Author: Shaun Stevenson

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BOOK REVIEW: The Sword Bearer by John White

The Sword Bearer by John White

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I first discovered John White’s Archives of Anthropos series from a random blog post where someone referred to it as the “other” Chronicles of Narnia. John White the author actually admitted to the similarities between his series and Narnia because his children wanted him to tell them a bedtime story like the Narnia stories. Thus, this series was born. However, The Sword Bearer, while being often listed as book number one in the series was not chronologically written first. This book came out after two other books in the series, The Tower of Geburah and The Iron Sceptre. From everything I have read about this series though, most who have read it suggest starting here with The Sword Bearer. So with pesky questions about reading order out of the way, the question is this: is this book worth a read?

The story begins with a young boy named John whose parents have been gone for quite some time. And when John’s grandmother promises to tell John on his thirteenth birthday the “truth” about his parents, John can’t wait. But then tragedy strikes and John finds himself transported to another place called Anthropos. In this land he discovers that evil is searching through the kingdom and seeking to build a tower that will allow it to rule over the entire universe. Only John and his spunky pack of friends can even hope to put a stop to the evil force. However, it has been said that victory will only come at great loss for John. Will he be able to sacrifice what is needed in order to save them all?

This book, written back in 1986, has the charm of an old school fantasy story with hints of allegory sprinkled throughout. The Narnia comparisons are fitting, but I never felt as though it was so derivative that it couldn’t be its own story world. In fact, I would say the stakes in Anthropos are much higher than in Narnia, where you never exactly were worried about the characters making it out of the story in the end. Here, the danger is very real, and no one is safe. That said, I definitely found some moments shocking and wondered if a younger reader would be okay reading this.

In fact, one of the most terrifying things about The Sword Bearer was the illustrations that are scattered throughout the book. I won’t spoil anything here, but there are a couple of drawings of the villain of the book that I found disturbing and the stuff of nightmares if I was still a kid. But that’s probably what would have made me love this book all the more when I was younger. This book feels like one of those stories in the vein of The Neverending Story that is just intense enough without ever crossing a line.

As for the characters, John goes on a journey of sorts, but again, this is an older school fantasy story where some things are telegraphed from early on and often the children are a little impetuous. There were parts of the story where I felt as though if the main character just got over his bad attitude so many plot points would have been fixed.

Also, I will say there are so many imaginative moments throughout with very fascinating “magical” items that I have not seen too often in a Christian fantasy. How the “magic” system works here is never exactly explained, and there were times I felt as though I was missing something. Perhaps in the earlier-written books some of the “rules” of Anthropos are explained that would fill in the gaps.

All said, I would recommend this for anyone who is a fan of Christian fantasy and especially to see how the genre grew over time. The Sword Bearer, while episodic at times, presents an epic story that will definitely pull at the heartstrings at the same time it makes your heart race in suspense.

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BOOK REVIEW: Joshua: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition by Stephen J. Lennox

Nbbc, Joshua: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition by Stephen J. Lennox

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Joshua: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition is the first Bible Commentary I have ever sat down and read from cover to cover. Dr. Stephen J. Lennox brings the book of Joshua to the 21st century and helps modern day readers ask tough questions (and I do mean tough questions) of the text, grapple with theological themes, and understand the background culture and composition of the book.

One of my favorite aspects of the New Beacon Bible Commentary series is the copious amount of sources included in the bibliography and throughout the text that leads readers to discover more scholarship on various specific topics brought up through the book of Joshua. An extensive bibliography is included here, and a must-go list for anyone studying the book in depth.

The book of Joshua is a complicated one, especially in light of the amount of seemingly God-sanctioned violence throughout the narrative. Dr. Lennox takes time up front to address many of these concerns in an entire section dedicated to the question of what to do with the violence in Joshua. Throughout, the author presents multiple theories from multiple angles in an effort to best present all the possibilities and allow readers to draw conclusions for themselves.

Each chapter is broken down, outlined, and presented in a three-part structure: Behind the Text, which showcases background information, framing, and other considerations before entering the text of the chapter; In the Text, which takes the reader verse by verse, addressing key issues along the way; and From the Text, which gives concluding thoughts, application, and tie-ins to the rest of Scripture. Along the side of every page are little “guide verses” that show what passage that page covers, which makes it easy to go back and flip through and find the section needed.

