Sigmund’s cult of scroll worship has grown strong since Rayne, by the power of the One, bound and banished the demons. Now, with a unified presence on Nemora, Seth Hamlin and his United Scrolls of Ochen are close to opening the way for the demonic forces to return.With only a few weeks remaining before his long-awaited wedding, Rayne is, once again, targeted for evil purposes. Will he survive the … survive the darkness that seeks to destroy his hope long enough to bring the evil sacrifices to an end?
C. S. Wachter is a great storyteller who knows how to weave strong themes and an inspiring message into a story. –Reader’s Favorite
A wonderful book series that everyone interested in Christian fantasy must read! –M. H. Elrich, author
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C. S. Wachter’s “A Weight of Reckoning” completes the Seven Words Series in a satisfying and unpredictable manner. Excellent world-building and familiar characters that we come to identify with make for a compelling read in this speculative fantasy novel. In addition, characters that may have played smaller parts in previous novels are brought to the forefront and fleshed out in satisfying ways.
The characters and the struggles they face ring true, and the story inspires and satisfies on all levels. I was drawn to Andrew and Mayda, Mite and Gwyn, Rowena and her sister, Cailyn, along with Fallon later in the novel. And I enjoyed the plight of Rayne and Lexi who must struggle with internal struggles to do with forgiveness, addiction, inadequacy, and obeying the One’s voice.
The finale conflict between Rayne and Seth and the demonic Sigmund is done well. And for those wondering, Wachter gives us enough background information so you don’t need to read previous books in the series to enjoy this one. The story is told with subtle redemptive underpinnings. People of faith or those without faith will appreciate this novel.
I recommend this compelling series to lovers of fantasy and as gifts to friends and family members who haven’t yet discovered speculative Christian fantasy/sci-fi. It deserves a greater audience!
This is a great, well-built story in the genre of elf-dwarf-sword-and-magic fantasy stories. As is mentioned in the title, it’s the second in the series, so it jumps right into the action. There are several maps at the beginning, and an extensive list of characters at the start tends to be a bit intimidating. The story is epic, involving several planets in a solar system, and the use of magic on several of them.
What is done well is the world building. Wachter is a master of description, and creates worlds that are unique and intriguing. You can vividly see every scene, every location, every character. In addition, for a Christian novel, she is able to weave spirituality and magic in a way that doesn’t seem odd or unacceptable.
In any case, this is a good book, especially for those who enjoy the genre, and especially, especially for Christians who are looking for a spiritual angle to that genre.
A great story emphasizing forgiveness, and used as an allegory for the forgiveness of God. This was my first book in the series, and I was afraid I would not be allowed to come in the middle of the story, so to speak. However, the author did a wonderful job of continuing to build her world while simultaneously inviting new readers. The pacing is masterful and the story itself is a joy whether you take your time with it or consume it as quickly as possible.
While there are many scenes involving “the One” (God), there is only brief mention of a “Son” (Jesus) and no mention or allusion to his sacrifice to parallel the work of Christ on the cross. In a story about God’s forgiveness, I felt this was a missing element.
Overall a read well worth your time, with plenty of action, romance, peril, and tons of heart.
The fantasy Worlds of Ochen are seven planets linked by portals. Although the worlds are linked, the actions in the series occur on seven islands, one on each world. The islands differ by climate, by the presence or absence of magic, among other things. If you read these books be sure to look at the beautifully illustrated maps on the Wachter Website (https://cswachter.com/).
A WEIGHT OF RECKONING is the sequel to the Seven Words series. The action begins quickly with plans for human sacrifices designed to bring back a guardian demon that had been banished. The focus and the capstone of the increasing number of weekly human sacrifices, is the blood and ultimate sacrifice of Prince Rayne who was instrumental in banishing the demons from Ochen in the first place.
The fast-moving story is replete with personal sacrifice, hard choices, desperate actions, and self-sacrifice as it moves from world to world in its march to the final conflict. Reminiscent of Tolkien and C. S. Lewis’ writings, I loved how the author thoroughly anchored this story in a world view that recognized Good and Evil.
Wachter is a superb story teller and world builder. Her writing is clear, concise, and precise. The characters are well-crafted and detailed descriptions of the landscape put the reader right in the middle of a vivid action scene. I highly recommend this series. Although I began with this book, I plan on returning to the first story and read them from beginning to the end.
My rating: 4.5 stars