Review of ‘Damned’ by Holder & Viguie, intriguing YA series

“Outside, a wolf howled in deep mourning. A hardened Israeli soldier patrolled. And ruby eyes burned with longing.”(Holder &Viguie, 2011, p.509: Damned)

Such words paint the picture of how deep and emotional the novel Damned(Crusade Series #2) really is. I will take some time and focus on characterization, because I think that is the strongest point in this series. The plot is great and the action scenes are incredible by the way.

But the characters are who touch the heart. From the most cruel to the most caring.

First of all, Damned was very good. Team Salamanca face fights on all sides: Keeping Jenn’s sister Heather together since she is a Cursed One (vampire), Antonio, ah, Antonio continues to fight with Team Salamanca and is devout to God but his bloodlust is no longer quieted; then Solomon, another vampire has new tricks up his sleeves all while Team Salamnca try to dodge new supersoldiers that are a mix of human, vampire, and werewolf. Geesh, there is so much going on and of course, just like in book 1 there are a myriad of flashbacks tripping me up while all I care much for is Jenn and Antonio’s relationship and will they ever get her sister back to normal.

Now, back to the characters. I will list them, along with my thoughts about each, but please be warned. There may be spoilers in here and let me know if I missed someone.

• Jenn Leitner: I like how the authors portray Jenn as “Just Jenn” in book 1. Suddenly she is bumped up to Leader and I like her transition from “Just Jenn” to an alpha in her group. Tough decisions must be made all while trying not to cry over her sister’s transformation and father’s betrayal. I think she will be a tough one just like her grandmother Esther.
• Esther Leitner: Part of the Resistance and has a shady past. Her husband “Che” died in book 1 and she cares so much for granddaughter Jenn and her family, but she remains strong; helping Jenn whenever she can. Even so, she can’t believe Jenn did not tell her that her boyfriend Antonio was a vampire…
• Antonio de la Cruz: Antonio, Antonio…he has to be one of my favorite characters simply because he has faith in God but grows fangs too. He is a tortured soul and maybe that is because like most humans, we have a base nature that laws, morality, and religion keep under control. While Aurora was torturing him, driving a knife near his heart over and over and depriving him of blood- Anotnio finally breaks…does this make him a monster? He thinks so and Jenn is his heart but should he just be himself or who God called him to be?
• Holgar: Poor chap, that werewolf. He is also Team Salamanca. He is strong and loyal and I think he and Skye or at least he and Jenn make a great couple(although Jenn is on an Alpha mode and will completely dominate him). Holgar has abandoned his pack and mate for life in order to fight the vampires. To him, a pack is everything, but Team Salamanca is his new family…
• Skye York: The White Witch. Normally I am not fond of “witchy” characters and books, but Skye, the witch with the rasta braids is the team’s healer. She is not a fighter, because White Witches are not fighters but she teamed up with Team Salamanca after her own boyfriend, Estefan joined sides with the vampires. He continues to get inside her head and with all the spells for healings and protection, her memories, and Estefan on her mind- she is liable to crack.
• Eriko: The Hunter; probably has a small frame according to the description novels, but with a scary past herself wants to kill all the vampires after seeing one kill her own best friend on a webcam. What’s really interesting is that a few years before, Eriko was a part of a singing trio called the Vampire Three. She quit that after her friend’s death. Joined Team Salamanca, drank the elixir required for the one who’ll be the Hunter. This powerful elixir allows a normal human to become superhuman with super speed, super hearing, and super strength just like the vampires. For Eriko though, the elixir is beginning to be too much and it is hurting her physically…
• Jamie: Mr. Hothead. He is probably the one I hate the most. He is Team Salamanca’s normal human, like Jenn but his disdain for vampires and werewolves run very deep. His family was killed by those monsters which means he holds cold hatred for Antonio and Holgar. At one time he did trust Antonio, but in Damned, it changes again. But Jamie has a fury that can squash any monster in his path.
• Noah: New to the team and has a fondness for Jenn Leitner. He is Israeli and handsome and strong. I sure hope there is a love triangle- sounds weird since the books has a some love but is 90% action.
• Aurora Abregon: The most terrible vampire I ever read about next to Sita in Christopher Pike’s books. She wants to see Antonio turned over to the evil side but she was hurt herself.  Long story but now she is on a war path.
• Solomon: Red haired rock star looking vampire who promised everyone on the planet vampires were here for peace and not to start trouble. Whatever. He has Jenn’s father with him and he is just as ruthless as they come.

