Weekend Reads: Fear No Evil (Katie)

Weekend Reads: Fear No Evil by Allen Brokken

I hope everyone in the US had a lovely Thanksgiving. Earlier this year I told you about Allen Brokken's latest book, Still Small Voice. Hold on to your (santa) hats because book 3 is coming soon! Fear No Evil is not to be missed!

I was thrilled to be asked to read an advanced copy and provide a review and feature on Lands Uncharted. (It goes without saying, but all opinions here are my own!)

Lost and alone in a valley of darkness, Lauren, Aiden and Ethan must call upon their faith to stand against the Dark One's forces and prove they will fear no evil.

Across the land of Zoura, people and creatures alike continue to fall prey to the persuasion of darkness. The seeds of evil pollute not only those outside the Light, but those within it. Pitting neighbor against neighbor. Brother against brother. The Dark One gains ground in his pursuit to shroud the heathlands in eternal darkness. Zoura's only hope lies with three children.

Twelve-year-old Lauren and her younger brothers, Aiden and Ethan, are determined to reignite the Tower of Light in Blooming Glen. But an attack by dark forces separates them, driving them into a valley of darkness. Without each other or their Knight Protector, the three siblings must navigate the wilderness while fending off creatures tainted by evil. They fight not just for Zoura, but for their own survival.

Will the darkness overtake Lauren, Aiden, and Ethan? Or will they prove their faith is stronger and that they fear no evil?

Fear No Evil starts where book 2 left off. Ethan, Lauren, and Aiden (and their beloved pets!) are once again in the middle of danger and adventure, only this time their determination is tested even further when each are forced to face battles on their own. It was an exciting but rewarding ride, and I know fans of middle grade fiction will be wholly satisfied with this continuation of the series. The book will be available December 5th, and can be found on Amazon here!

About Allen Brokken:

Allen Brokken is a teacher at heart, a husband and father most of all. He's a joyful writer by the abundant grace of God. He began writing the Towers of Light series for his own children to help him illustrate the deep truths of the Bible in an engaging and age appropriate way. He's dedicated 15 years of his life to volunteer roles in children's ministry and youth development. Now that his own children are off to college he's sharing his life experiences on social media @towersoflight, @twodadsandajoke, and through his blog https://www.towersoflight.net

Weekend Reads: By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson (Heather)

Hey there Weekend Warriors Readers!

If you live in the south, like me, you might be avoiding the heat by staying indoors and reading your little heart out! Are you running out of material? Heaven forbid!

Well, to be on the safe side, I'm popping in to give you a fabulous, bookish recommendation. 😎 Award winning fantasy author Jill Williamson just released her book By Darkness Hid (Book 1 in her Blood of Kings series) as an audiobook! The only problem is, I am ready to start book 2, By Darkness Fled, but it's not on audio yet. 😒

Narrated by fellow fantasy author Gillian Bronte Adams, (author of The Songkeeper Chronicles), I enjoyed every moment of this story (which deservedly won a Christy Award). Bravo to Gillian for bringing it to life so vividly. Her grasp of accents was impressive and her narration made for an intriguing and easy listen. How can one person be so multi-talented?!

By Darkness Hid follows Achan, an orphaned "stray" who works in the kitchens of a lord in the land of  Er'Rets. He senses things about people, and, on occasion, can even hear the thoughts of others. When a knight in the Kingsguard takes notice of Achan and begins to train him as a squire, Achan is suddenly the target of other powerful people who mean to do him harm.

Like Achan, Vrell Sparrow can hear what others are thinking. Though the gift of "bloodvoicing" is common among royals, she must keep both her royal identity and her gift a secret. Disguised as a stray boy in order to avoid wedding an awful prince, she succeeds in her deception for a time. But when she senses the voice of a young man in peril, she is drawn to help him. The problem is, other, treacherous men with the bloodvoicing gift have heard and taken notice of her and the young man as well. Now they're both in danger!

As they both learn to control their newfound ability, while trying to protect one another and the kingdom, a different kind of voice calls them to Himself. Will they learn to trust and obey this other voice or will evil have its way in the kingdom?

To find out, snag your copy of By Darkness Hid and enjoy the adventure for yourself! Full of castles and sword fights, conspiracies and deceptions, and all the medieval feels that fantasy fans adore, Jill Williamson does not disappoint!