Palace of Sunderland. Paradise to the peasants. Prison to sixteen-year-old Anna, daughter of the king. She can never escape the castle’s cold walls and scorning disapproval of her father and his brute royal counsel, Seamus. She’ll always live in the shadow of her late mother, the queen. Will they ever see her for who she really is?A riding accident lands Anna in the hands of traders who sell her … who sell her as a slave in distant Kasdod to none other than her father’s enemy, Lord Anwar. After overhearing a dangerous plot to conquer Sunderland and kill the royal family, Anna must escape and warn her father, even if it means facing her greatest enemy.
With the doom looming over her, Anna is approached by a dangerous man in the dark. He claims to want to help her, but can she trust him with her secrets? The perils of the journey ahead will push Anna to the limit and answer the one question that has always plagued her…
Will she ever be enough?
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Rating: 3.5
This book was a really interesting read. I love the world-building and how that plot thicken every second. This book was fast-paced and kept you on your toes. There were few moments where it did slow down, but otherwise it was amazing.
Plot development throughout this book was incredible. I loved the fantasy world that was created and how you learnt more as you continued reading. However, I would have loved to read this book in both Jack and Anna’s POV. I think the book would have been more interesting.
Character development was a bit slow. I didn’t like some of the characters in this book. A few did feel 2D and with no personality. However, the development done on Anna was so good. I also liked how the didn’t focus mainly on the romance between the two main characters. It was more about the adventure.
Overall, this book was brilliant. I loved reading it for its plot alone. It had romance, but it didn’t overwhelm the plot. I would recommend this book to fans of fantasy.
* I received this book for my honest review.*
This book finally made me understand the concept of a perfectly balanced recipe. It has secrets, brave hearts and innocent love in just the right quantities. The main character is relatable and and the villain is as evil as he is interesting. Anna is the princess and damsel in distress that is rescued from an unfortunate incident that led to her captivity as a slave girl. Her mystical hero is a warrior, but at the same time a gentleman which makes it easy for you to wish them a happily ever after. I enjoyed the details that Diane Samson uses to describe the events to give the world life and she makes it easy for you to imagine yourself in Anna’s shoes. I particularly enjoyed the part when Jack and Anna arrive at Harrington Castle and get to know Jack’s background story. I also liked that time is of the essence and that Anna is stubborn in her own way even when it doesn’t suit a princess. This was a page turner and I found the book hard to put down. If you like to read about Romantic Arthurian bravery and war, I highly recommend this book.
I will say now that non-Christian readers, or readers who don’t mind mystic/Christian teachings to be mixed into their fantasy reads, you can skip this review, as it’s not intended for those groups, but as a cautionary for Christian readers who care about this sort of thing…
Then we meet the priest, and that all abruptly ends in a downward spiral of concerning theology that is likely ‘too Christian’ for some, yet dangerously anti-Biblical teachings as well. It suddenly takes on a very Mystic/witch approach to the Bible while directly using Biblical teachings that run counter to all of the Truth in the Bible at the same time. Very dangerous, and not at all something I can comfortable recommend, especially to teens and YA readers!
It’s a fantasy, and as such it is much better to make up you own religions and teachings than to pervert one is such a wicked manner, I’ve seen several Fantasy books with their own belief systems and cultures that never resorted to quoting the Bible to do so, and even if it has be twisting another religion’s sacred book and teachings, it’s still not necessary or okay to disrespect some people hold sacred.
Here’s some examples of the parts I read, and where they came from in the Bible:
*****
The old priest’s voice flowed with warmth. “Then why are they any different than any other substance created we take and use for our own purposes? We use the power of moving water to work our mills, we cut down beautiful trees to build our homes, and we turn the horse into a companion and beast of burden. We have the right to do so, but we need to be good managers of what is entrusted to us.”
Here they are talking about the forbidden use of Gems imbued with magic that have been banned in Anna’s kingdom for their dangerous power. Which overall, as this is a fantasy, I tried to overlook, despite the clear undertones that run counter to Biblical teachings. Yet at this point, I didn’t think it enough to stop reading, and continued on, less certain but still willing to willfully overlook this minor slight.
That said, I also know that the Bible expressly forbids some practices and the uses of crystals and other gem stones that are said to have ‘healing’ or other properties, as only Jesus/Adonai can heal and His powers aren’t that of magic or spirits but of Creation.
Deuteronomy 18:10–12 (KJV): “There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.”