Bottom line, I love this series because it is showing what can happen in the real world if vampires were loose. Only Antonio is a vampire who has fell in love and prays to God, not all vampires are like him. None of them are. And it is a trying time for a team that starves, get injured, and yes- these authors do not mind killing off characters from previous books. They kept it real.

Thanks Holder and Viguie!

On to Book 3: Vanquished!

Prose Parable: My Lord and the Frog

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I asked the Lord one day if one thing mattered:

Should I go to church?

 Hurt and pain glowed in his eyes

And I couldn’t fathom why.

“My Lord?” I ask. “What is wrong? Is it my question?”

By now the day has grown dark and the pond water becomes filled

with creepy things:singing crickets, hopping frogs, and nagging mosquitos.

His eyes were black as the night pond and his gaze caressed my soul-

such as a lover’s.

“My dear one,” he began. “Out of all the questions that could fill you up in one lifetime. In this expansive universe with all the glorious stars made from His Glory and Beauty, you ask if you must go to church?”

When he put it that way I felt a little silly, in fact I felt angry that I could be so dumb.

But he placed a hand upon a green lily, slid it over closer to the frog eying us.

It shot his long pink tongue; caught something- I yelped because it was so long and nasty!

From green came pink, then green tinted my skin( at least I’m sure it did)

The frog caught its ride, caught up in the rapturous moonlight RIBBIT was its call.

“The frog can be nice,” my Savior said. “Its tongue and preference are biologically wired but it must do this to live. Others may not like it, but the frog’s grand purpose is for this: To eat. And serve as a lesson for you.

“It does not care about congregating with others, although that can be nice and sometimes fruitful. But does being alone  negate its purpose? It catches the flies near your doorstep which if it hadn’t, the flies would have landed upon your food, birthed maggots, buzzed annoyingly in your ear. The frog does this and does not congregate. In fact if it was, it would miss its mission.”

I understood my Lord, but I secretly thought, “I am no frog.”

He smiled, a heavenly smile that made it turn day again. “All are small on this planet to Him who made you, but you are so significant. So precious.”

“I am told its important to fellowship. I must be in a church!” Desperation for a clear answer stained my voice. My Savior did not flinch. He knew everything.

“The world says you need it. Do you need it?”

“Sometimes.” Then I heard an owl say Hoo! “Sometimes.”

“Then if my word is being taught, if it is being lived out and if you can forgive each other in love, it should not matter where you fellowship. Do it in My Name. He is everywhere and in all places, you must choose to open your eyes and see Him.”

Free eBooks weekend: A look at ‘Dunamis Sanctum’ from ‘The Prayer Monologues’

Church in Vienna at Night from Microsoft Images

Dunamis Sanctum

Daily, I watch the way of people,

Observing and finding flaws so openly hidden.

They do not know what I know.

Some call me shy or fearful

When I avoid their eyes and

Am slow to speak- but they don’t know what I know.

My power comes from abstract dreaming and imaginings

Which doesn’t happen often. Night visions from God

For the appointed time-secrets told in due time.

My smile fazes you,

My praise astounds you, and all the while,

The Holy Spirit slices you from bone to marrow…

***

My Note on why I wrote this poem: I wish I can say I was only inspired by the Bible, which is part truth, but the other half of it involve how I feel about people’s personalities in the church and how we all worship God in our own unique way and should never rely on others’ worship as a model for our own.

For instance, I have been to a church where if you don’t jump around or shout with tears flying around everywhere- then you must not have the Holy Spirit. In other churches, Westernized churches, if you don’t dress in a starched suit or take off your hat when you go inside you are disrespecting the Lord.

This is also not true.

So one day I found some words, either by reading or doing actual research- I don’t remember which and discovered dunamis sanctum- which in Greek means sacred power.  I prefer secret power, but it communicates who I am because I am typically a quiet person everywhere I go but God has deposited unique gifts in me as well and traditional churches can not manipulate that.

In the poem here I highlighted a few choice words and phrases. “Openly hidden” is an oxymoron although juxtapose to one another to convey a point about me. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms. How can something/someone be open and hidden? Well that’s me. A box of conradictions.

At Night is the hour/time I had dreams which were potent enough to manifest the next day or three days later. This doesn’t happen often though. I captialized the N in night because it is an important hour for me.

