Category: Reading

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My Top 5 Favorite Books of 2020

This year has been one for the books. So I turned to books when I needed to step back, remember all that God has done in the world. Reading reminds me of the creativity that human beings have been given, and it’s one of my favorite parts of life if I’m being honest. When we are creative as human beings, we reflect the Creator who made everything around us.

So here are my top 5 favorite books I read during 2020. Not all of them were released in 2020, but this is the year I found these wonderful stories. I will quickly admit there are a few books that are not making this list which surprised me. For one, I am a huge Brandon Mull fan, and while I enjoyed the latest Dragonwatch book, it didn’t wow me like the ones on my list this year. I also read quite a bit of non-fiction, but none of those made my list either.

#5: Alex Rider: Nightshade by Anthony Horowitz

I have been an Alex Rider fan since 2006 when I saw the film based on book #1, Stormbreaker. I have read every Alex Rider book since then, and when I saw Nightshade was releasing, I knew I had to pick it up and read it.

Horowitz never disappoints. This book was non-stop action, put Alex Rider in new frightening predicaments, and had me gasp out loud a couple of times (always my true test of a good book!). With great pacing, the return of some series favorites, and a super creepy villain plot this time around, Horowitz is at the top of his game.

#4: Gaal the Conqueror by John White

This book surprised me. After the first book in the series, The Sword Bearer, I wasn’t sure if the second book would live up to the same level of story, but also wouldn’t be quite so obvious with the allegory present here. However, while the allegory to a Biblical story is pretty obvious from the beginning, there are other elements of this book that elevate it to #4 on this list.

For starters, the final “battle” is intense, frightening, and had me shout “No!” out loud at the pages as I flipped them frantically to see what would happen next. One thing happens near the end that had me on the edge of my seat all the rest of the way through. The set up here is also intense, leaving the lead characters with a very intriguing mission to accomplish.

I haven’t finished this series yet, but I have picked up books #3-#6 at a local used bookstore, so I’m eager to see what happens next!

#3: The Silent Noisy Night by Jill Roman Lord

Another surprise to me was how much this short board book about Christmas would mean to me. This past year I have been discovering just how often God celebrates throughout Scripture. Too often growing up I viewed God as distant and stoic and emotionless. But the truth is that God often celebrates, especially when it comes to the people God has created!

This book emphasizes the sheer celebration of the birth of Jesus. When Jesus was born, the clock starting ticking on death and sin. Jesus went on to conquer sin and death once and for all through his death and resurrection, and that is certainly something to celebrate!

The other thing I loved here was the artwork, from the animals to the backgrounds — everything is incredibly well done. This is definitely on my list of favorites for 2020, but also on my list of favorite Christmas books!

#2: Sands of Nezza by M.L. Forman

Okay. This book right here had downright one of the best first 150 pages of any book I’ve ever read. The writing was top notch, the mystery was confounding and drew me in instantly, and also the tense pace and action had me barely breathing as I turned the pages desperately needing to know what was about to happen. This is book #4 in the Adventurers Wanted series, which really takes a lot of aspects from high fantasy similar to The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, and amps them up for a Middle Grade/Young Adult audience.

The character building here is also fascinating, especially considering the plot reveals from the previous book in the series. I couldn’t wait to see how it all worked out in the end. This book also introduced an overarching series threat I didn’t see coming, and couldn’t wait to find out more about.

The only downside was the ending faltered slightly before picking back up to bring it all to the finish line. However, even with a slight stumble near the end, this was one of my favorites from this year.

#1: Albrek’s Tomb by M.L. Forman

This book takes my top spot for the year due not only to the expansive plot, character development, action, side adventures, and twists along the way, but also for the downright cozy feeling of this book.

The best way I can describe it is like this: have you ever finished a series of books and felt like there was closure, which made you happy, but also you wished there was more in the world of the series, and an almost panic comes over you that the book is ending and there won’t be any more from this particular world you have enjoyed so much over the course of a novel? That’s the feeling I had reading this book, which is book #3 in the Adventurers Wanted series by M.L. Forman.

While it’s the middle of the series, this book was one that I immediately thought: I’m going to re-read this book someday. For those who know me, I rarely ever re-read books. I have always felt as though there are so many good books out there to read that I wouldn’t want to waste time re-reading one I’ve already read. But the journey for the characters here is so captivating that I knew one day I would revisit this world and enjoy every minute of it once again.

Also, major shout out to the plot twist of all plot twists in this book. It had such a creepy build up and then came out of nowhere in a great way, that I was instantly excited to see what might happen next.

