Karen HancockRecensioni

After being sold into slavery by his siblings and being betrayed, Abramm finds himself fighting in gladiatorial combat. Every promise he ever made has been broken, and his only surviving possession is the company of the hated Terstan. He has nothing left to live for. He elevates a victim to the position of hero without even meaning to. If he does not discover the Light of Eidon, everything he has battled for will be lost.

The plot is intriguing and continually shifting on a physical and emotional level, and the characters are likeable. As he moves from hope to despair to purpose, the hero is tremendously likeable and captivating.

The surroundings are radiant, the political, religious, and cultural components have been carefully cultivated. It was enjoyable to read a story about sinister, perverse characters without any harsh language or graphic sexual content. This book is for you and your book club if you enjoy fantasy with a biblical theme.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog https://psalm516.blogspot.com/

I can totally see why this book won the Christy Award in 2004 when it was first published and why Karen Hancock holds the enviable spot in the Christy Award Hall of Fame. Now with an updated and streamlined cover from Enclave Publishing, the book is gorgeous inside and out. It's a completely engaging allegory-fantasy novel that unfurls an epic adventure full of magic and good triumphing over evil. As characters navigate through pain, loss, and sacrifice, they learn about perseverance, true faith, and sense of purpose and calling. There is plenty of action in the gladiator games that is reminiscent of the movie Thor : Ragnarok.

Told from Abramm and Carissa's third person point of view, we get to see the twins' growth and maturation as they leave the country they have become disillusioned with and enter a cruel new culture that only seeks to use them. Their journey to finding each other is fraught with betrayal, heartbreak, and agonizing soul-searching. Abramm becomes a warrior from his priestly scholar beginnings and I expect he's on his way to becoming a fierce king. I can't wait to read the next book. My favorite character was Trap Meridon - the faithful, patient, steadfast, loyal protector of Abramm; I hope to see more of him in the series. The book is a little longer than my usual fare but I gobbled it up in no time.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Enclave Publishing via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

The Light of Eidon by Karen Hancock is a fantasy novel. As the first book in the Legends of the Guardian-King series, this book explores the struggles between good and evil set during a Medieval-like other-world setting.

Karen Hancock does an excellent job bringing the storyline and characters to life. As Abramm prepares to take the vows that will separate him from the life he was born into, unexpected events occur.

With struggles to do what he has actually been called to do, dealing with the betrayal of those closest to him, and more, this book will keep you reading. I must say, I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

So if you enjoy fantasies, check out The Light of Eidon by Karen Hancock for yourself.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

I will first start my review by mentioning how the cover is very eye catching. It draws readers in and perhaps gives them an insight into the story they are about to read. The sword for me is a symbol of strength and power. My curiosity was piqued and I decided to enter into this fantasy world the author created.

Abramm is the focus of the story as he has reached the place where he will take his vows. He has been diligent in preparing himself for this moment in time. It took him by surprise to see everyone waiting for him. I could feel doubt entering and fear start to take over. Is he ready to take this step? The author brings readers a story where family will betray each other, fights of epic proportions and someone who starts to doubt what they have believed in.

There are parts of the story where Abramm is resisting being king. He talks with his sister who pleads with him to take the throne. Her hope is that he will clean up the realm and rid it of evil. Can he stop the corruption that is going on? Why is he so against this plan?

There are some references that could be seen as a hint of God. One part is when Abramm is talking to the king. It is explained that “only of Light-Eidon’s own light, bought by the death of his Son and freely bestowed upon any who desire it.” We have a choice to accept the gift God has given us as Abramm tries to explain to the king. They don’t use the Word God in the story but we are free to make our own observations and conclusions as we read the book.

Attacks start coming at Abramm as evil tries to engulf him. It is an epic battle where evil vs good play out. Some scenes were a bit much for me and I would have liked less description of those. Becoming a slave quickens Abramm’s sister to free him. She must be careful of who she trusts though.

Toward the middle and end of the book I started to not like what I was reading. I didn’t like how the story mentions suicide, spells, magic and the battles that Abramm is forced into. Graphic scenes that made me uneasy and a few scenes that were questionable sexual content. Very distasteful to me and I cannot recommend this book at all.

Perhaps there are some good things readers can take from the book but the details of battles that are too graphic and sexual content is not needed in this book. It may have been in his thoughts only but to describe it in detail is not necessary.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion

it was a great story and the characters were easy to get attached to. The only problem i really had was the choppy style in some parts and some lack of detail. the good parts were more than able to to make up for this though.

Normally I shy away from christian fiction...but this seems interesting.