Finally, the last phrase, “The Holy Spirit slices you from bone to marrow” is just a comeback of what could happen to those who judges others. Learning God’s Word and languishing in His love while still doing kindly to our enemies who judge us is what heaps coals upon their heads. I put a different spin on it though.

That’s my explanation for this particular poem but you can enjoy the entire eBook for free at: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/20106

When words are not enough, the weakness of it in time of loss

Me and my husband just got back from a funeral today and the community, the world will surely miss the gentle young man and his smile. I sat in the church today and looked all around me. Some people I haven’t seen in years: they are grown up now with children, full figures, beards and a new walk. They appear more serious now and are not the little children I knew once before. It was downright scary, serious, but wholly the cycle of life was written on their faces.

I smelled the sweetness in the sanctuary, that smell of cologne, or lotions…but I call it love. Some faces were dry but were deep in thought over what happened. Some faces were drenched in tears needing to be wiped away. Needing for someone to shout, “It was all just one bad dream! We’re in it together but we can wake up and our dear friend will be here once again!”

But I know it is real.

The preacher focused on some terrifying but real thoughts. We need to love today. Repent to God today. Tomorrow or even the next hour is not even promised to us and so this I knew already.

But what I didn’t know was how hard it could be to form words for how we feel. It never seems…adequate. Should we even worry over what to say in a eulogy? Is it important? Some got up with a beautiful poem(poetry cuts close to the words we need), some shared advice, some shared funny memories(which lighten the mood some), and others gave what God had to say in His Word(which was Truth) and so I now ask myself. What are the words I can say aloud to the someone who is no longer physically here?

I can start by saying how I knew the person but then it will be a thought bouncing back to the person no longer being here.

I can start by telling a funny story about the person, but then new memories would not ever form. I clasp the old ones to my heart, the eternal memories.

I can quote the Bible, but it works during my time of joy and the words never truly stick until I am at the point of unbearable pain and must seek the ancients, the sages, the high priests of old to say for me what I cannot.

All these things I can say, and it will always be inadequate…

Inadequate meaning, it doesn’t ever compare to We Will ALWAYS Miss You.

And even that doesn’t place a balm to our pain.

I leave this with you all: The words you have for someone today- share them. If they are words that are hard to chew, dress it in love. Tell someone you love them so much today and watch the meanings fall upon them like  summer rain and even if they don’t say it back to you right away- it sunk into their living, breathing souls.

It did.

Juicy blurbs update: A girl meets a young Shakespeare, a retelling of little red riding hood, and more…

Recently I wrote an article about the Christian Fiction I will be reading and reviewing to close out Spring 2012. However, below you will find a listing for other books I plan to review involving a girl who travels back through time to meet Shakespeare, Bergren’s pervious historical about a gifted race of people and more…

Cascading through Spring 2012 brings some bad news and a bit of good news in fiction…

First of all, the bad news: A local Norfolk bookstore is closing down June 1st, 2012 and the owner is saying, “Make me an offer”. You can have some 9,000 volumes of classics and reference materials for a loaded $15,000 dollars. See Bookstore Closing in Hampton Roads for more details.

View slide show:Cascading through Spring Titles

Now the good news you have been waiting for. Upcoming reviews for Christian Fiction you would not want to miss, including a nonfiction title that explains inspiration for most of this author’s Amish Fiction! Below you’ll find the upcoming reviews to close out properly, Spring 2012!(Read more on Examiner)

Here’s the list you’ve been waiting for:

Image Courtesy of Random House Children’s Books

A modern-day girl is transported back to 16th-century England, where she gets to meet a young William Shakespeare.

Miranda has Shakespeare in her blood: she hopes one day to become a Shakespearean actor like her famous parents. At least, she does until her disastrous performance in her school’s staging of The Taming of the Shrew. Humiliated, Miranda skips the opening-night party. All she wants to do is hide.

Publication Date: August 14, 2012

They are gifted and in 14th Century Italy…

At the height of the Inquisition, a secret half a millennium old is about to be exposed-a lost letter said to have been written by Paul and part of what was to become the foundation of the Christian canon. It speaks of men and women-the Gifted-with mysterious spiritual gifts that struck fear in the heart of the Church. Now the letter has surfaced. The Gifted ones are coming together. Their prophecy is coming true. (Summary from Amazon.com)

                                                                                                Publication Date: September 4, 2007

Image Courtesy of Simon Pulse

 

Ruth’s grandmother lives in the forest, banished there for the “evil” that the townsfolk believed she practiced. But if studying the stars, learning about nature, and dreaming of flying is evil, then Ruth is guilty of it too. Whenever Ruth took food and supplies to her grandmother, she would sit with the old woman for hours, listening and learning.