Well, that’s it for 2020. So many great books I had the privilege of reading this year. Here’s to 2021 and a whole year more of reading incredible stories, insightful thoughts, and inspiring fiction and non-fiction.

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BOOK REVIEW: Gaal the Conqueror by John White

Gaal the Conqueror by John White

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Gaal the Conqueror is the second book in The Archives of Anthropos series by John White, and continues the adventures in the magical land of Anthropos as the battle between good and evil rages on for the control of every living thing. Enter John Wilson, returning from the first book in the series and joined here by new characters of all kinds, including Eleanor MacFarland. Together, they must travel the lands of Anthropos, on a quest to defeat the evil sorcerer Shagah and elude the blasphemous Lord Lunacy.

There are so many things to say about Gaal the Conqueror, and so I’ll start here: This book, while labeled second in the series, is actually the fourth book written. John White wrote The Tower of Geburah, The Iron Sceptre, and The Sword Bearer before this one, and at times the seams of the story show through as White is obviously setting pieces in place that will be present in later books in the series. These first two books have circled back to a time before The Tower of Geburah and set up the story line for the future.

At times haunting, at others deeply profound, this book begins in snowy Canada amidst the search for a missing child. Much like the first book in the series, this book has moments that almost seemed too intense for a children’s fantasy series. There is a subplot about this missing child who has clearly been abused. While nothing is explicitly stated here, there is plenty of subtext to indicate what has happened. It left me questioning the audience for this book, as I probably would not want a very young child to read this one, but perhaps for a middle grade and above audience this would work.

The parallels to Christianity seem the most obvious here, and for those who are familiar with the story of Christ, some beats in this story will be telegraphed miles before they take place. However, there is one final twist near the end of the story I did not expect coming, and I actually cried out loud at the book and said, “No!” When a book surprises me, it always gets a higher rating from me, and this twist definitely had me flipping pages to see what would happen next.

There are some fantastic fantasy elements at play here which blend pieces of C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia with the same author’s Space Trilogy. Once again, the ghastly Lord Lunacy returns, but this time with a host of creepy friends who show up near the last third and are definitely nightmare material.

However, for all the good this book contains, the lead character’s story arc, much like in The Sword Bearer seems the most lacking here. John Wilson’s “growth” throughout the story is slight at best, and John and Eleanor both serve to move the plot along and help us discover new aspects of this fantasy world through their actions and reactions.

I found this second book more engaging than the first, and I already have the third book, The Tower of Geburah on my shelf, waiting to be cracked open and read! For fantasy fans of series such as The Chronicles of Prydain or The Chronicles of Narnia, you definitely won’t go wrong reading this classic gem.

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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: 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: Taken, Book #1 in The Quest for Truth series by Brock Eastman

Taken (Quest for Truth #1)

Taken by Brock D. Eastman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Space sagas are one of the most unexplored genres of Christian fiction for middle grade and young adult readers. Having thoroughly enjoyed Sigmund Brouwer’s Robot Wars series (previously known as the Mars Diaries), I have been waiting for another well-written Christian science fiction adventure. Into this space (no pun intended) comes Brock Eastman with The Quest for Truth series.

In book one, Taken, the Wikk siblings wake up to a nightmare: their parents have vanished, and worse, someone named Captain Vedrik has ambushed their home. The four Wikk siblings must escape and follow the clues left behind in their parents’ journal in order to find them before it’s too late. Along the way, they’ll explore the outer reaches of space and encounter strange creatures on far off planets, all while hoping to stay out of Captain Vedrik’s clutches.

Taken reads much like the first installment in a space serial, with just enough mystery to keep the reader intrigued, while wondering what will happen next. The characters are mostly introduced here, taking time with each of the Wikk siblings to explore who they are in relation to this adventure they’ve embarked upon.

** SLIGHT SPOILER WARNING **

The one downside I see is that by the end of the novel, the heroes end up in roughly the same place they began with a very long side tangent taken by two of the characters that ultimately seems to go nowhere. While Eastman leaves open one possibility for the future, it comes across as though nothing of significance has changed after a good one third of the book takes a turn. Likewise, there are a few threads introduced that have not had any pay off as of yet, leaving the reader needing to read book two to find out what happens next.

** END SPOILER WARNING **


The action is tight, well-written, and enjoyable. While long-time science fiction fans may not be surprised by some of the revelations throughout, overall, this is definitely a fun intergalactic romp with some moments of real danger for the Wikks. For anyone interested in outer space, this is one series worth picking up!