This review was posted by author Tamara Ward recently:
"J. Lloyd Morgan writes a story that transcends the written page. In Mirror of the Soul, expect to find a great story, wonderfully complex characters, heart-palpitating conflict with twists in the plot that will completely shock you, and a spine-tingling ending that also will make you pause and consider how the message of the book relates to your own life. And speaking about that, the book’s message, sometimes you read a book with a message and it comes off as clunky or preachy – staged. Not so with Mirror of the Soul. Morgan is an expert storyteller and the message of his story never gets in the way of the story.
Beautiful. Masterful."
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading The Secret Sister’s Club. I had a unique experience that most readers don’t get. I actually had a chance to meet the author and speak with her before I read the book. I found her to be a refreshingly honest and open person—in a good way, and I wondered if that would translate to her books.
It did.
Bucheger isn’t afraid to tackle hard subjects, but she doesn’t do it in a sensational manner. The characters of Ginnie and Tillie are well written and developed. I found myself caring for them and cheering them on. That’s hard for an author to do.
I have teenage daughters and have added the Ginnie West books to the list of my recommended reads for them. I think that, above all, is the greatest compliment I can give this particular book and series.
My first introduction to Berin L. Stephens’s works was his book “Time Gangsters.” I thoroughly enjoyed that book and looked forward to reading more from him. I had several books I had committed to reading before I was able to read “The Dragon War Relic”—but it was worth the wait.
Despite the ominous title, this book is really lighthearted. Yes, there are interesting characters and engaging storylines, but the humor is the strength of this book. I laughed time and again at the many sci-fi and fantasy references through the book. Some are more obvious than others, but when I came across some of the more subtle ones, I loved it. Now that I think about it, I’m sure I missed a few because they are so prevalent in the book.
The premise may seem familiar: a boy is given a powerful item from a stranger, and thereby he is thrust into an adventure. I personally like these kind of stories, though they can get repetitive at times. However, that isn’t the case with “The Dragon War Relic.” Stephens takes the premise and turns it on its side.
The book has a great story, but it never takes itself too seriously. I thing I really enjoyed was how the book twisted near the end. I thought I had it pegged on what was going on, but there was a nice twist that I thought was brilliant. And no, I’m not going to spoil it for you.
Who would like this book? It’s a safe, clean read for middle school children and up. Although the book has a male lead character, I believe either gender would enjoy it.
Now excuse me while I go do the Havoc Stomp.
For more on Berin L. Stephens, click here.
To order the book, click here.
I generally read and review novels, but when I got the chance to read and review this children’s book, I jumped at the chance.
Every night, we have “story time” with my kids. They range from ages 9 to 15. I thought for sure that the 9 year old would enjoy the book—and I was right—but what I didn’t expect is how captivated my other three daughters (and even my wife!) would be when I read them the book.
The blurb on the back states, “In this story about adventure, friendship and hope, Quincy goes West and learns that horses are everywhere.”
With this basic premise, Matthews writes an engaging and educational story. Heck, I even learned things I didn’t know about horses. She uses a clever device of Quincy and his best friend, Beau, to tell the story. Beau is more knowledgeable about horses and explains things to Quincy as they travel across the country.
The illustrations by Michelle Black are a perfect accompaniment to this story. She captures the essence of the story without detracting from it. I especially liked the picture of the Kentucky derby. It portrays the power and speed of the race in a still painting.
Who would like this book? Well, my mother was an elementary school teacher for more years than I should mention. This is exactly the kind of book that she would have had in her classroom for students to read and enjoy, while learning in the process. It’s a great book for parents to read to their kids.
Quincy Moves to the Desert is actually the second in the series. The first book is called Quincy Finds a New Home.
After reading the second one, I’ll certainly have to get the first one!
For more information on Quincy the horse, click here.
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| Author Camille Matthews |
This book tour was set up by Walker Author Tours.
***Disclaimer: I received an complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.***
There is a fairly new term being thrown around to describe a certain type of personality. It’s “adorkable.” Why do I bring this up at the start of a book review? Because the main character, Cassidy “Cassie” Christensen is adorkable. In other words, she’s a bit odd, but in a funny and cute way.