Arena pulls the reader as well as the characters into a world of fantasy. Callie Hayes finds herself pulled into a psychology research experiment thanks to her friend Meg, which lands them both in an alien world. Along the way, they encounter friends and foes. Uncertain of the right path to take, Callie works towards finding the exit to the next two realms.

Illustrating the Christian values, this story pulled me in somewhat slowly at first. But as I kept reading, I found myself wanting to see how the story would end. With twists and turns, the author creates a fantasy world worth reading about and characters worth knowing. So if you enjoy fantasy novels, check out this book for yourself.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

The start of the book didn’t quite prepare me for the journey ahead. Callie makes a decision to participate in a psychology research experiment which turns her world upside down. It made me wonder why she would even consider such an unusual project with little information. One thought kept going through my mind though. This project will definitely test her ability to trust and make right choices. That thought is something we each have struggled with at some point. Now I was ready to see where Callie’s journey would take her and what lessons she would learn.

The story takes us to a place where survival is key to everything. I was shocked when Callie meets up with a group of people who have been in this weird place for years. Wasn’t she told that there was a way out and it was just an experiment? Why have some of these people been here for years? Who are the strange creatures that are there to destroy any human that gets in their way? The details are vivid and the author makes everything realistic. Danger lurks just outside of their guarded place and someone is always alert to anything strange coming their way.

I did find some interesting subtle hints of Christianity in the story. One such example is when Callie and Rowena are at the sanctuary and the person they meet stops them. They explain that they want to get through the gate. His response is, “The manual says no one can pass through the Gate without Mander’s help.” That instantly made me think of the scripture found in John 14:6 “No one comes to the Father except through me.” Now I was intrigued by what would happen next. You can start to see that Callie is questioning her faith. I liked the inner turmoil she was faced with and thought it was a great example of having faith in what you believe in.

There are a few places in the story where it talks about rape so be warned if this is a trigger for you. Pierce comes to Callie’s rescue but he is hard to figure out at times. I think maybe he is struggling with who to believe. Trust is a big theme in the story and like us, the characters sometimes don’t know if they are making the right decision.

Deep within the story lies a realm where Callie and the others seek to find their freedom. I liked how the armor of God was referenced by the characters talking about making sure they have their armor on in order to move forward. Among them you can smell fear and uncertainty as the time draws near to move to where freedom awaits them. The author really grabbed my attention as I kept following Callie with anticipation of what she would face next. A key factor is making the right choices and Callie starts to doubt that she will ever get back home.

The story for me was like a journey you take to find where your faith is. Do you trust God with everything? Will you find your way back if you get lost or will you be tricked into following evil? The book was good and definitely one that made me understand how important it is to trust in God in all things.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Note #1 - this should not be read without having read the rest of the series. (I did. I had been given a review book without being told that it was the final installment in a series.) It's really hard to follow if you start with the last book of 4.

Note #2 - this should also not be read if you're not okay with heavy-handed religion in your fiction.

"Intriguing concept, bit preachy (but not overly so) and finishes well. Christianity overtones are not subtle, btw."

The second in Karen Hancock's "Legends of the Guardian-King" is every bit as good as the first as it continues the tale of Abramm Kalladorne and his efforts to become the man that his god wishes to shape. In this installment he returns to his homeland, there to face political as well as magical battles. We are introduced to a cast of characters that we can empathize with, whether they are good, bad, or neutral. We get to see the struggles these very human people endure, and how they handle them. There is adventure and intrigue, secrets and surprising revelations. Again, I have thoroughly enjoyed the rich detail, the exciting storyline, and the author's solid, engrossing style. My only wish is that the end hadn't come so soon or been so abrupt.

The story is about a young man named Abramm who is struggling through life. He isn���������t accepted by his family tricked by those he trusts deceived by others and yet has many trials to face in it all. You follow him through seeming constant mishaps and disadvantages and watch him grow into an amazing leader who is strong and loyal. He wouldn���������t have become the man he did if it weren���������t for all the bad things. It���������s a story that makes you realize that although you feel betrayed by faith and let down by all sometimes there is something far more important happening than just what you can see. The characters made you love them laugh feel sadness and even anger at things that occurred. It was realistic and with the great way it was written you felt like you were there with them through it. A great read and one that I would definitely recommend.

The light of Eidon

I must say the first few chapters of this book started interesting but slow but after chapter 5 it's starts to get live. Eldrin finds out his brother Raynen was telling the truth the Mataio are just using him and don't really worship Eidon at all.

