What to read – Snow Day Edition!

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Disclosure: I received this book to review. The post contains affiliate links; opinions shared here are 100% mine.

It finally happened — those banked snow days were put to use!  Today we were out, and tomorrow has already been called.  Woot!!!  We spent our day in our pajamas, except for the few minutes that my son ventured out into the snow. It’s been falling steadily all day and is supposed to continue through the night. We bought Big Hero 6 online; the kids watched it immediately (love Amazon) while I savored books all day. So here you have the Snow Day Edition of What To Read!

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Emissary book review - savingsinseconds.com
In his book Emissary, Thomas Locke has the fantasy element down pat. This fictional world was magnificent, complete with a  monastery-like society and clearly defined cultures developed within the story.  The wisdom of elders rang true throughout Emissary.   The main character Hyam discovers his magical ability rather late in life (at age 21) compared to most other popular wizarding stories. For me, that fact put Emissary in a somewhat awkward category of reading audiences.  While I don’t see Emissary being a strong book for the young adults, it also seems a bit inappropriate for the middle grades.  There are mentions of hangovers, child abuse, and lost innocence.  Also, the romance factor was relatively forced.  Although Hyam was of age, he didn’t seem practical and stable enough to sustain a lasting relationship.  Emissary has a lot of potential and I hope to see it expanded into a series.  That would help me to see the big picture and connect with the characters on a deeper level.

Beneath the Forsaken City - book review at savingsinseconds.com

Let’s continue with the fantasy realm!  Beneath the Forsaken City is book 2 in The Song of the Seare series. Since I didn’t read book 1, I was a bit lost. This time we explore a medieval era complete with sword-wielding warriors. Aine was every guy’s dream girl; she’s tough, beautiful, and has high moral standards. She’s separated from her husband Conor, which gets a little sticky. Again, I’m unsure about the target audience for this book. Most teens won’t relate to a married couple, even if said couple isn’t together most of the time. I’m slightly scatterbrained when I read, so the confusing names made it tough for me to keep up with the plot. Older teens would probably swallow this with ease! The thinly veiled comparison between the Christian faith and the Comdiu life makes the book a good option for those who like clean spiritual fantasy.

The Beekeeper's Son book review - savingsinseconds.com
Upon first glance, you might expect The Beekeeper’s Son  to be a typical Amish romance.  Rest assured that it’s quite different!  I haven’t seen an Amish book before that mentioned Tennessee or Texas, so my ears perked up right away with that.  When I read about Phineas, a man who still bears the scars of a childhood accident, it reminded me of a man I once knew from church camp. He was a tremendously charismatic youth leader; we all loved him and respected him.  He was so much fun to be around, and his love for Jesus was contagious. After getting to know him, you would never even notice the burn scars that covered every visible part of his skin.  Phineas made me realize how much emotional turmoil must be suffered beneath the surface.  Of the books I read on this snowy afternoon, The Beekeeper’s Son was my favorite!  Its deeply spiritual message, filled with warmth and love, just captured my heart.  Author Kelly Irvin has a captivating writing style.  This is a don’t-miss book!

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Comments

  1. I want to read The Beekeeper’s Son. Sounds like one I’d really like. (we had 6 inches of snow today here in Denver)

  2. Sandy Klocinski says

    I really enjoyed the first book in The Song of the Seare series. If you haven’t read book one, take a look at Oath of the Brotherhood. If you’re a fan of fantasy novels, the Song of Seare series is one you’ll enjoy.

  3. Sherry Compton says

    It’s too bad that the scifi books didn’t have a real target audience. It makes it hard for me to get books to read for myself and my grandkids when I’m not sure about the content. You really do have to be careful about what you let middle readers read. Thanks for the great and honest reviews.

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