A Bookworm's Book Reviews

Acts of Faith Trilogy – Davis Bunn & Janette Oke

Titles: The Centurion’s Wife (book 1), The Hidden Flame (book 2), The Damascus Way (book 3)

Authors: Davis Bunn and Janette Oke

Genre: Historical Fiction, Biblical History

Plot: The Centurion’s Wife (book 1) – A Roman Centurion, Alban, is ordered by Pilate to find out what happened to the rabbi called, Yeshua, three days after his burial and death on a cross. A servant of Pilate, Leah has been asked by Pilate’s wife, Procula, to find out what happened to Yeshua as well. Procula thinks her headaches and visions have something to do with him. Behind the scenes, Herod and Pilate are talking about what to do with the disciples and Jewish leaders. While Alban and Leah are searching for what happened to Yeshua, Alban asks Pilate to marry Leah. Pilate accepts, so long as Alban finds out exactly what happened to Yeshua. When he does that, he can take Leah for his wife. Both slowly become accepted by Yeshua’s disciples. They tell Alban and Leah what happened to them. Leah and Alban start to accept to Yeshua as the Messiah. But the Jewish leaders, Pilate, and Herod are closing ranks on the disciples. They want the matter of the ‘dead’ rabbi to come to a nice and neat close. They don’t want to accept the fact that he’s still alive and the Messiah. When Alban gives his report to Pilate and Herod, they are furious, but let him take Leah as his wife. Leah and Alban have grown close over their time searching for what happened to Yeshua. But Herod and Pilate decide to capture Alban so he can’t spread the word. Will he be captured? Or will he find a way to escape with Leah?

The Hidden Flame (book 2) – Leah’s friend Abigail has stayed in Jerusalem to help the believers there. She’s caught the eye of two men, Linux (a Roman soldier) and Ezra (a Jewish merchant and part of the Sanhedrin). Abigail doesn’t wish to marry either of them as they desire her but don’t love her. Neither of them of are believers, as well. Both men try to convince the leaders of the believers that they are a good match for Abigail. But they must wait until Abigail’s guardian, Alban can return to Jerusalem. As they see the signs and miracles the disciples preform, their hearts are changed, one for the better, one for the worse. When Alban arrives, he sees the men’s desires and declines both of their claims to marry Abigail. Her relief is short lived when she is asked to marry Stephen. Abigail agrees. With tensions between believers and the Jewish leaders growing stronger every day, will they be able to stay in the city? Or will they need to flee?

The Damascus Way (book 3) – Julia and her mother live on the outskirts of they city, away from prying eyes. She’s not well accepted in either the Jewish or Roman communities, as she’s Samaritan and Greek. Her world starts to come apart when she learns her parent’s are married and her father has a legitimate family in Damascus. Then she learns that her mother’s servant is a believer. Slowly, Julia learns about the Messiah and becomes a believer. She tries desperately to tell her mother about the Messiah, but her mother won’t listen. Jacob is a guard in her father’s caravan along with Alban. He agrees to protect them along the way to meet a suitor for Julia. But everything changes when they encounter a sandstorm along the way. Her mother has a change of heart. Jacobs starts to learn more about the trading Julia’s father does on the side. Both Jacob and Julia start passing secret messages between other believers. Will that keep them safe? Or will delivering secret messages and supplies put them in great danger? Especially when they are asked to accompany Saul of Tarsus to Damascus. What will happen to them along the way?

Rating: 3.8 – a good historical fiction trilogy

Opinion: This was a sappy romantic, biblical history trilogy. While this wasn’t the most action packed trilogy, I did enjoy it. Though I knew some of the things that were going to happen, because it’s common biblical knowledge, I still found myself learning new things. It was easy to relate to some of the characters because they had the same doubts that modern Christians had. They struggled with the some of the same problems as well. I was a little confused that most of the characters did end up becoming believers. I know more obvious miracles were being performed back then, but it still had me confused on how easily people were becoming believers. Maybe it’s because I’m used to people brushing off things they see and hear much more than they used to. That and maybe I haven’t seen as many people come to Christ as others have. This was still a good trilogy. I loved all of the biblical history and Roman history in the series. While it was slower than the books I normally enjoy, I found myself wanting to know how the characters would overcome their challenges. This is a slow and steady trilogy that’s great for anyone who loves historical fiction with a little sappy romance thrown in.

