young adults will be inspired to strengthen their faith along with Sir Dalton, as they follow his exciting and action-packed journey to overcome his doubts and renew his commitment to the King and the Prince in this third installment of Chuck Black’s popular Knights of Arrethtrae series.

About the Author: Chuck Black traveled with the Air Force as a communications engineer and F-16 fighter pilot and began a career as a product design engineer. Chuck and his wife, Andrea, homeschool their six children and have a family music ministry that travels throughout the region. He is the author of nine novels, has been published in The Old Schoolhouse e-zine, and has received praise from parents across the country for his unique approach to telling biblical truths. Chuck and his family live in Williston, North Dakota.

North! Or Be Eaten - Blog Tour!

Peterson's Igiby family is in full adventure in North! Or Be Eaten. After creating an intricate world and laying out the myriad of background details in On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, we pick up right where we were left off with Janner, Tink, and Leeli in their uncle's tree house.

The adventure is just beginning.

It's easy to forget the band of travelers is three young children with their mother and two older men. They are all quick on their feet and determined to re-find a normal life at the end of their journey. The moment-to-moment happenings make you wonder how you'd survive! The Fangs continue to track them as they dodge the many creatures of Skree, including the toothy cows!

Just when you think you might know a little more than they know, the story takes a distinct turn in an unexpected direction. They are pushed to their limits. It's impossible to know the friends from the foes, and the secret history or gifts of each traveler will stretch your imagination.

Though the musical storytelling of Andrew Peterson has long been a cherished favorite of mine, I was a bit skeptical of the songwriter-turned-author. He has proven his ability to write a whole world in his mind and introduce us, the unsuspecting reader, in the middle of that world mid-stream, and yet unfold his whole world a bit at a time along the journey. Well-done, my friend.

I have to confess that when I received my copy of his new book I had to quickly go and read the first book in the Wingfeather Saga, which I had loaned out and never read. Now having finished them both in short order, I can't wait for there to be more!

-Laura M. Sanders

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Book Summary:

Janner, Tink, and Leeli Igiby thought they were normal children with normal lives and a normal past. But now they know they’re really the Lost Jewels of Anniera, heirs to a legendary kingdom across the sea, and suddenly everyone wants to kill them.

Their escape brings readers to the very brink of Fingap Falls, over the Stony Mountains, and across the Ice Prairies, while villains galore try to stop the Igibys permanently. Fearsome toothy cows and horned hounds return, along with new dangers: a mad man running a fork factory, a den of rockroaches, and majestic talking sea dragons.

Andrew Peterson’s lovable characters create what FantasyBookCritic.com says made Book One “one of the best fantasy novels in a very long time,” and Book Two contains even more thrills, exploring “themes universal in nature, ranging from the classic good versus evil, to the importance of family, and burdens of responsibility.”

Andrew Peterson is the author of On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, Book One in the Wingfeather Saga, and The Ballad of Matthew’s Begats. He’s also the critically-acclaimed singer-songwriter and recording artist of ten albums, including Resurrection Letters II. He and his wife, Jamie, live with their two sons and one daughter in a little house they call The Warren near Nashville, Tennessee. Visit his websites: www.andrew-peterson.com and www.rabbitroom.com

North or Be Eaten - COMING SOON!

Andrew Peterson is releasing the next book in the series. Pop over to his blog about it in The Rabbit Room if you want to get the book and be on the blog tour!

The Shack

Have any of you read "The Shack" by William Young yet? I have had several people recommend it who come from very diverse backgrounds. They all seem to love it. I'm curious about any book that can cause such different people to all be in agreement. I would love to know what this group thinks.

The Road

Cormac McCarthy is a brilliant American writer and arguably the best today. Not only is his work amazing literary works, but he also has mass appeal. Maybe you've one of his other works; All the Pretty Horses or No Country for Old Men?
Recently however I finished The Road. This is a novel set in a post apotlyptic age and is at it's core a story about the relationship between a father and his son.
Although there is little driving plot lines in the story, that is also why it is so creepy and scary. The father and son just walk down a road. Now they do have some obstacles to navigate through and there is a goal in sight, but these are elements that only build the hopelessness of their world and the destitude nature of their lives.
I don't want to share too much, in case you haven't read it, but do trust me and get to this one soon. Read it before the movie comes out.

Watership Down

I have to add this book because not only have a read it half a dozen times starting in elementary school, but it was a summer read for the faculty and staff from work one year that even some of our non-readers still talk about.

I don't really know what it is about following the journey of a bunch of rabbits that is so enthralling, but this author has spun a tale to make you feel part of the warren.

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness

I have to admit, I haven't made it very far through this book by singer-songwriter Andrew Peterson YET, but I have high hopes... That said, I've heard good things from those who have read it.

Add your own post about the book with the same labels, and it will start a thread!

I'll add my thoughts as I read...