If you are looking for deeper study on the book of Joshua, Dr. Lennox’s commentary is a must-have.

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BOOK REVIEW: Arcade and the Triple T Token by Rashad Jennings

Arcade and the Triple T Token by Rashad Jennings

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


When I saw Arcade and the Triple T Token on the bookshelf at a local Christian bookstore, I did a double take. I immediately picked up the book, thumbed through it, read the jacket synopsis, and knew I was going to buy it, read it, and most definitely enjoy it. And I did.

Books like this one are rare. First of all, there are not a ton of Christian middle grade fiction novels out there. Since middle grade fiction tends to be fairly clean, many Christian families buy general middle grade books for their kids. Second, and this is perhaps the most important, I believe this is the very first Christian fiction book I have ever read that featured a kid of color as the lead character. Aside from a couple of books set back during the Civil War or during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s, (and even those often have a white lead character who is “struggling to understand” what is happening during those time periods) there are very few Christian middle grade books written from the African American perspective featuring a lead character who is also African American.

In the first book of The Coin Slot Chronicles, Arcade Livingston finds himself in a new city, attending a new school, dealing with new bullies, finding new friends, and also discovering a mysterious token that takes him and his friends to new places, times, and worlds. As Arcade and his sister are just beginning to figure out how the token works, they discover that someone else is after it as well. Someone who wants to use the token for evil. Can they keep the token out of evil hands and finish their homework?

Rashad Jennings has given us an incredible first entry to a great series. I laughed out loud several times while reading and also gasped as the plot unraveled. Arcade is instantly one of the most likeable heroes of middle grade fiction, and has his own journey to travel throughout the book.

I will say there are plenty of mysteries to solve here, and by the end of the book, only a few reveals are given, leaving other mysteries to be solved in book two. If your kids are looking for a fun, lighthearted, slightly fantastical read (or if you’re looking for one as well!) you cannot do wrong by picking up Arcade and the Triple T Token.

Now on to book two!

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BOOK REVIEW: Rumor of a Werewolf by Eddie Jones

Rumor of a Werewolf by Eddie Jones

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Since it’s “spooky season” I’ve been enjoying reading through Eddie Jones’ Monster Mysteries series. However, while book four, Rumor of a Werewolf has some fun moments, it also seemed to falter a bit. One of the biggest strengths of the previous three books was the setting. Jones excels at creating spooky scenes that really get your imagination cranking. But with this latest entry, I found myself a little underwhelmed by the setting. This book takes place in Sleepy Hollow, NY, which has plenty of atmosphere from its famous associations with Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, but none of that chilly pumpkin charm shows up here.

Nick Caden is on another case, this time in Sleepy Hollow, where a woman has been found murdered, and all the clues point to a werewolf as the culprit. As Nick closes in on the killer, he discovers that the werewolf has caught his scent, and it’s only a matter of time before the full moon rises and Nick ends up the next victim.

Storylines from the previous three books are loosely continued here, and there definitely is a bit of suspended belief required to follow the sometimes loose logic leaps Nick takes in order to solve the case. Once again, there are some subtle clues that point to the killer along the way, but only by guessing a little blindly can you solve the crime before Nick does.

Throughout the story, there is a traveling group of sleuths dressed as famous TV detectives from the 1970’s and 1980’s who show up for a recurring gag, and while I understand Nick knowing who all of these characters are because he watches mystery shows in order to solve crimes, I also felt as though readers today would most likely be completely unaware of many of the names mentioned. I feel as though I only knew some because my parents loved those shows and we watched some of them as kids. However, kids today would likely have no idea who Jessica Fletcher, Kojak, or Columbo even is.

As far as other content in the story, the gore in this one is ratcheted up a notch, especially since a werewolf is in play. There are a few scenes that pushed this firmly into the Young Adult category, and parents with younger readers may want to check this one out first before letting their kids dive in. The other potential caution here is this book is particularly heavy on comments about women and how they look. Nothing is graphic, or overt, but at a couple of moments I was a little taken back by the commentary on the women in the story. Again, nothing here is inappropriate per say, but parents of younger readers may want to check it out for themselves first.

No spoilers, but I will say there are a few lingering story threads from previous books in the series that show up here as teasers for what might happen in book five.

All said, Rumor of a Werewolf was a little disappointing in comparison to the previous books in Monster Mysteries, but here’s hoping that book five, Phantom Gunslinger picks things back up.