The theme of the book is about running—not only literarily but also figuratively. Cassie is twenty-five and at a crossroads of sorts in her life. Her parents were killed by some not so nice men. She lives with her “Nana” and is working at a job she doesn’t enjoy.
At the encouragement from her sister-in-law, she starts running. It begins innocently enough with a short 5K run. I won’t spoil the fun part of why she starts training for longer runs.
The book is really a tale of three stories. There is the mystery behind her parents’ death and potential threat to her. There is the story of Cassie’s inner struggle to train her body and mind to run. And then, at its very heart, is the romantic snarl in which she gets caught up.
Cassie finds herself drawn to two different men. One seems to be perfect and one is the kind she wouldn’t dare bring home to Nana. Cassie doesn’t realize that both of these men play a larger part in her life than she realizes.
So, what did I think about the book? Overall, it is a clean read. There are some intense parts, but there isn’t anything graphic and there isn’t any swearing.
What did I like? Checketts has an incredible sense of humor and it is reflected in Cassie. She’s one of the more dynamic characters I’ve read in quite some time. The story was overall satisfying—enough to keep me coming back to read more.
What did I struggle with? A couple of things. The middle of the book dragged a bit for me. Mainly because it dealt with the second thing I struggled with. As a male reader, I’ll admit some of Cassie’s actions drove me nuts—especially when she was ping-ponging between two men. “I like him! No wait! I like the other ‘him’ instead! Oh wait!” While this may be natural for some women, as a guy, it bothered me. Most likely because I’ve been married over twenty years and I’m hopelessly devoted to my wife.
Who would like this book? I’m going to have to go with the female demographic, ages sixteen and up. It’s got romance, action, suspense and a wholly entertaining main character.
For more on Cami Checketts, you can can her access her website here.
To order Dead Running, click here.
**Disclaimer: While I was sent a copy to review, it didn't influence my opinion.
Here is Mandi Tucker Slack's review of The Waxing Moon.
For those of you who have read J. Lloyd Morgan's The Hidden Sun, the long-awaited sequel if finally here. Filled with intrigue, adventure and a little romance, The Waxing Moon will leave you reading long into the night.
When the inhabitants of a small village in the north suddenly disappear, the people of Bariwon are left feeling uneasy. Trying to discover the fate of the townspeople, King Rayne sends a scouting party to investigate, but when the party discovers a secret passage hidden deep within the formidable mountains they discover things are worse than they feared. When the scouting party is attacked by a band of ruthless warriors, Snapdragon, a newly appointed Royal Guardian, is Bariwon's only hope.
As he unravels the mysteries of the tunnel, he learns of an ancient secret that could change the kingdom of Bariwon forever.
I have to admit, I don't usually read books in this genre, but I loved The Hidden Sun, and when asked to review The Waxing Moon, I was ecstatic.
The characters are very well-developed. Snapdragon is definitely a surprise. In the beginning, his character is full of flaws. He's reckless, easy to anger, and trying much too hard to prove himself to world. But as he begins his journey, his growth and change are evident. His character develops in a way that will leave you cheering for this young hero and anxiously hoping for his success.
The story-line is paced to perfection, and the plot is very well developed.
I give J. Lloyd Morgan five-stars and can hardly wait to read the next book in the series (The Zealous Star, coming 2013).
The Most Important Catch by Jaclyn M. Hawkes is really a tale of two stories. The dominate, and most interesting, is the love story between NFL superstar Robby “Rocket” Robideaux and 23-year-old nurse Kelly Campbell.
Many parts of their developing relationship were very well written. It reminded me of when I fell in love with my wife. The interaction between Robby and Kelly is at times sweet, while at other times, is it downright hilarious. Hawkes has a real talent for dialogue and humor. I found myself smiling on several occasions.
The second element of the story is why Kelly is on the run. In an attempt to avoid spoiling any surprises, here is what is written on the back of the book:
Run or die! She knew too much, and she’d seen too much. And the police refused to help. Knowing that she was to be the next scheduled death, Kelly Campbell hid under head to toe black leather and a tinted motorcycle helmet and ran for her life. When the weather turned cold, she turned south. She ended up in North Carolina, home to one of the most famed and eligible NFL football stars in the whole league; only she didn’t know that. She thought he was a businessman. Not being a huge fan, all she knew was that he was incredibly attractive, kind, generous, and that she was safe with him. Or was she? His brand of fame proved to be all but deadly, but his fame wasn’t nearly as lethal as his attraction. He kept her safe and protected. All except for her heart.