Guest Post – The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck

Thank you Ali from Share to Inspire for this review.

Title: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck

Author: Mark Manson

Genre: Self-help book

As the author itself said, it’s a self-help book, and it’s for people who hate self-help books. The book is all about improving yourself. Although the approaches are counterintuitive, you will find them useful and powerful. In the quest of improving ourselves, problems are inevitable. But this book won’t tell you to look for the bright side and keep pushing yourself. It is the opposite, stop trying and believing in yourself. Mark’s suggestions are rare, vulgar, and different from every self-help book I have read but I found them to be profoundly true and helpful.

The subtle art of not Giving a fuck is a page-turner and life-changing. Reading once is not enough for me, it is worth rereading it. Mark Manson emphasizes that everyone cares about something. Everyone gives a f*ck about something. And you gotta choose wisely what those are. Another underlying message in this book is to be comfortable with what you lack. Embrace what is uncomfortable and sometimes pursuing the negatives results in positive. For example, our failure makes us realize our shortcomings. If you want to be liked by people, you have to be comfortable with the fact that not all people will like you. If you want to be successful, then you have to befriend failure.

Truth is problems and problems never go away. They will always be replaced with a new one. And the question from the book that will give you the insight to improve your life is “Which struggles are you willing to take?” The author takes relationships as an example. A lot of people want a perfect-looking relationship but they’re not willing to take the struggles of building one. These include awkward and hurtful conversations, failed dates, and rejections. You can’t have your desired result, without choosing and going through your struggles.

I could go on and talk more about the book, but I will leave the thrill to you. I am always left in awe every time I put down the book, so go ahead and read the whole book.

The Divergent Trilogy – Veronica Roth

Title: Divergent (book 1), Insurgent (book 2), Allegiant (book 3)

Author: Veronica Roth

Genre: Dystopian Future, Young Adult

Plot: Divergent (book 1) – Beatrice (Tris) Prior lives in a world divided by factions. Everyone takes a test that determines where you live based on your choices on the test. Test options are limited to Candor (who value honesty), Abnegation (who value selflessness), Dauntless (who value bravery), Amity (who value peacefulness), and Erudite (who value knowledge). Those who fail the test or their initiation are cast into the factionless are homeless and do the jobs no one else wants. If you get more than one faction on the test, you are Divergent. If you’re discovered as Divergent, you disappear. Tris discovers she is after taking the test. Her test proctor doesn’t rat her out and lets her pick at her choosing ceremony. Tris choses Dauntless. But can she remain hidden with Dauntless? Or will she be discovered?

Insurgent (book 2) – War has broken out among the factions. Those in Erudite want total control for themselves. Those closest to her are deciding who to fight with. Dauntless are asked to be soldiers. Everyone is unsure of what to do. Then she is pulled into the resistance with the factionless. She starts learn more about what’s going on behind the scenes. Tris is asked to help infiltrate the government and take down the Erudite leader. When things go sideways, Tris and her friends must find a way to leave the city. But nothing is supposed to be outside the city. What will they find? How will they survive?

Allegiant (book 3) – Tris and her friends find sanctuary somewhere in the wasteland beyond their city. They learn of a broader world than they ever thought possible. Tris learns her city was set up as experiment of sorts and her mother was a part of it. This sends Tris reeling. Then they learn the city they grew up in isn’t going to make it. What will Tris do? Will she help destroy her home? Will she stay with this new place? Or can she find a way to save everyone?

