Review: Fantasy with strong Christian allegory
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 10, 2014
Mostly what I liked about this book is the allegorical message. As far as characters, there isn't anything really new or amazing. The setting is interesting and the alliances for the upcoming war prove the author spent some time with world building.Most of the "plot twists" were easy for me to predict. This isn't unusual. I'm a writer and a voracious reader. If you can trick me and have the proper groundwork in place to back up your twist, I'm impressed.For me, the allegory is too plain here. It isn't preachy yet, but I suspect it might become that way before the series is finished. Of course, this makes me want to check out the next book to see if I'm right.While this first installment in the series does seem to have a story problem that is resolved (find the wielder) it isn't the main character's problem. His problem is feeling like an outcast in his home reality and I guess that is resolved in the story. It seems pretty easily resolved to me. The plot is strong for the story but the character arc is weak.If you like quests, magic, elves, dragons and battle scenes, you will probably enjoy this book. If you like fiction with a spiritual message, this book is for you. If you want amazing characters who grow and change; sorry, you can't always get everything you want.