Weekend Reads Book Feature: Still Small Voice by Allen Brokken (Katie)

Still Small Voice by Allen Brokken (Katie)

Today I'm featuring Still Small Voice by Allen Brokken. This is book 2 in the series, and it's a fantastical adventure aimed at Middle Grade readers and their families. The best news is that it's available for purchase as of today, July 24!

I first met Allen online through the Realm Makers organization. We were in the same critique group and that's where I was first introduced to his writing. We met in person at a RM writer's conference, and I was convinced of his desire to provide clean, inspirational fiction for kids and their families. When Allen approached me about endorsing the book and featuring it on Lands Uncharted, I was honored and happy to do so.

Here's what I had to say about Still Small Voice...

Still Small Voice by Allen Brokken is an adventure of a lifetime! Filled with mystery, action, family bonds, and a healthy dose of animal friends this second book in the Tower of Light Series is a fantastic continuation of the journey of siblings Lauren, Aiden, and Ethan. Their quest to spread the Light as Darkness creeps across the land is a faith-filled adventure worth joining. More About Allen and Still Small Voice... Back Cover: Because of their faith, twelve-year-old Lauren and her younger brothers, Aiden and Ethan, prevailed in the battle for the Tower of Light. But their victory did not stop the Dark One. Darkness continues to spread across Zoura's frontier. Now, in a vision, Mother tells them to light a second tower in Blooming Glen. Before they can set out on their journey with the Knight Protector, their Uncle arrives with a different set of instructions. He doesn't trust the Knight Protector or the Mighty Mercenaries and believes the children should go to grandma's house instead. Unyielding in his belief, Uncle unknowingly leads the children off their path. And a misguided acolyte follows them. Lurking in the shadows, he strikes at every opportunity as the dark forces prepare to descend. Lauren, Aiden, and Ethan are Zoura's last defense. Can they convince their Uncle of the truth—that he must listen to the still small voice—and make it to Blooming Glen before the Dark One's forces overtake them? Fans of Little House on the Prairie will feel at home in the series' classic frontier setting, and the sincerity of the children's love for one another and desire to do the right thing will bring a smile to readers and listeners of all ages. Read Still Small Voice aloud to your family or confidently give it to your middle grade reader, knowing he or she will be ensconced in a wholesome and riveting experience, beginning to end. About the author: 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. Check out Allen's author page to find more resources where your children can grow their own faith and love of God by following the adventures of Lauren, Aiden, and Ethan (plus their pets!).

Amazing New Releases! (Vanessa)

Happy Friday! I hope everyone is doing well with the new normal and that spring has sprung where you live!

I have three amazing new releases to share with you all today! 

The first is Winter Spell by Claire M. Banschbach. This delightful read is book three in The Faeries of Myrinus series. Though it is the third in the series, it can be read as a standalone. I had the pleasure of reading an Advanced Reader Copy of Winter Spell and I loved it! It had the perfect blend of friendship, adventure, and magic.

Here's what it's about: A half-breed faery. A war-weary princess. A quest to free three kingdoms from the deadly winter spell.Constantly doubted by her ocean faery kindred, Tonya Freyr-dottir only wants to untangle the dormant ice and water magic within her. Then a strange attack makes her unleash a fierce winter on the land and sea. And she has no idea how to stop it.Princess Diane serves faithfully at her brother’s side, trying to restore their kingdom of Myrnius after the devastating Dark War. Now with brutal winter wreaking havoc, everything they have worked for might be lost to famine and destruction.Desperate to help, Tonya travels to the far north to unlock her magic, aided by Diane, as well as two land faeries: Dorian, a reckless healer and August, a mischievous warrior. But the north brings fresh dangers, unearths old wounds, and offers more questions than answers.With doom threatening human and faery alike, Tonya must find a way to trust her new friends and release her magic before all fall to the fury of winter’s spell.Buy now and enjoy a fairy tale adventure with friendship, danger, overcoming adversity, and even a hint of romance.

Winter Spell was released on April 23. Click here to buy it on Amazon!



The next awesome new release is Legend of the Storm Sneezer (The Stormwatch Diaries Book 1) by Kristiana Sfirlea. LotSS is so much fun to read! I fell in love with Rose and Marek the instant I read about them! This middle grade story is packed with goofiness, great stories, and funny quips you'll enjoy! 

Here's what it's about: Legend Seeker. Part-time Ghost Hunter. Time Traveler.