Rating: 3.0 – a good idea, but wasn’t as enjoyable as others like it

Opinion: Yes, I know I’m late to the game with this trilogy, but I thought I’d share my thoughts. This trilogy started out well. I liked the ideas behind the way things were set up. Then things started getting weird for me in the second book. After that the books changed directions completely. I didn’t like the changes. The books had a good thing going for them. I can see some of the reasons why but not enough to really enjoy where the trilogy went. I was confused on the direction the books went. It was too much for a change in direction. It almost felt like the author ran out of ideas for that first idea and tried to add in a different idea, but didn’t quiet make it work. I finished the trilogy cause I thought it might be redeemed. The ideas also kept me interested. Another thing I didn’t love about the books was the on again off again relationship Tris has with Four. It got really annoying quick. That and love triangles is why I’ve taken a long break from young adult books. Overall this isn’t a bad trilogy, I just think it could’ve been done better, or a little differently.

Illusion – Frank Peretti

Title: Illusion

Author: Frank Peretti

Genre: Science Fiction

Plot: Danny and Mandy have been a magician duo for almost 40 years. That all changes when Mandy dies in a car crash. While Dan mourns, something has happened to Mandy. She wakes up in the hospital, as her 19 year old self. She is transferred to a mental ward. That is, until she finds a way to escape, by passing through the walls. She learns to adapt to her new life. Mandy uses her newfound abilities to earn some cash. Then Dave finds her in a coffee shop while she’s performing. He recognizes her instantly, but she doesn’t recognize him. Dave recognizes her talent and decides to take Mandy under his wing, despite the heartbreak. Through their mentor/protégée partnership, they start to figure out how Mandy’s powers work. But Mandy’s powers start to draw unwanted attention. Others seek what she can do for their own purposes. On top of that, Mandy’s powers are growing. Can she learn to control them? Can Dave keep Mandy safe? Or will this new unseen enemy capture her? Will Dave be able to get his Mandy back? Or will she be this new Mandy forever?

Rating: 3.5 – an interesting take on time travel

Opinion: Magicians have always intrigued me. Learning some behind the scenes tricks on how they work made me enjoy the book even more. This was the first book I’ve read that was truly about time travel. While it was a great book, the mechanics of it were super confusing. The book tried to explain the mechanics of how time travel worked. That about broke my brain. While I didn’t mind that, that plot information was kind of dumped on me. It would have been nicer if the information had been broken up more. Also, the book was pretty descriptive as well, not that it was a bad thing, it just got to be a little much. Also there wasn’t a ton of action either. I liked the idea of time travel and its added capabilities in this book. That kept it interesting and kept me reading. Even though some things weren’t so easy to understand, it was still a good read. This is a good read for those who love magicians and time travel.

The Plastic Magician – Charlie N. Holmberg

This is an addition to the Paper Magician Trilogy world.

Title: The Plastic Magician

Author: Charlie N. Holmberg

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult

Plot: Alvie Brechenmacher has just finished her studies at the magician’s school. Now she starts her internship with Magician Praff to be a Polymer (a magician who works with plastic) in London. While traveling to London, she meets Magician Ezzell. Magician Praff is trying to think of something new for the Discovery Convention. Alvie learns Magician Ezzell is a rival magician to Magician Praff. While volunteering at a hospital, Alvie thinks of an idea. Magician Praff loves the idea and gets to work immediately. Alvie helps whenever and wherever she can. She grows suspicious of Magician Ezzell. He continually finds Alvie when she’s running errands and with her new friends Bennett and Ethel. Magician Ezzell starts becoming more desperate for what Alvie and Magician Praff are working on. How desperate will Magician Ezzell become? Will Alvie and Magician Praff be able to finish their contraption in time for the Discovery Convention? Or will Magician Ezzell stop them?

