Author and Reviewer of Young Adult Fantasy and Historical Fiction
When invading Gyndilians tear through the kingdom of Klinhun and murder her sister, Adelaide mounts a peasant rebellion against the king who failed to protect them. Accompanied by her hawk Cyr, Adelaide sets out across Klinhun to secretly gather as… Keep Reading
It’s possible that you might finish Book 1 of the Gateway Chronicles —The Six— and not continue on. And I suppose that, by sheer force of will, you could complete Book 2 —The Oracle— and somehow be content living with… Keep Reading
In the previous post, we considered two major reasons why the world needs another good book. We looked at how books encourage us to slow down and really pay attention to the world around us. We also saw how they… Keep Reading
In last month’s blog post, I featured the first two novels in Shannon Hale’s Books of Bayern series. This month, I’m honing in on the other two volumes: River Secrets and Forest Born. Shannon Hale is one of my favorite contemporary authors…. Keep Reading
The Wingfeather Saga, by Andrew Peterson (who’s also an accomplished singer-songwriter), is a rollicking read that tweens and young teens will particularly enjoy. The four-volume series traces the adventures of three siblings–Janner, Kalmar, and Leeli–as they try to evade and… Keep Reading
Who doesn’t love a well-told fairytale? These age-old fantasies consistently and succinctly express our deep desires for love, adventure, beauty, truth, and the triumph of good over evil. Walt Disney certainly recognized their power: it’s no accident that he chose Snow… Keep Reading
Ah, summer camp. Woodsy hikes, cafeteria trays loaded with food, rainy days in the rec room, and battles against demonic forces bent on world domination. Wait. What? When Darcy Pennington first arrived at Cedar Cove Camp, a few months shy of her… Keep Reading
I’ve written several reviews of YA fantasy over the last few months, so I’ve decided it’s time to delve a bit into my other favorite genre: historical fiction. Although library systems may file them separately, fantasy and historical fiction actually… Keep Reading
American-born author Robin McKinley has been writing fantasy for middle-grade through adult readers for over forty years, and has won numerous awards, including the Newberry Medal for The Hero and the Crown. She lives in England with her husband, author Peter… Keep Reading
“Who hurts the most?” asks Orson Scott Card, in his book How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy. “Chances are that it is among the characters who are in pain that you will find your main character.” He has a good… Keep Reading