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BOOK REVIEW: Dead Low Tide by Eddie Jones

Dead Low Tide by Eddie Jones

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I have to admit: Eddie Jones’ Monster Mysteries series has been my guilty pleasure this spooky season. Each book is a quick read, highly entertaining, and often have a few great action scenes that really get the blood pumping. Even if each book is very light on character development, and sometimes the spiritual connections are intriguing conversation starters, these books are all about the atmosphere. Jones can create more atmosphere in under 200 pages than I have ever seen in any other series.

Dead Low Tide, book number three, sets up more fun and creepy action for Nick Caden as his family spends a short vacation on an island off the Carolinas while his dad interviews for a new job. However, things get rolling along right from the beginning as Nick’s sister Wendy is zombie-napped. It’s not until Nick starts getting messages from a dead girl that the pieces begin to fall into place. And when the dust settles, zombies will be the least of Nick’s worries.

The mystery and storytelling are a little tighter here than in the first two books of the series, however, as with the previous books, there are also moments with a few logic leaps that make sense in retrospect, but definitely left me scratching my head as to how Nick was able to piece it together. There is more genuine danger in the story, and for parents to note, there are also a couple of moments where the author makes veiled references to teenage partying that has gotten “out of hand.” This book in particular has definitely moved up to the Young Adult category. There is also mention of a “date rape drug” at one point, which if younger readers are encountering this book, might bring up some conversations and questions.

All said, Dead Low Tide had some great atmosphere that left me checking the darker corners of the room a couple times before settling back into the story. If you’re looking for a fun and easy spooky read this season, this is one that will definitely scratch the itch.

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BOOK REVIEW: Many Colors: Cultural Intelligence for a Changing Church by Soong-Chan Rah

Many Colors: Cultural Intelligence for a Changing Church by Soong-Chan Rah

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


During 2020 in the United States of America, we have seen our fair share of difficult, traumatic, and horrifying seasons. Between global pandemics, political fervor at a fever pitch and ready to explode, the saga of what is truth and what is fake, and natural disasters from tornadoes to hurricanes to wildfires, this has been quite the year. But it has also been an important year because this was the year that racism and cultural identity came to the forefront of public discussion after the tragic deaths of several African-Americans. This conversation was not able to be had in person due to social distancing and quarantines that have affected our country and disallowed people to have this important conversation in person rather than over social media, blogs, podcasts, and the news.

Soong-Chan Rah’s Many Colors: Cultural Intelligence for a Changing Church will not solve these issues. It will not be the sudden revelation that leads to widespread heart change across the United States. It really only scratches a tiny surface of space and allows readers to enter in to the discussion with a toe. But it is an important scratch, especially for those who are in ministry, and for those who are new to the culture conversation.

Let me begin by defining what I mean and what Rah means by culture. “Culture” is a buzz word in many evangelical circles that conjures up images of an oppressed church by a “wicked culture” that seeks to destroy the foundations of Christianity at every turn. While this may be the way some view culture, this is not what Rah is presenting. When he talks about Cultural Intelligence, he is talking more in terms of the ways that groups of people operate in their daily lives: from the types of food that a group may prefer, or music, or film, or ways of communicating. For example, some cultures communicate very directly, with facts and numbers, and seldom tell stories to illustrate an idea, while other cultures are the exact opposite, and will never tell you directly what they are thinking and love stories as way of communication.

Throughout the book, Rah talks about the vast lack of cross-cultural intelligence existing in the United States in particular. Most groups tend to stick together and rarely find ways to cross into each others’ worlds. This is what the book is all about: answering the question of how we extend a hand to others within the body of Christ and respect their culture by seeking to understand, experience, and even embrace it. This is a difficult, difficult task, and Rah starts there by saying it will be hard. It will cause many to have uncomfortable feelings and emotions as they process their own culture, the history of the United States, and then find ways to bridge the gaps that need to be bridged.

Rah doesn’t sit only in theory, as some books in this genre do. The last third of the book is dedicated to practical ways to seek to love one another through hospitality, the telling of stories, journeying together through difficult experiences, and looking at the ways our churches in particular operate and how they may or may not be welcoming to others.

For those who have read other books on the topic, this will not necessarily be new information. Much of the beginning two-thirds may seem repetitive against other works that have spent more time with the subject. However, the last third is particularly helpful, and relevant to the current social climate in the United States as a way forward to discussion, understanding, and bridging the gaps in culture between races.