Rating: 3.7 – a good addition to the Paper Magician trilogy world

Opinion: This was a great addition to the Paper Magician Trilogy. Though the story focused on new characters, a few from the original trilogy were mentioned. While this book was great, I didn’t love it as much as the original trilogy. I was hoping for a little bit more suspense from this book. It hinted at some suspense at the beginning. As the book continued, I thought it would increase, but it didn’t, at least not as much as I thought it would. The ending was very good. There was lots of good stuff going on. It was a bit of a classic ending, but I like how the author did it. One thing I’m glad this author does, is put realistic expectations on relationships. Nothing in the relationship is forced or rushed. They don’t always agree on everything, but they find ways to make it work. They make mistakes and talk through them. It’s very refreshing, especially in young adult books. I also enjoyed the magic in this series. It’s a different sort of magic than what I’m used to. People can only use magic on man made things. I like that idea. This is a great book for those who are looking for a new kind of magical books.

The Outlands – Tyler Edwards

Thank you Tyler Edwards for letting me read this book. This book will be available on January 24.

Title: The Outlands (book 1)

Author: Tyler Edwards

Genre: Dystopian

Plot: Jett Lastings is an outcast. The government, called the Patriarch, has deemed him one after his parents died. He and his group of friends, Victor, Jensen, Gibbs, Spike, Telman, Olivia, and Becka live in an abandoned house, away from the Patriarchs influence. Life in the Patriarch’s caste system is difficult, especially if you’re an undesirable. Jett and his friends have taken to stealing whatever they can. Things start to change after Jett steals a data pack (a device that holds all a person’s important information) of a Patriarch official. That gains notice of the police (called Red Caps), Levites (those who deal out punishments), and Grent (a leader of the small rebellion). They chose to help Grent after Red Caps take some of their friends. They bargain with Grent for help. He helps get their friends and they give him the data pad and take control of the Market (where the stores and vendors are). Jett and the others help get control of the Market but his friends weren’t there. Grent has an idea but needs Jett and his friend’s help. But will it be enough? Can they start a true revolution? Can they find their friends? Then rumors of a mole within the rebellion. Who is it? One of Jett’s friends? Or one of Grent’s men? Can the mole be found? Or will the mole destroy everything? Can Jett find fix the mess? Or will he and his friend get caught?

Rating: 3.8 – a different take on dystopian future

Opinion: At first I thought this was going to be another standard dystopian fiction book. It took some time for the book to get set up. It had all the making of another standard young adult book. Then it slowly started to make itself different. The love interest doesn’t take over the whole plot. It stays focused on finding their friends, taking over the Market, and dealing with the consequences of their actions. I appreciated that. I’m not a big fan of young adult books where the main character finds love and it distracts them from their origins goal. While it did distract Jett, he still found a way to help his friends. I still kind of predicted the ending. Though I didn’t predict one of the character’s actions towards the end. I had my suspicions of the other characters but not that one. It made for a good ending and a cliffhanger. Though the character’s actions still brought about the ending I predicted. I’m curious to see where the series go from here. I’m hoping it doesn’t pull a Divergent. This was a nice change for a dystopian future book. There were no love triangles or love distractions. They stop and think about things logically more than in other books. They try to figure out the best plan for beating the government instead of charging ahead. They find ways to make right choices for everyone. They’re quick to be suspicious when things go too well or not well enough. They talk about the consequences of their actions and think them all the way through. But even then it’s not enough. I’m sure they’ll find a way in the next books. Overall, this was a great book. It was different and found ways to keep me reading. This is a good book for anyone who enjoys dystopian future books.

Time’s Convert – Deborah Harkness

This is part of the All Souls Trilogy.

