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How Should Christians Write About… Magic?

Posted on October 18, 2022May 9, 2023 by R.M. Archer

Magic can be a hot-button topic in Christian fantasy circles. Is magic ever okay? What is the difference between the magic in Lord of the Rings and the magic in Harry Potter? Should we just avoid it all? Does the faith of the author make a difference?

As with the other topics addressed in this series, magic in fiction is a matter of personal conviction and the intention of these posts is not to tell you what to think but rather to pose food for thought and my personal understanding of the topic based on what I see in Scripture.

To start with, I want to highlight a few different categories of “magic,” because I think a lot of conflict arises when we’re unclear about what we mean by “magic.”

I tend to see Continue reading “How Should Christians Write About… Magic?” →

Book Review: Once I Knew by Victoria Lynn

Posted on June 28, 2022May 10, 2023 by R.M. Archer

I’ve been following Victoria Lynn on Instagram for ages, but Once I Knew was the first of her books to really catch my attention. Because I appreciate her and her passion for truth so much, I was really excited to see a book of hers coming out that’s in a genre I enjoy and I was thrilled to be able to pre-order it! It took me two months to finish it, but now I can finally present my review. But first…

What is Once I Knew about?

Violet lives her quiet little life in her sleepy village. Trying to remain as dead to the politics that are threatening their world as possible. She follows the rules, stays out of trouble and does her best to remain out of sight of the dreaded and overbearing Kingsmen.

With the new regent on the throne, the country has been thrown into a turmoil. Unlike the kindly king before him, the new ruler is overbearing, frightening and tyrannical in his rule. Taxes are bleeding the people dry and without the money or goods to pay, they have been forced into penal servitude and imprisonment by the Kingsmen, who know no mercy. The despair and fear that has taken over their lives has ruled out any level of hope.

When Violet stumbles upon an unconscious and injured Kingsman in the woods, despite the consequences, she cannot help but take care of the injured man. When he wakes and has no memory of who he is, she takes the only precaution that will keep her and her grandmother safe; she destroys the evidence of his past life.

If Violet’s lowly Kingsman regains his memory, will she be able to live with the consequences? And will the Kingsman be able to live with his past life?

Review

In the end… I didn’t enjoy Once I Knew as much as I’d hoped. In part I think it was a matter of taste and in part Continue reading “Book Review: Once I Knew by Victoria Lynn” →

Book Review: The Story Peddler by Lindsay A. Franklin

Posted on April 19, 2022May 10, 2023 by R.M. Archer

This week, I am pleased to announce that I have found another book off the Calligraphy Guild comp titles list which I actually enjoyed. The Story Peddler was a great read, and I’m quite excited to get my hands on the remainder of the series. But before we get into it, what is The Story Peddler?

Blurb

Selling stories is a deadly business

Tanwen doesn’t just tell stories—she weaves them into crystallized sculptures that sell for more than a few bits. But the only way to escape the control of her cruel mentor and claw her way from poverty is to set her sights on something grander: becoming Royal Storyteller to the king.

During her final story peddling tour, a tale of treason spills from her hands, threatening the king himself. Tanwen goes from peddler to prey as the king’s guard hunts her down . . . and they’re not known for their mercy. As Tanwen flees for her life, she unearths long-buried secrets and discovers she’s not the only outlaw in the empire. There’s a rebel group of weavers . . . and they’re after her too.

Review

The Story Peddler suffered from a little bit of Continue reading “Book Review: The Story Peddler by Lindsay A. Franklin” →

National Indie Author Day: Fantasy Giveaway

Posted on November 4, 2021November 4, 2021 by R.M. Archer

I am so excited to bring you the first National Indie Author Day giveaway for this year! We’re kicking things off with fantasy, since that’s my personal favorite, and I’m giving away some great indie fantasy books. I have a copy of Colors of Fear by Hannah Heath, Steward Stories by Beth Wangler, and Women of Kern: Book One by Maris McKay, and one lucky winner will receive all three, plus Continue reading “National Indie Author Day: Fantasy Giveaway” →

Book Review: The Hidden Queen by Janelle Garrett

Posted on May 2, 2019April 29, 2019 by R.M. Archer

I really, really, really wanted to love this book. I had high hopes, going in, and the book just… didn’t deliver. (I do list positives at the end, I promise. :P)

First, the writing style was bland. There wasn’t enough description or action to balance out the dialogue, and the dialogue was bogged down by repetitive descriptions of itself. Like the spot where it’s mentioned that Gwen laughed because she was amused. Or where she said “Perhaps” and we’re told it was noncommittal. A lot of places just could have benefited from trimming things down in a lot of places and bulking them up in others. Continue reading “Book Review: The Hidden Queen by Janelle Garrett” →