Galatians 5:19–21 (KJV): “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
*****
“Perhaps. But the right hands have the right to use them. The weapon itself is not evil,” he said. “It is about the heart of the one who uses them. They are a tool that can be used for great good or great evil. The choice is yours.”
Here even more red flags started to rise, and at which point I was suddenly very uncomfortable even reading such blasphemy and was definitely considering just stopping here, but as I was over halfway, I wanted to give it one last chance to stop here and move on without digging deeper…
2 Corinthians 6:16–17 (KJV): “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,”
Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV): “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
*****
““Of course, Nicholas is right, Anna. Any common weapon can be used for good or bad. This is something to help us—help your father in a great time of need. And, if you haven’t noticed, we need all the help we can get.”
Jack, always practical.”
Isaiah 5:20 (KJV): “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”
Proverbs 3:7 (KJV): “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.”
1 Corinthians 15:33 (KJV): “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”
Proverbs 8:13 (KJV): The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.”
*****
“Daughter, your reluctance to use them is the surest evidence you should,”
This, my friends is the definition of temptation, and her hesitancy is discernment meant to protect her from making bad choices which lead to sin! It these cases we are to resist and seek the wisdom of Jesus through prayer!
James 4:7 (KJV): “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Isaiah 5:20 (KJV): “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil;
That put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
That put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”
Romans 12:9 (KJV): “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”
Matthew 6:13 (KJV): “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”
James 1:14 (KJV): “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.”
*****
“Let’s start at the beginning. In our ancient works it is written that the Most High created everything—the earth, mankind, beast and even the lesser gods. The Most High treasured man most of all and the lesser gods grew jealous and worked to deceive mankind and turn them away from him.”
Do you see it? Know where that comes from? And this very quote is what brought about both my instant and unapologetic DNFing of this book, and the very reason I’m grudgingly writing this review that I would have much rather just passed over and left unfinished, never to be published, but with this one quote that all becomes irrelevant with it’s irreverence and dangerous lies twisted in the guise of a children’s fantasy story for the unsuspecting reader.
One, there are no other gods, and most definitely none claimed by God/Jehovah as His Creations. Yes, there is satan and his demons, which are definitely real and active, but this quote doesn’t say that, no it implies something that is anything but true!
Genesis 1:1 (KJV): “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Isaiah 44:6 (KJV): “Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.”
Deuteronomy 4:35(KJV): “Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the Lord he is God; there is none else beside him.”
Isaiah 43:10 (KJV): “Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.”
Oh, and one more thing! While yes, I did say I DNFed this a few pages back, call it curiosity, but I skimmed a little farther (to the start of the next chapter…Ch. 13, so figure!) happened to find this interesting is highly offensive list of magical ‘properties’ that are said to be able to ‘channel blessings from the Most High’ but as more definitely not from God/Jehovah! Jesus warns us against such practices and never tells His followers to channel powers, but instead gifts us His blessings though the Holy Spirit whom He sent as out Comforter to teach us and protect us from such lies. This one last reference is only the start of a much longer list that goes through all twelve and what is clearly teachings from occult books and used in their practices and rituals which I won’t even go into here. (If you know, you know!)
Jasper—tracking. There are fifty types of jasper, including Leopard Skin, Bloodstone, Picture Jasper and so forth. Jasper relates to grounding a person to the earth.
Do you know why they use these stones specifically?? And where this list originally came from? Yep, back to the Bible!
This is the description of the New Temple which will be located in the New Jerusalem when Jesus returns as the true Most High (meaning Jesus Christ the Messiah, the Lamb Who Was Slain) to claim His kingdom here on earth.
Revelation 21:19–21(KJV) “And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.”
So, looking back at that quote: “Jasper, sapphire, agate, emerald, onyx, ruby, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, turquoise, jacinth and amethyst,” he read. “These are the twelve foundation stones.”
chalcedony = agate
sardonyx = onyx
chrysoprasus = turquoise
When comparing these to Revelation 21:19-21, we see that not only is it a nearly identical list, but that even the few changes still mean exactly the same thing!
A fantasy read that shows future promise and potential but didn’t blow me away. The writing was a bit unpolished and the story development felt unbalanced at times; however, I found it enjoyable nonetheless. The magic for me, lie in the concept of spiritually (and magically) blessed gems and their fantastical physical manifestations and the detailed world building. I also loved the darker elements of the story and how they lent credibility to the characters’ growth and motivations. Since books speak to readers differently, if you love fantasy, I’d recommend giving it a try.