Title: Time’s Convert

Author: Deborah Harkness

Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction

Plot: Marcus’ mate Phoebe has just been turned into a vampire. They’ve decided to go the traditional route for vampires and stay away from each other so that Phoebe has a good amount of time to adjust to becoming a vampire. It’s torture for both of them, but with all of the recent controversy surrounding Marcus’ family, the De Clarmonts, it’s better that they do it this way. Phoebe is struggling with hunting. Light continues to bother her as well. While Phoebe adjusts to being a vampire, Marcus waits at his father’s and his mate’s house, Matthew and Diana. In between taking care of the twins, Marcus tells Diana of this past and his life as a vampire. Marcus was born in Massachusetts not long before the Revolutionary War to a kind mother and controlling father. Marcus and his father fought constantly until Marcus ran away. He started as a soldier for the colonies, then became a physician. That’s when he met Matthew who was working for the Marques de Lafayette. Matthew took Marcus under his wing and eventually turned Marcus into a vampire when he was sick. Marcus is a rebellious vampire. He fights the De Clarmont’s traditions. Marcus wants to do things his own way. He fights with the people during the French Revolution. Matthew and Phillipe, Matthew’s father, find him and talk some sense into him. Marcus grumbles about this but accepts his fate for a while. Marcus strikes out again and escapes and heads to New Orleans. But with sickness raging around the city, Marcus and his new vampire family are drawing attention as they can’t get sick. Will Marcus’ actions tell the world that vampires are real? Or will the secret of vampires stay safe? Will Phoebe ever adjust to being a vampire?

Rating: 3.8 – a good blend of fantasy and historical fiction

Opinion: I was excited to read this book. It did not disappoint. The changing viewpoints threw me for a moment because I thought it was going to focus solely on Marcus and his past. Instead it switches between Marcus, Phoebe, and Diana. Everyone else I loved. I enjoyed learning about history through Marcus’ eyes and learning more about magic through Diana’s eyes. I had a hard time putting the book down because it was such a good book. The history was great and the fantasy was amazing. Though the two things that did annoy me was Phoebe. Phoebe kind of annoyed me because she seemed whiny and snobby. I had a hard time relating to her, too, because she seemed so aloof. Thankfully her chapters weren’t very long. Also, the big ending in New Orleans was kind of anti-climactic for me. I thought there would be a bigger fight instead of what actually happened. While I was reading the All Souls Trilogy, I was curious about Marcus. He was a side character in the trilogy but he was always around. His past fascinated me. I’m so glad I got to read more about him. It made me connect so much more to him. This is a great addition to the All Souls Trilogy. And a great read for those who love fantasy and historical fiction.

Artemis 3 – Lindsey Stirling

This is the continuation of the Artemis comic books. Issues 4-6 are available now.

Title: Artemis: Issue 3

Author: Lindsey Stirling

Artists: Jason Badower, Emily Chow, Rodrigo Luff, Damination, Anna Marie Navaja, Andworld Design

Genre: Fantasy, Comic Book

Plot: Artemis has been captured by the goddess Nyx. She convinces Artemis that they knew each other in a past life, they were Greek goddesses. Nyx promises Artemis that she can give everyone in the Trenches what they want if she does what Nyx asks. She needs Artemis to round up the people trying to break Nyx’s laws. Artemis is conflicted, but agrees if she can do it her way. Artemis slowly starts to remember her old life. She starts to think Calix might be from her old life. But she needs to bring him in. Before she can talk to Calix, the Shadow Wardens capture him. Will she be able to help Calix and the others? Or will Nyx get her way?

Rating: 4.0 an excellent continuation of the Artemis series

Opinion: I’m starting to really enjoy comic books. This series is really amazing. The details in the drawing are incredible. The story is really starting to come together. Though it’s a more classic story line, I like the twists on the story. There are Greek gods thrown into a dystopian future. It deals with forgotten memories and past lives. And there’s a sappy romance starting to bloom. This is the makings of a good series for me. I’m excited to see where this series is going. I’ve hooked and ready for the next one. This is another great addition to the series. It’s a great book for those who enjoy comic books and fantasy series.

