The Holidays are a magical time for reading. There’s nothing like pulling away from all the parties and curling up with a good book. I usually reread a favorite, maybe one (or five) of the Harry Potter or Narnia books. I still get a little weepy when Harry first sees Hagrid tap on the brick wall and Diagon Alley opens up before him. My heart will always soar when Narnia thinks all is lost in the Battle against the White Witch, but then Aslan comes up over the Hill and descends upon the Valley with thousands of warriors in tow.
However, I challenged myself this summer to find new books to read. Books just as full of all the magic and adventure, and I found several I would like to recommend to you now. Put simply, they’re amazing. And I’d be honored if you would read them this Holiday season. These are in order of my favorites, and all of them and wonderfully appropriate for children (with the exception of the Shiloh series which I would say is geared for teenagers/young adults). Go on a new adventure this year. It’s worth it, I promise.
1.The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson There are four books total.
Start with the first one: On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness. But make me a promise, you’ll read through the first two books before you stop. This series is the one I recommend the friends the most, but they always stop after the first book. And truthfully, the first book reads rather slowly. But somewhere in the second book, Peterson finds his rhythm and it’s become my favorite series. You read that right. The girl with Aslan tattooed on her ankle has a new favorite series.
Without giving too much away, this is the story of 3 siblings who embark upon the adventure of a lifetime to discover who they truly are. It’s truthful, hilarious, and heart-wrenchingly beautiful.
2. The Green Ember by S.D. Smith
You can find a copy of on Amazon, or at the Author’s blog, the Story Warren
This book is hands down the most charming book I have ever had the pleasure of reading. It follows two small rabbits on the brink of a war as they are forced to choose between the destruction their family helped bring into being or following the True Heir to healing and restoration.
3. Tales of the Kingdom by David and Karen Mains
Start with the Tales of the Kingdom, the first book in the trilogy. These books are quite different from any other books I’ve read. Each chapter reads like a short story, all of them eventually being woven together to form a complete story line. It’s unapologetically allegorical, the main character’s name being… wait for it… Hero. But the Mains have found a way to retell the Gospel story as a fairytale, and they will not disappoint you.
4. The Shiloh Series by Helena Sorenson
***Shiloh is actually available for free right now at Amazon if you sue you Kindle Reading App.
Helena Sorenson might be one of my new favorite writers. I discovered her about 10 days ago, and read through her entire series since then. She truly has a way with words. Her creation narrative alone (found in the prologue of Shiloh) is the most beautiful piece I’ve read in quite some time. Her entire world is based off the Light and Dark imagery, where a Shadow looms over an entire world and the sun hasn’t been seen in so long it is believed to be a myth. The Heroes are unexpected, and the story reminded me that Hope can and must shine in the darkest of moments of my life.
5. The Black Star of Kingston by S.D. Smith
Black Star is actually a prequel to Smith’s first book The Green Ember that I mentioned earlier. It’s shorter and can be easily read in 3-4 hours. It’s full of pirates and refugees, builders and armies. It’s a 7 year old boys dream (and maybe a 24 year old’s as well). Smith is once again, extremely charming while creating dynamic characters that you will mourn and rejoice alongside. “My place beside you. My blood for yours. Till the Green Ember rises or the end of the World. “
What I’ll be reading this Holiday Season
These books come highly recommended by Helena Sorenson, whose books I just finished reading, and I am so incredibly excited to delve into them as soon as I finish the post.
The Queen’s Thief Series by Megan Walen Turner
Publishers Weekly describes says of the first book in the Series, The Thief, “I can steal anything.” So declares Gen, the hero of the Newbery Honor Book The Thief—an exciting adventure fantasy set in a mythical land rich with intrigue. Gen’s bragging lands him in prison . . . but then the king’s magus needs the thief’s skill for a near-impossible task: to steal a priceless magical jewel from a faraway land. “In addition to its charismatic hero, this story possesses one of the most valuable treasures of all—a twinkling jewel of a surprise ending.”
rebekah.eckard 