I think Hawkes came up with a good reason for Kelly to be on the run, but that plotline played a significantly smaller part to the story. In other words, if you are expecting a page turning thriller, this isn’t it.
What is it then? It’s a love story with all its ups and downs, hopes and doubts, joys and heartbreaks. If that’s your cup of tea, you’ll enjoy this book.
Overall I enjoyed the book. It was a clean read with no objectionable material.
I should note this book is geared for LDS, or “Mormon” audiences. It pulls no punches in talking about faith, God and various elements of the LDS faith. The downside? If you aren’t familiar with LDS practices and beliefs, chances are you’ll be confused by several things in the book.
There are a couple of things that would have made the book more enjoyable to me. First, there was a lot of internal dialogue with the main characters sorting out their feelings. Some of it was quite repetitive and I found myself skipping over those parts. Second, it’s a picky thing, but there were a number of technical issues with the typesetting and layout of the book that distracted me. Then again, as a published author myself, I’m probably more aware of those things than most.
If you are a fan of LDS fiction and romance books, you’ll certainly want to pick this book up! It can be purchased at this link.
I’ll admit I was a bit apprehensive when I learned that The Keeper’s Calling dealt with time travel. That’s tricky. It reminds me of the question, “What would happen if I went back and shot my grandfather?”
However, I’d heard good things about the book, so I kept an open mind and dove in.
At its very heart, it’s the story of seventeen-year-old Chase Harper. Like many young men his age, Chase meets a pretty girl (Ellie) who is different from all the other ones he had met before. There’s only one slight problem. He’s from 2011. She is from 1863. I’ve heard of May-December romances before, but this is a bit extreme.
Since there is time travel involved, Ellie and Chase are about the same age when they meet. Factor in Chase already has a girlfriend, and things get a bit sticky.
So, what is the rest of the story about? I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll share what’s on the back of the book:
“Chase Harper’s to-do list for senior year never included “fall in love” and “fight for your life,” but things rarely go as planned. Tarnished gold and resembling a pocket watch, the counter he finds in a cave during the summer of 2011 will forever change the course of his life, leading him to the beautiful Ellie Williams and unlocking a power beyond his wildest imagination.
In 1863, Ellie Williams completes school in Boston and returns to the Utah Territory only to discover that her grandfather and his counter, a treasured family heirloom, are missing. When Ellie is abducted and told she must produce the counter or die, an unexpected rescuer comes to her aid.”
There were many aspects of this book I thoroughly enjoyed. It’s a character driven action / adventure / fantasy book. The action and adventure elements in the book play a supporting role to the characters. I actually cared when something happened to the characters.
I found the overall plot to be quite unique and unexpected. I kept wanting to categorize the book like, “Oh, it’s like such-and such” but I kept getting surprised.
Another thing I enjoyed was the insight on how a seventeen-year-old young man thinks. It brought back a lot of memories what I was that age … uh, a few years ago. Even more remarkable was that the book was written by a female, Kelly Nelson. I’m not saying that females can’t write good male characters, but I was impressed on how dead-on Nelson was.
Who would enjoy this? Who wouldn’t? It’s a clean read—but that doesn’t mean it’s boring.
And the best part? This is book one in a series. While it has a satisfying conclusion, it leaves the door wide open for all sorts of shenanigans to happen in the future … or past … or, well, you get my point.
You can buy the book by clicking on this link.
The Orphan Ship is Sterling R. Walker’s first sci-fi book. Spaceships? Check. Humans living on other planets? Check. Advanced technology? Check. In other words, it has all the elements you’d expect in a sci-fi book. However, it also has something that you may not expect: heart.
Walker introduces and develops many wonderful characters that bring this story alive. For example, Deane Shepherd, captain of the spaceship Ishmael, is complex. She struggles between being the rational, take charge captain while at the same time, dealing with a significant loss in her life. And she is only one of several compelling characters in the story.