The Scarlet Thread – Francine Rivers

Title: The Scarlet Thread

Author: Francine Rivers

Genre: Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction

Plot: Sierra Madrid’s husband, Alex has just taken a job in Las Ángeles. He’s already looking for houses in the area when Sierra finds out. Sierra is outraged that he wants to uproot their family on such short notice and didn’t consult her or the kids. Her mother encourages her to make the most of the situation. Sierra reluctantly goes with. She drags her feet the whole way. Once they move to LA, Alex becomes consumed in his work. He starts ignoring her and their kids. The two of them become more and more distant. They fight more often than not. Until Alex wants out and cheats on Sierra. He demands a divorce. Then Sierra’s mom passes away. Sierra hits rock bottom after the funeral. After a cop pulls Sierra over, her life starts to turn around. She finds faith and healing. But will it be enough to help with her and family? Can she find healing for her and Alex? Or is it too late for them?

Before Sierra’s mother passed away, she gave Sierra a journal of one of her ancestors, Mary Katheryn. Mary’s journal is split between the chapters. Mary talks about the sadness of her childhood and challenges of living on a homestead and the journey on the Oregon Trail. Mary Katheryn finds love, forgiveness, and faith along the trail and in her new home.

Rating: 3.4 – a little hard for me to relate to and a little slow to start

Opinion: This book was a good book. It was probably meant for someone older or married, or a child of divorce. It went deeply into the trials of marriage. But by the end of the book, I found myself hopeful and rooting for Sierra, Alex, and Mary Katheryn. It made me realize how much work marriage is. It can be so easy forget to see how other people see things and how our actions can effect other people. We get so caught up in our own problems and worries that we don’t see how others are affected. While not every marriage will change for the better, some can. I went into the book thinking things would end so differently than they did. There was more reconciliation than I hoped for. There was peace on both sides in each story. While I wasn’t sure about the book in the beginning, I didn’t start this book liking it, I ended up enjoying it the more I read. The stories connecting Sierra and Mary Katheryn made the story more relatable. I like stories that connect the generations. While this wasn’t my favorite Francine Rivers book, it was still a great story or redemption. A great book for those who need a redemption story.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz – Heather Morris

Title: The Tattooist of Auschwitz

Author: Heather Morris

Genre: Historical Fiction

Plot: Lale Sokolov has surrendered himself to the Nazis so they will spare his family (so they tell them). He’s a Slavic Jew and is taken to Auschwitz in 1942. At first he’s optimistic. Then reality sits in after the first night at the concentration camp. Lale does what he needs to survive. He starts to befriend the right kapos and guards. He’s daily reminded of the horrors of the camp. Then he gets sick. Somehow, Lale lives. The camp’s tattooist takes care of him and offers him an assistant tattooist job. Lale hesitantly accepts, knowing it could help him survive. While tattooing, he sees a brave woman. Lale knows she’s the girl for him. Then the other tattooist disappears. He internally knows what happened. A guard Lale’s befriended gets him the information he needs. The woman’s name is Gita. They meet through the fence and start talking when the guards aren’t looking. Slowly, they fall in love. Lale finds some ways to bribe the guards so he can meet with Gita. But will it be enough? Can both of them survive? Or will they be caught? Can their love outlast the Nazis? Or is the hate and oppression stronger?

Rating: 4.5 – a heartbreaking story of love during the Holocaust

Opinion: As sad as this story was, I really enjoyed it. It broke my heart every time I read it, but I had to know if they survived. Both Lale and Gita, as did everyone else, did what they had to to survive. But they didn’t let it destroy their souls. They had hope somewhere inside them. That’s what kept me reading. Even when the odds kept stacking up against them, they found ways to survive, to hope, to love. The book made me feel the panic when the characters faced the obstacles, the horrors of Dr. Mengele, the doctor described as the ‘Angel of Death,’ and despair when Lale was sent away. The book was personal as it was about real people who survived the Holocaust. Even though the book was sad, it still had hope and love woven throughout. It keeps you reading. I highly recommend this book for those who love historical fiction and need a survival story with hope and love.