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BOOK REVIEW: Champion of the Titan Games by Brandon Mull

Champion of the Titan Games by Brandon Mull

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Brandon Mull is the author I read no matter what. As soon as his next book is announced, it goes on my wish list. And then, I eagerly count down the days until I can have the book in my hands to devour in usually a day or two. The Dragonwatch series is no exception. I’ve been excited about each one of these returns to the world of Fablehaven, and I will definitely be anticipating the next installment. However, I must say, this latest book in the series, Champion of the Titan Games, felt more like the first half of a final book than a book all on its own. Granted, there is no way to read this series and enjoy it without having read the previous entries, but this one felt as though it was a lot of set up for the final book.

Kendra and Seth are still scouring the magical world, trying desperately to find something that will allow them to secure it from the dragons who are so eager to devour it. From page one, the heroes are off on a quest that will leave them in the worst places, facing their worst fears, and wondering if there is ever going to be a sunrise on the hope they need.

All the typical Brandon Mull action is here, as well as many surprises, which I will definitely not spoil here. Mull’s always at his best when characters are deciphering the history of Fablehaven, and there are plenty of scenes for readers to gobble up backstory and information that will certainly spur the conflict on into book five.

While Kendra doesn’t get as much “screentime” in this book, there is plenty for her to do. However, Seth is the one who is on a journey here, and I must say, the path he is walking leads to some great questions and no easy answers. As far as character goes, Seth gets the most time out of all the characters to develop further into one of the most complicated heroes in recent fantasy fiction.

My one gripe, if I have to have one, surrounds a somewhat awkward situation in the book about slavery. In light of the conversations taking place in the United States of America regarding racism, this aspect of slavery was never really explored well, and by the way things turn out, it almost leaves the reader in a somewhat awkward space, trying to figure out the ramifications of what has been presented and what has not been presented in the story world. Frankly, there is simply so much going on between multiple threads of the plot that this particular thread feels a little thin. Parents should definitely plan to have a conversation with their kids about slavery afterwards.

All said, Champion of the Titan Games took the story of Dragonwatch to some unexpected places, but by now, I should have expected Brandon Mull to leave me gasping by the last pages. If you want to read this series, I definitely recommend going back and starting with the first book in the first series if you have not read them yet.

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BOOK REVIEW: Skull Creek Stakeout by Eddie Jones

Skull Creek Stakeout by Eddie Jones

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Since it’s October, I was definitely in the mood for some lighthearted monster mysteries. Enter Eddie Jones’ second book in the re-released Caden Chronicles series, now known as Monster Mysteries. Skull Creek Stakeout picks up shortly after where the previous book in the series ended, and takes Nick Caden on another adventure searching for monsters that may or may not be real.

Nick is now a reporter for Cool Ghoul Gazette an online magazine that specializes in paranormal stories, and the editor of the site, Calvin, has a story that is right up Nick’s dead-end alley: reports of a vampire have surfaced in Transylvania, North Carolina, and it’s up to Nick to find out what’s really going on. Is there a vampire on the loose in this small town? Is there something sinister happening in the mansion set deep into the woods? It’s up to Nick to figure it out and hopefully take a bite out of crime before a vampire takes a bite out of him!

I felt as though this second entry was stronger than the first, Dead Man’s Hand. Maybe it was the fact that I knew more of what to expect, but I do think the setting does a lot of heavy lifting here. The forest deep in Transylvania, North Carolina, plus the creepiest bed and breakfast you’ve ever read about, all set against the backdrop of a small touristy town lent itself to a perfect spooky season vibe. While the mystery reads like a Murder, She Wrote episode mixed with the Hardy Boys, it’s more fun following along and finding out what’s happening in the small town behind the scenes. As each clue unravels, Nick finds himself in some serious danger, and no one around him is safe.

The spirituality of this series continues to fascinate me as Eddie Jones interprets passages about the death of Christ in light of the way someone who doesn’t follow Jesus, but is intrigued by creepy stories. Nick Caden’s exploration of faith with vampire stories as the backdrop creates a different lens to see the stories of Scripture through. The discussion questions in the back of the book tie in the spiritual themes well, and definitely will lead to good conversation.

So if you’re looking for a fun, super easy, but lightly spooky read, Skull Creek Stakeout is definitely a crowd pleaser.