What is the story about? The blurb on the back of the book does a better job than I ever could. It reads:
“Stranded 225 million kilometers from home on Mars Station, cousins Jake O'Brien and Lorina Murphy are drawn into a fledgling effort to help the hundreds of abandoned street children who call the station home. Jake becomes a medical apprentice in an outreach clinic, while Lorina volunteers at a juvenile shelter. They soon discover that their efforts may be in vain because something much more serious than poverty plaques Mars Station.
Also stranded on Mars Station, ship's captain Danae Shepherd faces the difficult task of hiring replacement crew after an alien virus claims the lives of four in her employ, including her husband. She stumbles upon the same problem that has Jake and Lorina stumped: why are the homeless children disappearing without a trace?”
The book can be enjoyed for the surface level story. There is plenty of action, intrigue, and humor for The Orphan Ship to be satisfying. However, it is the deeper look at poverty, greed and inhumane behaviors which give the book weight—especially when Walker skillfully portrays how children are impacted.
Did I enjoy the book? Yes. Very much so. It was engaging with enough sci-fi gadgets to bring out the inner tech geek in me. But it was the characters and the story than kept me coming back for more.
It’s a clean read with no bad language or sex scenes. There is some violence, but it’s not graphic and it’s needed to fully give the impact this story requires.
While it can be read as a stand-alone book, it leave the door wide open for one, if not more, books—much to my delight.
I’m pleased to share the following review of The Hidden Sun that was recently posted on Bookrated.com.
Sometimes it’s good to try different things. That totally sounds like something my mom would say to me. But it really applies here. I am not a big fan of medieval historical fiction. It isn’t the type of genre that I actively search out. When I started reading The Hidden Sun, I didn’t initially think I could get into it. However, once I started, I was hooked. Although this is a 300+ page book, I finished this book in a day. I wanted to know what was going to happen. Mr. Morgan throws in unexpected twists that made me more excited with each page. The author is a strong writer that doesn’t waste the reader’s time with unnecessary descriptions or events. Everything serves a purpose. I can honestly say this is one of the few books that I didn’t think, “this line could have been omitted,” or “why was this important?” Perhaps it is because Mr. Morgan has an English degree and he truly understands the power of words, or maybe he has an excellent editor (its probably a combination of the two).
This was a fascinating read. I am looking forward to the sequel this May. If you are someone who doesn’t have a thing for historical fiction, give this one a shot. Chances are this might change your perspective. And, if you are already a historical fiction junkie, this will be like manna from Heaven.
Bookrated’s take:
Steam factor: Think a satisfying lemonade. No innuendo or descriptive play-by-play.
Language: Mama would be proud. Leave the soap box alone cause this is a vulgarity free zone.
Suggestive material: None. I would love to say something witty here, but unless you are planning on overthrowing a kingdom, there isn’t much.
Overall: Solidly written and entertaining. This book could be read, and enjoyed, by young adults as well as grandmas. It is detailed and well thought out.
The publisher’s (Walnut Springs Press) take:
Eliana and Rinan are in love. However, she is destined to become queen of Bariwon, obligated to marry the victor of a competition called the Shoginoc, while Rinan, her royal guardian, is forbidden to marry. Normally they could renounce their titles to be together, but these are not normal times. Abrecan, the malevolent governor of Erd, is determined to win the Shoginoc, thereby placing his easily manipulated son Daimh on Bariwon’s throne. Can Eliana and Rinan find a way to be together without jeopardizing the peace they are so desperately trying to protect?
I must admit that when I picked up this book I had no idea what to expect. I was in the mood for a castle, prince and princess story. I was delighted to find out that it was exactly what I wanted - with a lot more adventure mixed in than I had anticipated. It started out with a short history of the kingdom. You learn to like Eliana from when she's small, along with her nursemaid and Priest Sherwyn. You love her father and his kindness to his daughter and to his people.
Then you add the villain. This book has a variety of villains. They're smarter and more cunning than most villains. Personally I love Daimh. He's a good-looking guy that loves himself more than anything and he's not exactly a bright person. But he speaks up when it is most needed - even if its not often enough. His dad and the magistrate Caldre however are villains that you want to see brought to justice. You also have other villains that are bullies who enjoy using their positions to abuse others.