The book takes on a Spartacus meets gladiator vibe in a good way as Eldrin and his protector are betrayed and sold Into to slavery but the book just continues to get better I found my self getting drawn into the world of the book.

Very good fantasy I loved it and I am starting on the 2nd book!

I'm the First one to admit that I don't generally read Christian fiction, But this book with its Christian overtones surprisingly good read. The characters were engaging, the story captivating. I can't wait to read more from this author and look forward to more tales of Abramm and Eidon.

A readable and interesting Christian allegory in a science fiction setting. Callie and her friend volunteer for a psychology experiment that in reality transports them to another, alternate world, one of danger and temptation, as they strive to find the passage back to their own world. I'm not a science fiction fan, but found this intriguing.

Bookcrossing: http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/6681865

I actually had no idea what this was when I started reading it--just an ebook that was available for checkout through the library and everything else I was looking for was taken. I don't think I'll continue with the series; the characters just didn't intrigue me that much and there were too many barely-hidden religious underpinnings. Not a bad book, and not at all badly written, just not to my taste.

Feb13:

Characters: Pretty well done.

Plot: Was good, until a very weak deus machina.

Style: Thrilly stuff.½

I detested this book. Although I don't mind an allegorical novel (The Witch, the Lion and the Wardrobe comes to mind), I prefer them to be more subtle. This one basically took a sledgehammer to your head over and over again. Without the "finding Jesus" allegory, this book became just a routine fantasy novel. So, the question is: why did I waste my time finishing this?½

This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. The story is compelling, the characters engaging, the plot continually twisting and turning, both physically and emotionally. I had a hard time putting this one down. The tale seems to flow almost effortlessly, each plot point encouraging the reader to discover the next. And I say 'effortlessly' because there are some minor bumps in the road: grammatical errors, word repetition… Thankfully, these are few. There is one character, Katahn, who doesn't seem to stay true to his established pattern of behavior, and it is not clear to me why he made the surprising choices he did later in the story. The hero, however, is so very believable and so very appealing as he makes his way from purpose to despair to hope. The settings are colorful and spectacularly developed, as are the political, religious, and cultural aspects. I thoroughly enjoyed the weaving of fantasy and religion, and what a delight to read a story that tells about wicked, depraved characters without using vile language and gratuitous sex and gore! I look forward to reading more from this author!

'Light of Eidon' is a fantasy novel filled with magic, mystery and suspense. It also happens to be a Christian novel which I didn't know when I started reading it and I'll get more into that in a few.
The story centers around Abramm Kalladorne who is banished from his country by his brother, the king, and ends up sold into slavery. From there he becomes a gladiator known as the White Pretender and ultimately ends up battling the ultimate evil. As his life unfolds his faith, and what he believes in, is turned upside down and he finds himself evolving as a man and spiritually.
Although Eidon can be read as a straight up fantasy novel there are a few major points in the story where the characters engage in philosophical debate about Eidon (who, I do believe, represents Jesus) and as a non believer it did pull me out of the book. I actually went to Catholic schools from the ages of 4 through 18 and then spent another three years as a born again Christian so I know all about Christianity and nowadays actually detest it (BA Christians usually end up leaving me alone as I can argue scripture with the best of them and I love quoting verses that I know are just out and out fantasy - there's one where Jesus says that any two or more people gathered who pray to him and ask anything in his name will receive it and so if ever stopped by more than one Christian I challenge them to pray for 100 Bibles to appear letting them know I will happily hand them out to non believers with them...thus glorifying their God they want me to believe in. They either ignore my request completely or try and talk their way around that particular verse altogether because they know it isn't happening even though their scripture says it will.).
Sorry, this is supposed to be a book review and not a debate on Christianity but the book pulls you into those type of debates in how it incorporates the author's beliefs into the storyline. Anyhow, setting Christianity aside it is actually a well written story with strong characters. Due to the type of novel it is it does pull its punches at times and doesn't get too graphic in its descriptions of sex and violence (which is ironic considering the Bible is full of occurrences where God himself orders mass slaughters, slavery and rape) although the violence at times does push the envelope a little albeit in a fantasy way.
I found the style of Hancock's writing to slow the story down. Usually I can pick up the pace of a book and start devouring it. I found I couldn't do that with Eidon and it took me nearly four weeks to read. Now, not all that length of time can be blamed on the writing but it certainly didn't help and even during the exciting moments I still found the pace to be slow. I never found it boring though, Christian elements aside, and so please don't take the slow pace as meaning it was dull.
The ending of the story did let it down from a neutral perspective as it becomes all about the main character's faith, allegorical to faith in Jesus, and it made me feel like I was cheated out of a proper ending. It's due to that ending I find myself not recommending this to those of a non Christian persuasion. However, if you're all for the Jesus juice and have a love of fantasy novels then I'm sure this one will be a winner for you.
As for me I liked and disliked it equally as much and so I'm going to have to endure splinters in my arse on this novel as I'm sitting on the fence in terms of a rating.

