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Rhen Tellur is tired of helplessly watching a mysterious mutating disease drain the life of her mother and that of those she loves. She is tired of the Uppers disdain and indifferent to the seriousness of the plague. Rhen is gifted with a knack for numbers and the sciences, but in a world where gender roles are strictly defined, going to university or studying the arts and sciences is forbidden. Rhen decides to take matters into her own hands with her best friend, Seleni, by her side, she steps into the maze.

Set in a fictional realm that is like something out of a Jules Verne novel with a heightened element of illusion and strict social adherence to stereotypical gender roles and expectations. Intriguing, with a fascinating premise, the story begins by setting the scene, but it isn’t until about 1/3 of the way through the book that it really takes off. When I hit the 1/3 mark I couldn’t put it down.

Strong themes of friendship, courage, and coming of age run through this story, and I especially liked the friendship between Rhen and Seleni. But I was disappointed that while published by Thomas Nelson it gave no indication of being a Christian read, despite being technically “clean” depending on the age of the audience–comments about a female character’s body are made, males make suggestive comments, and women are talked about as if they are conquests. I feel that this book would have been a better fit with HarperCollins’ Blink imprint, which is more of a clean teen reads division of their brand.

I admired Rhen for her devotion to her family, she is level-headed in tense situations and is willing to stand apart from the crowd. Seleni is her best friend and confidant, she doesn’t want to fight the societal norms, but rather be there through thick and thin for her friend. Seleni and Beryll are one of my favorite things about this book. I enjoyed the imaginative setting and camaraderie between some of the contestants. Fraught with tension and adventure, the pages kept flying by. This was an enjoyable high stakes adventure, with a strong heroine with the courage to blaze her own path.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Will Rick be able to stop him, and save Favian and Mariel–or will they be trapped in the Realm as it comes crashing down?

The conclusion to Andrew Klavan’s thrilling Mindwar Trilogy had me hanging on to the last, wondering if Rick would be strong enough for the final blow.

I really liked how we got to see more of Molly and who she is and why Rick is so drawn to her calming spirit.

Rick is a discerning hero, always thinking of others and what he can do. I loved how he because a symbol of hope to his friends in the Realm. I like how his passion for right and wrong, has grown, yet he is still compassionate.

Overall, a wonderful read, well written and action packed to the end. Rick Dial is an admirable hero, he has grown into a man of conviction and strength, with a strong faith. A terrific conclusion to the trilogy. I would definitely recommend this read!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising.”

My Review:


A name can be an identity, a future, and power.

Coin has made a living on the streets, a Nameless in a caste system of Royals, Legals and Nameless. She doesn’t know her real name, but when she is impossibly named the heir to the throne, she must fight for her life and for the lives of her people.

A engaging young adult read from debut author Rebecca McLaughlin, set in a well constructed world, with surprising twists and allies along the way.

Coin is a clever heroine, having survived on the streets by her own wits for years when suddenly a  new destiny is thrust upon her. She is emotionally distant from others, and doesn’t trust anyone, but over the course of the book we see her long held standards challenged. I admired her determination, fighter’s spirit, she doesn’t back down, and isn’t afraid to play the long game.

There were many fantastic characters, especially strong females. I really liked Esther, Devil, and Hat, with her child-like innocence and enthusiasm. But of course Glenquartz was a fantastic character, and rather unexpected.

Well written, engaging, with great world building, and characters, with a compelling concept and subsequent consequences. I also really liked how this book proved that you don’t need a romantic storyline to tell a killer story, instead focusing on strong themes of friendship, family, power, and identity. Lots of action, and political intrigue, with a satisfying ending.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

My Review: An action packed medieval tale of what a light can do in the darkness.

Merrilyn’s life changes forever when she mysteriously heals the royal escort after an unexpected ambush.
Merrilyn struggles to follow the voice called Loian that guides her, her devotion to Loian puts a strain on her relationship her best friend Justan, the crown prince.
Can Merrilyn help lead her country into a new age?

Ms. Sutherlin wonderfully balances her allegory so that it is not too much, yet not in the least lacking, a tricky feat to accomplish. A Light in the Darkness well written in a style that is easy to follow and I found myself slowly drawn into it as I read. This book really had a spell-casting quality to it, with great descriptions and feel to it.

The characters were likable and I liked watching Merrilyn’s and Justan’s relationship change throughout the course of the book. I guess the only thing was that I wasn’t quite as connected to the characters as I would have liked to have been.

There was plenty of action, with many hold-your-breath scenes, and others that riveted me to the page.

I just want to note that, that this book has wizards that are evil and that Merrilyn is given some supernatural powers from Loian. I personally didn’t have a problem with any of it, but I know that there are some of you who would appreciate a heads up.

Overall a promising debut from Ms. Sutherlin, and the cool thing about this book is that this is only the beginning! A very enjoyable Christian Medieval Allegory 🙂

I received this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising.”