There are several tragic events in this book and you get hit hard with every one of them. The book was well-written and kept you at the edge of your seat from beginning to end. It all comes to an exciting conclusion that you will have to read!
This review has special insight since Angie Lofthouse read both the first and second editions. Her blog can be found here.
Here is what she had to say:
"The Hidden Sun by J. Lloyd Morgan, 2nd edition is a fun medieval adventure, with plenty of intrigue, action, secrets, heroes and romance. This is actually my second time to read and review this book. I reviewed the first edition a little over a year ago. Since then, The Hidden Sun was picked up by my publisher, Walnut Springs, and issued in a shiny new edition, newly edited, with a new cover.
So, what do I think of the second edition? Same great story, wonderful new package! In my first review, my main complaint was a large number of typos that I found distracted me from the story. That issue has been resolved, and without those distractions, I found the story even more fun to read this time around.
I love the way Morgan uses symbolism in the book. His characters are well-developed and easy to love and root for. I found I really cared about what happened to them and to their beloved kingdom of Bariwon. But the story itself is not the only thing to love about this book. I had fun noticing (on my second time through), Morgan's skillful naming of characters and places. Can you guess the secret of Bariwon and it's seven districts (Erd, Grenoa, Lewyol, Regne, Lebu, Donigi, and Teviol)? Not to mention such events as the Mortentaun and Shoginoc.
The Hidden Sun is full of surprises. It's also a good, clean read with no objectionable content. Just the sort of thing I'm looking for!"
Kaitlyn Kline has posted her review of The Hidden Sun on her blog "Kaitlyn in Bookland". I'll have to admit, my heart sunk when I read one of the lines. It said, "I wasn’t really sure what to expect from The Hidden Sun, but it sucked. . ." It wasn't until I read the next line when I started breathing again. It continued, ". . . me in from the very beginning."
Ah, good thing I'm not running for office. I'm sure that is something my opponent would use out of context.
Here is her full review:
This cover is totally worthy of a fantasy novel. There’s the castle and surrounding grounds, plus gold font. It really works.
I wasn’t really sure what to expect from The Hidden Sun, but it sucked me in from the very beginning. Like with any fantasy, the names take a bit of getting used to, but there was a nice pronunciation guide in the front of the book. After about 30 pages, I didn’t even stumble over the names anymore.
The corrupt leaders had me fuming throughout the book. This is a novel that really evokes some emotion from the reader. There are so many twists and turns, that I thought I had things figured out, only to be told something else. It was amazing.
J. Lloyd Morgan does not hold anything back in this fantasy novel. You will read about death, love, politics...everything. Even when I wasn’t reading this book, I was thinking about it. I wanted to solve all of the mysteries throughout the book and see the fates of my favorite characters.
I *think* this novel was billed as young adult, but I think it could really work for adults as well.
I am so excited for the sequel, The Waxing Moon. It should be available sometime next year.
Erika Stroop has reviewed The Hidden Sun on her blog Moonlight Book Reviews.
Without futher ado. . .
"Let me start off by stating that the cover fits in perfectly to the setting of the novel and what I imagine places in it to look like. I bet all of you are thinking, "Whats the twist in the story Erika? Are they vampires, werewolves, witches"? The quick answer is no and I know you guys are all shocked. Morgan doesn't add that element to the novel and I am perfectly fine with that. The lush landscapes that were created held my attention fully.
Eliana was the perfect character in this tale. I would have thought and done many of the things she did in the situations she was placed. Rinian was amazing and I want him all for myself. I mean what is not to like about a hot guardian? Well nothing in Rinians case. The complex relationships and tangled web of politics was incredible. I fully understood their situation, but yet wanted to find some sort of loophole for them.
The Hidden Sun is a gem of a novel that will captivate readers from any age. Morgan adds incredible detail that will transport you to a time long and far from the computer screen you are staring at right now. I can not wait for the next novel which is due out in 2012."
Thank you Erika for the review!
This review is a bit different from the other ones I've posted. The reviewers are some wonderful folks who run a "guild" on an online game called Everquest 2. Since the setting for The Hidden Sun is similar to elements found in the game, I thought they would be able to have a unique insight on the book.
And did they ever!