This action packed book is a satisfying end to the series! It starts at a real low--Abramm has had everything taken away from him, his kingdom, his wife, his sons, even his name and identity. He longs to journey back to where he can begin regaining what he has lost and fulfill his destiny, but weather and the forces of evil are keeping him from his dreams. Meanwhile his wife, Maddie, is with her birth family in the kingdom of her childhood--where everyone but her believe Abramm to be dead. They want her to remarry and despite her resolve she encounters a charming suitor who just may break down her defenses. But both Abramm and Maddie seek to follow Eidon's plan, and will find themselves going places they never dreamed of in their journey with Him. Seeing how the author brings these characters out of the depths step by step into a happy ending was so enjoyable! The whole series is full of adventure yet also weaves spiritual lessons into the challenging situations that these characters are given. Fantasy fans, there is a great quest story here, a complex society, and a lot of other reasons to enjoy this tale purely for the story, setting, and magical elements. Christian fiction fans will enjoy the many lessons of faith the characters learn along the way. There is a lot in this series to appeal to all readers, I definitely recommend giving it a try!

** spoiler alert ** Cameron Reinhardt, former member of military special forces, and Lacey McHenry, recently graduated with her masters degree are scientists working for the Kendall-Jakes Longevity Institute. They each have secrets from the past, but these secrets are nothing compared to the secrets buried beneath the Institute. Trust doesn't come easily to Lacey or Cameron, but they must trust each other and God if they want to survive.

Hancock laid the foundations for a suspense-filled book early on in the story. While it took a bit of time to get into the story, once I did it was hard to put the book down. She successfully wove together two story lines in this fast paced, plot driven novel.

I recommend this for those who like suspense, stories about religious cults, and/or are interested in the topic of cloning.

NCLA Review - This novel, a combination of science fiction, fantasy, and conspiracy theory with some science and religion thrown into the mix, takes the reader to two worlds in alternating chapters. The first is the Kendall-Jakes Longevity Institute, a renowned research facility run by a charismatic leader. The other is a strange underground world where the inhabitants live in fear and must say a daily Affirmation of their belief in “The One.” A brilliant geneticist, Cameron Reinhardt, has come to Kendall-Jakes hoping to escape his past. Dr. Reinhardt’s Christian beliefs are not shared by his fellow scientists, and he doesn’t have an ally until Lacey McHenry is awarded a research fellowship. She believes in God, but events in her past create doubt. When the two worlds collide, together they uncover the strange secrets of the Institute and reveal the purpose of the underground world. Rating: 3 —AMB

This book has romance, intrigue, and a twist in the plot--plenty of what a good fantasy epic needs. The characters, particularly Abramm the 'Guardian King' face plenty of inner conflicts as well as exterior ones, due to the religious nature of their society. Abramm is a follower of Tersius, who he believes to be the Son of Eidon (God). From his coronation to the events that follow he tries to follow his conscience and his God, even when what he believes is right conflicts with his own desires. He has plenty of problems to try to apply his faith too--an enemy that threatens his kingdom, to combat which he hopes to ally with a neighboring country through marriage. That means marrying their first daughter, however, and it is the second daughter that he is really attracted too. He hardly has time to realize this, however since a rival relgious group is plotting to have him overthrown--with the help of his own brother. Behind the scenes spiritual forces are manipulating events to bring about Abramm's demise--but Eidon has not left him defenseless, as he discover the ancient relics of his Kingdom have some mysterious powers to aid him against the enemy. But Abramm's idea of victory may not match Eidon's.
It had been a long time since I had read the preceding books, and I could have used a refresher before plunging into this installment of the series. There are many plots and subplots--which Hancock does a good job of weaving together--it's just a lot to keep track of in your mind. And some plots may appeal to the reader more than others. There seem to be two ends to the book--the second leading into the next book of the series which I will have to read to see how it all plays out. Fans of fantasy who like Christian themes woven into the story must read this series. The way that familiar beliefs and issues are skillfully recast into a fantasy world make for a fascinating read.

This book is classified as futuristic sci-fi/ Christian fantasy.

Callie and her friend Meg sign up for an experiment for some extra cash. But ending up in a completely new world was not what they thought was going to happen.

It's about the choices one makes, having a faith and staying true to it.