Thirteen-year-old Rose Skylar sneezed a magical storm cloud at birth, and it’s followed her around ever since. But when Stormy causes one too many public disasters, Rose is taken to Heartstone, an asylum for unstable magic. Its location? The heart of a haunted forest whose trees have mysteriously turned to stone.

They say the ghosts are bound to the woods … then why does Rose see them drifting outside the windows at night? And why is there a graveyard on the grounds filled with empty graves? Guided by her future selves via time traveling letters, Rose and Marek—best friend and potential figment of her imagination—must solve the mystery of the specters and the stone trees before the ghosts unleash a legendary enemy that will make their own spooks look like a couple of holey bed sheets and destroy Heartstone Asylum.

Letters from the future are piling up. Rose can’t save Heartstone herself. However, five of herselves, a magical storm cloud, and a guardian angel who might very well be imaginary? Now that’s a silver lining.

But will they find what killed the ghosts before what killed the ghosts finds them?

Legend of the Storm Sneezer releases on May 5! Preorder it here!



The final new release is Prince of Shadow and Ash (The Mercenary and Mage Book 1) by Selina R. Gonzalez. This book stole my heart! Regulus and Adelaide are absolutely adorable and my new favorite book couple. If you love A Knight's Tale, Pride & Prejudice, and The Hobbit, definitely check out this book!

Here's what it's about: She could be his light... If his darkness doesn’t destroy them both.

Bastard and former mercenary Lord Regulus Hargreaves just wants to earn his freedom from the sorcerer who enslaved him. When Lady Adelaide sees past his scar and his shadowed past, Regulus’ dying hope rekindles. But will loving Adelaide while serving the Prince of Shadow and Ash put her in danger?

Adelaide Belanger longs to use the magical energy within her, but revealing her power could get her killed. When she meets kind and rugged Regulus, she wonders if she has finally found someone to trust with her secret—and her heart.

Regulus and Adelaide struggle to build a relationship and keep their secrets from those who would harm them. By the time their secrets are revealed, it may be too late for them both...

Prince of Shadow and Ash releases on May 13! Preorder it here!

I hope you have a chance to enjoy some of these awesome books! :) 

Top Three TBR Middle Grade Books With Green Covers (KaLyn)

How about a little festive book fun, since tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day?

Green is not the most common color for a book cover, but some great reads that do feature it in an eye-catching fashion. Here are three middle-grade books with green covers from my to-be-read pile that may interest you.

NICK NEWTON: THE HIGHEST BIDDER

by S.E.M. Ishida

You may recall seeing Nick Newton on Lands Uncharted before. I posted a review of the first book, Nick Newton is not a Genius, back in November. Nick Newton: The Highest Bidder is the second book in the series. The upbeat, fun, and compassionate heart of the first book enticed me to add the second book to my list.

About Nick Newton: The Highest Bidder

Nick, a merely average boy from the country of Thauma, has learned that one doesn't need to be a genius or wealthy to have amazing adventures. All one needs is to keep going. When Solomon decides to put Elizabeth the android back together, Nick promises to help in any way that he can. He learns many important lessons, like the value of a speck, and to dodge mechanical baby strollers, fencing sisters, and auction bids. If all goes well, he might even make a few new friends too.

SENT

by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Sent is the second book in The Missing series. You can find a review of the first book, Found, on my blog. Found began with the government cover-up of an event involving thirty-four babies who were put up for adoption, and then mysteriously drawn to investigate the incident thirteen years later. I enjoyed reading the first book enough to pick up the second, but it was the twist in the final reveal that had me splurge to pick up the whole series.

About Sent

Jonah, Katherine, Chip, and another boy, Alex, have no preparation before they are sent back to 1483 at the Tower of London, with the promise that they can return to the present if they can repair history. They quickly discover that Chip and Alex’s true identities are the 13-year-old King Edward V and his 10-year-old brother, Richard, Duke of York. But before Chip can enjoy being the king of England, they discover that they are virtually prisoners—and that their uncle wants them dead. How can the kids repair time and return home when according to history, Chip and Alex were murdered?

SKY JUMPERS

by Peggy Eddleman

I came across Sky Jumpers a few years ago, when I was putting my first book proposal together. A courageous, base-jumping heroine from a town of inventors was hard to resist. But, to be honest, I forgot about the book until I began writing this post. It got buried in my wildly, out of control to-be-read-pile. Maybe it's time to reprioritize the stack and move Sky Jumpers up towards the top?