Here is their review:
"We’ve had the wonderful opportunity of sharing J. Lloyd Morgan’s first novel The Hidden Sun. If we were asked to describe this book in one word we would have to say a breathless “Wow”. His eloquent writing method using multiple character relationships interwoven with riveting action scenes give this novel a unique “one of a kind“ style compared with some of the books being released today. It’s an invigorating change to the “one hero, one villain, one story approach and one we thoroughly enjoyed.
The Hidden Sun subtly grabbed us in what could only be accurately described as a “great big warm bear hug” and enveloped us into a vast array of twists and turns always leaving us suspecting but not quite sure, only to be pleasantly surprised as each relationship unfolded.
And what relationships they are! Portrayed in the “Middle Ages”, we find ourselves taken back to our youth when imaginations ran vivid and wild with visions of “Robin Hood and Maid Marian”. We find ourselves rooting for almost all the characters. Almost you might ask? Well there’s no shortage of “lower morality” incorrigible types who brought out the “revenge is sweet” emotion in us. In the end we found ourselves smiling and crying, laughing and shouting, demanding justice, and dreading the moment when the pages would end as we knew the story would unfortunately come to a close.
We made a pleasant discovery however, by being curious enough to read the prologue to The Waxing Moon. We found that the story from The Hidden Sun seems to continue, to our immense satisfaction, but now we find ourselves in a greater quandary being hopelessly hooked and impatiently awaiting what we are confident will be Mr. Morgan’s next great novel.
Thank you, J. Lloyd Morgan for allowing us to share such a wonderful story. We strongly recommend that everyone add this book to their “must read” list and rush out to get this book. It’s one fantastic read."
Their review can be found here.
The website for their guild can be found here.
I'd like to thank them again for their thoughtful review!
I'm pleased to have Aislynn Thompson post a review for The Hidden Sun on her blog "Stitch - Read - Cook".
Here is what she had to say:
"Have you ever had one of those books that you picked up and couldn't put down? Where you were so engrossed in the book that you stayed up all night to read the book in just one sitting? For me, this was that book. It was such an incredible story, that I stayed up until 3am so I could find out what happened!
Eliana, the daughter of the current leader of Bariwon is coming of age where she must marry and must produce and heir. Unfortunately for Eliana, she's fallen in love with her royal guardian Rinan. Breaking every law, these two try and find a way to be together. Sadly, nothing ever goes the way they planned.
J. Lloyd Morgan has written such amazing characters!! They draw you into the story and keep you wanting more. This story has so many ups, and downs, and twists, and turns that it keeps you on your toes right up until the very last page. I don't want to give away any details on the story, there are so many small events that are tied that could spoil the whole story for someone.
I can't wait for the next book by this author: The Waxing Moon. This author has definitely been added to my auto buy list and will have a permanent home on my book shelf! I highly recommend this book, and think that almost anyone who enjoys romance, fantasy and a bit of mystery will love this book."
I dare say that's one of the best reviews of The Hidden Sun. Thank you again to Aislynn Thompson!
Valerie Ipson's blog "Of Writerly Things" had this to say about The Hidden Sun:
A faraway kingdom.
A beautiful princess.
A courageous hero.
A ruthless villain.
An impossible choice.
You can see Author J. Lloyd has all the elements for your typical epic novel of true love and political intrigue, but you must read it for all its hooks, twists, turns, and surprises. All I can say is my 17 year old son has been staying up late into the night reading it.
You can access her full blog by clicking here.
I'm very pleased to share this review from Bonnie Lynn Wagner from her "A Backwards Story" blog.
It not only includes a review, but also some insight on my upcoming projects.
"THE HIDDEN SUN is deceptive both in terms of its cover and its content. The cover is pretty typical fare for a fantasy novel involving knights and kingdoms. The book’s synopsis, on the other hand, outlines a story that seems much simpler than it actually is. I was expecting a fantasy novel full of heroes and royalty, a sweeping epic romance set among the background of political intrigue. THE HIDDEN SUN had all that…but it was also so much more. [Authors note: this was intentional. I feel that too often the cover and synopsis give too much of the story away] Author J. Lloyd Morgan twists and turns the plot in so many directions that nothing is ever expected as he takes us on an adventure that reminds me of all the reasons I love this genre best.