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BOOK REVIEW: Dead Man’s Hand by Eddie Jones

Dead Man’s Hand by Eddie Jones

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Murder mysteries have always been one of my favorite types of stories. I love trying to figure out who did the crime along with the main character as they search through clues and suspects and arrive at the answer. Some mysteries can end up being too obvious, and others tend to be too difficult to follow along with. Dead Man’s Hand by Eddie Jones falls somewhere in the middle. I found myself guessing at who the criminal might be, because it seemed somewhat obvious, but then there were a couple twists that were almost impossible to guess ahead of time. But, did I enjoy the book? Yeah, I did.

Dead Man’s Hand centers on Nick Caden and his family trip to an old Ghost Town in Colorado. They think they’re in for a lot of fun in the Old West, or at least the rest of the family does. Nick’s not so sure it’s going to be that great of a time — in fact, he’s expecting this to be one of the most boring weeks of his life. That’s until he comes across a dead body that vanishes. Is it just a trick like all the other stunts in town? Or is something more sinister going on? Nick’s on the case, and along the way, he’s going to try his best to steer clear of the ghosts of the Ghost Town.

Written entirely from Nick’s point of view, this book is a quick read, aimed at middle grade readers, but with surprisingly dark moments. The writing is very fast-paced, but sometimes the plot meanders a little bit as Nick investigates suspects and tries to figure out what’s going on. At some points I wanted to say, “But that would never happen in real life…” but eventually I decided to suspend reality and just go along with the story.

However, this book does one thing that really annoys me when an author is trying to drag out a mystery. At one point, a character sees something, but then refuses to tell Nick about it for nearly the whole book, and that one thing could have solved the case much sooner. Obviously, the drama is being played out for the mystery’s sake, but I wish Eddie Jones had found a more creative way around this particular plot point.

This book does contain some references to Christianity, including some Bible references that were actually kind of fascinating from the perspective of a “ghost hunter.” I had never thought about a couple of the passages that way before, and it was certainly intriguing, but a minor part of the story. However, there is one reference that I kept waiting to see where it would go, but never did go anywhere. At one point, a bandit in town starts yelling at the sheriff in Spanish, and quotes John 14:6 in Spanish. However, this is not translated for the reader who doesn’t know Spanish, and I thought it kind of odd for the bandit to yell at the sheriff, rather than something else like “You’ll never catch me,” etc. It just came across as somewhat odd, and perhaps disrespectful to the bandit, Spanish, and the verse.

In the end, this is a fun, easy read, and definitely not a waste of time. If you enjoy the Old West or murder mysteries for a middle grade audience, give this one a go!

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BOOK REVIEW: All-Consuming Fire: Object Lessons from the Book of Acts for Kids by Anne Marie Gosnell

All-Consuming Fire: Object Lessons from the Book of Acts for Kids by Anne Marie Gosnell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am always looking for great ideas, object lessons, experiments, and even simple activities that will allow kids to discover who Jesus is, who they are, and then lead those same kids to a place where they can respond to God’s love for them. Having used Anne Marie Gosnell’s object lesson books in the past and seeing the way kids in our Children’s Ministry had those “Aha!” moments after watching and hearing her object lessons, I knew I needed to get this latest one on the Book of Acts.

All-Consuming Fire: Object Lessons from the Book of Acts for Kids contains 24 lessons from the Book of Acts, walking from Acts 1 all the way through Acts 28, and even including one lesson on the letters of the New Testament. Each chapter gives you an overview or main idea from the Scripture passage, as well as a list of materials needed, some background information, an object lesson, Bible lesson, and a life application section including discussion questions throughout the chapter to use with the kids in your ministry. There are also tips for teaching kids sprinkled throughout the book, as well as extra resources on leading a child to Christ and how to be an excellent Bible teacher. There are also additional resources you can access once you purchase the book, including verse posters for each lesson.

What I love most about these object lessons is the way each one really helps kids to connect the dots: from the Bible story to the objects to the life application point. Anne Marie Gosnell’s ideas are a lot of fun too, and sometimes a little “explosive,” which really gets the kids’ attention! Most of the objects used are things you can find in a local store, online, or in your Children’s Ministry closet at church.

All said, if you are taking the kids in your Children’s Ministry through the book of Acts anytime soon, this book is a must-have. It’s really like getting twenty-four great messages dropped in your lap! This book truly is the most comprehensive Acts Teaching Guide for Children’s Ministry I’ve ever seen.