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Book Review: Steward Stories by Beth Wangler

Book Review: Steward Stories by Beth Wangler

Posted on by R.M. Archer

Blurb

“What was there in life, if not an endless wrestling against an unconquerable foe?”

*****

Freedom doesn’t bring the peace the nation of Maraiah hoped for.

Giants, soldiers, and nomads fill the promised homeland—and they’ll do anything to hold onto power.

Thrown into an unfamiliar landscape and constant danger, Maraiah struggles to maintain her identity.

It’s a time of faith.  Aia raises up Stewards to stand between His people and death. He works great miracles through them, reshaping the very ground of the promised land.

It’s a time of disappointment. Home looks nothing like Maraiah had dreamed. Generations drag on, and still violence, confusion, and doubt abound.

Will a Steward ever truly establish peace?

*****

These seven short stories take place between Child of the Kaites and The Steward’s Apprentice, providing snapshots of key figures whose struggles with pride, trust, courage, and identity shape Maraiah’s future. Continue reading “Book Review: Steward Stories by Beth Wangler” →

5 Things YA Fiction Could Do Better

5 Things YA Fiction Could Do Better

Posted on by R.M. Archer

A few weeks ago, I wrote a post on why I read YA even though it often stinks. Today I want to talk about a few ways I think it could stink less. ;) Obviously, considering my previous post, I read YA even though I personally find it less-than-ideal, but here are a few things I’d like to see more or less often in YA fiction to sort of balance out the not-so-great YA books.

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Continue reading “5 Things YA Fiction Could Do Better” →

Why I Read YA (even though it often stinks)

Why I Read YA (even though it often stinks)

Posted on by R.M. Archer

Keeping on the trend of reading habit posts inspired by conversations, I wanted to discuss the value of YA fiction. Mainstream YA can get a lot of flack in conservative Christian circles, and for good reason. It’s often shallow, riddled with unnecessarily mature content, and contains little moral value for a young reader looking toward literature for characters to look up to, or even to gain a greater appreciation for the craft of writing. However, I still read YA and I still think that mainstream young adult novels—even those less solid books—have value of a non-literary variety. Here’s why. Continue reading “Why I Read YA (even though it often stinks)” →

Reading for Writing: What Authors Should Read

Reading for Writing: What Authors Should Read

Posted on by R.M. Archer

I’m guessing that everyone here is a reader. I’m also guessing that most of you authors began writing out of a love for reading. When you started, reading was a grand escape and a fun leisure activity, and you read whatever you wanted whenever you wanted, but now that you’re an author you hear people saying “Read these books to improve your craft!” “Don’t read those or you’ll take too much inspiration for your own books and write a copy!” and other dos and don’ts that could make reading less enjoyable. We start reading for writing instead of reading for reading, which has its benefits but also its drawbacks. Here’s what I personally think authors should read (hint: it’s pretty much everything) and why each category is beneficial. Continue reading “Reading for Writing: What Authors Should Read” →

Book Review: Once & Future by Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy

Book Review: Once & Future by Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy

Posted on by R.M. Archer

In the interest of full disclosure, I’m going to start off by saying that I’m a Christian and thus don’t agree with the lifestyle choices of the LGBTQ+ community. I won this book in a giveaway, and if I had read the reviews to see that Once & Future had heavy LGBTQ+ themes, I probably wouldn’t have entered the giveaway at the time. However, I respect the individuals who identify with the LGBTQ+ community and decided to read this book out of a desire to better understand those individuals. Unfortunately, this turned out not to be the best book for that as the writing didn’t do the community justice (in my opinion, as an outsider). Continue reading “Book Review: Once & Future by Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy” →