Category: Books & Reading

Book Review: And Everything in Between by Bethany Meyer

Book Review: And Everything in Between by Bethany Meyer

Why yes, this is the second review of a book by Bethany Meyer this year, and yes, I had the opportunity to read an Advance Reader Copy of this one too. (Here’s the required disclaimer that even though I received the book for free for review, all opinions expressed henceforth are entirely my own.) And yes, this one is as good as DragonFire and Other Nonsense.

What is And Everything in Between about?

Wick and Archer have collected Heather Stones and battled dragons—but even amid the clamor of survival, quiet conflict finds its way in.

Brothers struggle to form a bond under the thumb of their controlling father.

A failed play forces two young leshy to face their uncertain futures and the expectations that await them there.

Trapped in his hometown, Archer encounters an odd, generous girl that he just can’t ignore—but what does she want with him?

From Wick’s first taste of cinnamon to Archer’s first fall, Everything In Between is a collection of moments, of memories and dreams, of the everyday aches and triumphs of becoming.

Review

Collections tend to be Continue reading “Book Review: And Everything in Between by Bethany Meyer”

Book Review: Murder in Mossyhollow by Sarah Rodecker

Book Review: Murder in Mossyhollow by Sarah Rodecker

Having worked on several projects with Sarah throughout the years, including her previous book Escape from Mathebos, I was super excited when I heard she was working on a cozy fantasy mystery series! I’m always super excited to see more Christian-authored cozy fantasy books, and cozy fantasy plus cozy mystery sounds like the perfect mix, so I couldn’t wait to read Murder in Mossyhollow.

(Required disclaimer that though I received a free copy to review, the following opinions are my own.)

What is Murder in Mossyhollow about?

As Mossyhollow’s apothecary, Sybell Buslingthorpe has her finger on the pulse of the village. When a well-loathed man is poisoned at a dinner party and the fiancée of Sybell’s assistant, Joan, is the prime suspect, Sybell feels compelled to step in and solve the murder before the wrong person is accused.

Sybell Buslingthorpe fills her days with caring for the sick, teasing her young assistant and his spunky fiancée, and going home to her garden and pet dragons. Free time is spent interacting with the village people of Mossyhollow and getting involved in the local politics. Everything an elderly apothecary could dream of.

Her comfortable life is thrown into chaos when her dear friend, Anya Thorne, throws a dinner party and her friend’s grandson is poisoned. Despite everyone hating him, Joan, as Anya’s housekeeper, becomes the prime suspect. Knowing her assistant’s fiancée is innocent, Sybell races against the clock to clear her name and find the real killer.

She finds herself swept up in a world of politics and prejudice, where everyone has a motive, but few have the means and opportunity. Will Sybell be able to patch up Joan’s reputation before it is too late?

Review

Murder in Mossyhollow‘s charm is in its Continue reading “Book Review: Murder in Mossyhollow by Sarah Rodecker”

7 of My Favorite Fiction Classics

7 of My Favorite Fiction Classics

As fall hits, I always find myself wanting to read more classics. Something about the season just makes me want to return to older, (often) richer literature. Whether you feel the same way about fall or you’re just looking for classics to expand your horizons or strengthen your writing, here are seven of my favorite fiction classics (by order of how many times I’ve reread them).

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

A must-read for any fantasy fan, The Lord of the Rings makes Continue reading “7 of My Favorite Fiction Classics”

What Does it Mean to “Read with Discernment”?

What Does it Mean to “Read with Discernment”?

If you’re a Christian reader, you may have heard the term “reading with discernment” tossed around, or something like it. Read carefully. Choose your books wisely. And this is good advice. The problem is… it’s vague. What does it mean to read with discernment?

Ultimately, I think reading with discernment will lead to different readers choosing different books. There is no one-size-fits-all result when it comes to reading with discernment. But there are a few principles to keep in mind as you consider what reading with discernment means for you and how you can choose your reads wisely.

Expose the Works of Darkness

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” – Eph. 5:11, NKJV

The world is broken, and fiction Continue reading “What Does it Mean to “Read with Discernment”?”

8-Year Blog Anniversary – Celebratory Q&A!

8-Year Blog Anniversary – Celebratory Q&A!

I momentarily interrupt the blog’s summer hiatus to celebrate that Scribes & Archers had its 8-year anniversary on Saturday! I asked my newsletter subscribers what I should do to celebrate and a Q&A was the top-voted option, so here’s this year’s celebratory Q&A post! Thank you to Amelie, Jocelyn, Cate, and Aaliyah for sending in questions!

Writing Questions

Do you use block scheduling? A planner where you do a little each day? Or how do you organize your schedule for maximum productivity?

I’ve tried block scheduling before and it’s never worked for me because I personally need a more flexible system that can adjust for differences between days and between larger seasons in terms of energy levels, other activities, what projects I’m interested in, etc. Continue reading “8-Year Blog Anniversary – Celebratory Q&A!”