About Sky Jumpers

Twelve-year-old Hope lives in White Rock, a town of inventors struggling to recover from World War III. But adventurous Hope is terrible at inventing. She would much rather sneak off to cliff dive into the Bomb’s Breath, the deadly band of air that surrounds the town.

When bandits invade White Rock to steal its greatest invention—priceless antibiotics—the town is left with a heartbreaking choice: hand over the medicine and die from disease, or die fighting the bandits. Help lies in a neighboring town, but the bandits count everyone fourteen and older each hour. Now Hope and her friends Aaren and Brock are only ones who can escape through the Bomb’s Breath.

For once, the daring and rebelliousness that usually get Hope into trouble might just save them all.

What green books would you recommend?

Nick Newton Is Not a Genius by S.E.M Ishida (KaLyn)

At Realm Makers in July, I picked up a middle-grade steampunk called Nick Newton is not a Genius. It was not a book I was familiar with, but it looked like a fun read and I couldn't pass up a middle-grade steampunk.

Nick Newton, named after his legendary grandfather General Nicolas Newton, is an average child in a family of genius. But he's more like the late grandfather he idolizes that even he realizes.

The story opens with Nick's prestigious school's pronouncement that he's an average child and therefore can no longer attend their school (a school only for genius). Undeterred, Nick stays optimistic about his changing situation and seeks to make his own discoveries - the first of which is the discovery of a mechanical bird, Plink, invented by his grandfather.

While he isn't a genius and may never be a great inventor, Nick is a child with above average compassion. It is his humility and concern for others that leads to his greatest discoveries. It is also how he is most like his namesake.

Nick Newton is not a Genius showcases compassion, friendship, curiosity, understanding, and a healthy family dynamic in a delightful, middle-grade steampunk tale.

The second book in the series, "Nick Newton: the Highest Bidder," released on November 7th. I actually pre-ordered the second book in paperback, hoping to get it before this post. However, the book went out of stock before release day. Amazon informed me I wouldn't get a copy until December.

But anticipation is part of the fun, right?

Looking forward to joining Nick and Plink on their next adventure!

About Book One

Nick Newton is not a Genius. He’s just a merely average boy from the country of Thauma. He may not be brilliant like his mom and dad or a child prodigy like his sister, but he won’t let that stop him from uncovering the mysteries of a clockwork factory or revealing a war hero’s greatest secret. With help from two new friends and his butler named Jude, Nick embarks on an adventure that will change his life forever.

About Book Two

Nick, a merely average boy from the country of Thauma, has learned that one doesn't need to be a genius or wealthy to have amazing adventures. All one needs is to keep going. When Solomon decides to put Elizabeth the android back together, Nick promises to help in any way that he can. He learns many important lessons, like the value of a speck, and to dodge mechanical baby strollers, fencing sisters, and auction bids. If all goes well, he might even make a few new friends too. 

Top 3 Reasons to Read Gregory and the Grimbockle by Melanie Schubert

Last September, I read Gregory and the Grimbockle by Melanie Schubert as an advanced reviewer (you can read the original review here if you wish). I instantly fell in love with the story. To the degree and depth of which, nearly a year later, the characters are still rummaging around in my head and in my heart. So naturally, yesterday, I purchased three paperback copies: one for myself and two more for gifts.

I feel utterly compelled to share this rare story with all of you, along with three reasons to read Gregory and the Grimbockle.

#3 Gregory and the Grimbockle has a soundtrack.

The soundtrack's beautiful instrumental scores are an excellent complement to the story. Most of the songs are under two minutes in length, which makes them perfect for transitioning to story time in a classroom setting. Only the last song, Saying Goodbye & Finale, is more than three minutes long.

#2  It's heartwarming tale layered with fun, adventure, and originality.

The Grimbockle is a loveable character who takes Gregory along while he works to repair exoodles, the emotional ties connecting everyone. With an interesting start to their journey, traveling on the back of a cockroach, it's isn't long before we see the importance of the Grimbockle's work or his struggle to keep up with the increasing demand for repairs.

#1 Your exoodles will grow!

Gregory and the Grimbockle is a fun and engaging story that beautifully illustrates the importance of empathy. The tale offers a fresh perspective on connecting with others and the importance of forgiveness and understanding.

I read this story with my youngest son, who was ten at the time, and it added another dimension of depth and meaning to the experience, crafting a memory I will always treasure.