THE HIDDEN SUN takes place over a longer period of time than I originally anticipated it would and only the first third of the book goes the way I think it will. Morgan’s characters are endearing from the start. I loved seeing Princess Eliana as a girl with her own phrases and habit of doodling in her books. The opening scene really humanized her and I immediately began to care, even more so as she develops feelings for Rinan, her personal royal guardian. Following the fashion of all forbidden romances, there’s seemingly no way for the two to be together. Eliana will soon be queen of Bariwon and must marry whoever wins the Shoginoc. On top of that, royal guardians aren’t allowed to marry until after they’ve retired. The two hatch a dangerous plan in order to be together, one that will wreak havoc not only in their own lives, but throw the kingdom they’ve sworn to protect in mortal peril.
Morgan has created yet another novel that’s hard for me to talk about without giving away major plot points and spoilers. Bariwon is a kingdom that reminds me of other beloved fantasy realms such as Tamora Pierce’s world of Tortall. I love books and movies featuring knights and kingdoms and competitions of skill. To have all of those things bound up in one novel was a pleasure and I blew right through this novel, never wanting to put it down. There’s so much meaning behind the title alone, more than I initially thought after reading the first couple of chapters. By the novel’s end, I understood it on a deeper level and appreciated it all the more. With the exception of guessing two character-related events, THE HIDDEN SUN kept me guessing, never sure quite what to expect next. I can’t wait to journey back to Bariwon in the future.
A SNEAK PEEK AT WHAT’S TO COME:
As a blog tour participant for THE HIDDEN SUN, Morgan has shared some secrets about what’s ahead regarding Bariwon’s future.
He states that while THE HIDDEN SUN was created as a stand-alone, he got an idea that brought him back to Bariwon. He’ll be releasing a companion novel entitled THE WAXING MOON in 2012. The summary is up on Goodreads now. He’s working on the third companion novel, THE ZEALOUS STAR, now. While each book can be read on its own, THE WAXING MOON takes place four years after THE HIDDEN SUN and revolves around a minor character from that title. The second novel will also set up the events that will occur during THE ZEALOUS STAR. This is similar to the way Shannon Hale’s Bayern novels or Juliet Marillier’s Sevenwaters series are stand-alones focusing on fellow family members or descendants from previous books. THE WAXING MOON will reveal things like why things happened at the end of THE HIDDEN SUN in quite the way they did and continue on into Bariwon’s future.
Morgan will also be releasing a stand-alone novel entitled THE MIRROR OF THE SOUL sometime in 2012.
Finally, once you’ve finished reading THE HIDDEN SUN, Morgan has set up a page on his web site where he reveals writing secrets. How did he come up with names and certain plot points? The page is spoilery, so it’s not recommended for reading before finishing the novel."
Thank you for the wonderful review, Bonnie Lynn Wagner! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
The Hidden Sun was reviewed on Michael Araujo's blog called "The Subtle Chronicler".
Here is what what Michael thought of it:
"If I ever pick up a book that involves royalty, it always involves fantasy as well. Any sort of element from fantasy and I’ll be good. But this time the one I picked up was just royalty and politics. And oddly enough, I really enjoyed it. Getting straight to the point here, The Hidden Sun is a story that shows how challenges are met.
The reason I’m getting straight to the point is because it’s what the novel does itself. It gives us these breaks every few paragraphs skipping from one scene to another, reminding me of a television show. [Author's note: perhaps my writing is influnenced from my TV directing skills?]
The characters were brilliantly written out. They brought out real emotions and care which as a reader I was happy about. His writing was also pretty good. It was easy to read and the way he played with words made it bearable.
Overall the whole book itself was epic and kept me interested enough to want to read what comes next. But I was also surprised at the fact that I fell for this story pretty hard. Not only did I enjoy it like I said above, I wanted more by the end. I wanted to know what happens next with all of the characters. I know that their stories haven’t ended and that there’s so many things that can go wrong. And even though it didn’t have any magic or dragons or wizards or whatever, it still had that magical spark to it. It was magical without the magic."
Thank you very much Michael for writing such an insightful review.
This review comes from Katelyn Torrey. She had some wonderful things to say about The Hidden Sun.