When she wasn’t in the woods, Ruth was learning the trade of her father, a blacksmith, now that her brother would never return from the Crusades.

Publication Date: April 6, 2004

‘Falling in Love With the Bible’ by Mike Macintosh

Falling in Love with the Bible by Mike MacIntosh

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Just trust Him, just love him. He loves you.

Why not plunge ahead and believe?

No, this isn’t a romance novel I’m reviewing, although I love sappy stories. I am talking about Macintosh’s book on loving what the bible has to offer. I suppose God’s way of romancing us…

Once I cracked open the pages and dived right in, I closed the book and thought, “Let me think like an unbeliever so I can see this with fresh eyes”
And that’s what I did.

Mike Macintosh’s book is refreshing and deeply spiritual. He may talk about the bible, but it all goes back to the Author who inspired it: God. He tells us that as a young man he sought many gurus and mystics and other “enlightened” teachers and it was only when he came across his old pal the Bible that he realized what was missing.

The Bible is not a book that only “old people read” and a person can’t call themselves a literary scholar, or a scholar at all without including the bible in his or her studies. This means the bible is such an important reference tool for living and I was amazed, even after so many years, to discover that most women and men in the Bible suffered and went through the same trials I/we face today.

So what other refreshing points caught my eye while reading?
• Reading and studying the bible is important for cultivating a relationship with God(pg. 203)

• God is not silent, he does speak(pg. 204)

• If you have not read the bible for yourself and in its entirety, suspend judgment of it.

• “Most people are bothered by those passages of Scripture they do not understand, but the passages that bother me are those I do understand.-Mark Twain
• Our pride keeps us from seeking God’s Word as counsel.

• The Scriptures tell dozens of stories on the importance of community and fellowship, studying the Word together with other saints and friends strengthens us daily.

• Having a problem? Identity crisis? Seek the bible. There’s a person in there you may identify with who was scared and lonely too, or just as confused about life as you are.

• When you read the bible, pray, seek the Holy Spirit, and keep dictionaries and commentaries handy- just in case.

Book Details:
Falling in Love With the Bible
Mike Macintosh
Published: Victor, a Cook Communications Ministries(2005)
ISBN: 0-7814-4136-6

View all my reviews

‘Temptation of Angels’ , ‘Emerald City’ and why the angel trend is up again

Before beginning another venture into the heavenly world of the angels, I’d like for you to visit the Angels Category  for this blog. There, I have reviewed books, posted thoughts, and questions regarding these celestial beings. I never thought I’d revisit the subject matter but so far I have been trying to stray away from fangs and fur and more into…anything else.

So far this year I have or will read: Halflings by Heather Burch, Eye of the Sword by Karyn Henley and am currently reading Emerald City by Leppert with anticipation of Michelle Zink’s A Temptation Angels. I can tell you right now that Emerald City headed in zones I wasn’t even aware of. Stay tuned for a full book reivew.

Now, on with other matters. Why are we so interested in angels at this time? Is it because of the boredom with zombies, blood, and razor sharp teeth? Is it because more of us feel there has to be an explanation for all of this besides working, blogging and then dying?

What do you think? Are angels real? Is the fiction thats being put out there worth reading, or is it another trend that will die down soon enough again?

 

To be read, to be loved, to be missed

My TBR(To Be Read) pile is growing. Especially in my Pandigital Novel e-reader and my print book pile. Below is the list of books I will be reading and reviewing pretty soon. Have a list compiled too? Share that list here!

Nonfiction

Miracles Are For Real, James L. Garlow and Keith Wall

 

The Essential Guide to Healing, Bill Johnson and Randy Clark

Growing Up Amish, Ira Wagler

Managing God’s Money, Randy Alcorn

If God is Good, Randy Alcorn

I Love Everybody(And Other Atrocious Lies), Laurie Notaro

Fiction

Fools Rush In, Janice Thompson

Halflings, Heather Burch

My Soul To Take, Tananarive Due

Shadow Walker, L.A. Banks

*This completes the list of books I hope to finish before the end of winter 2012. They seem to be pretty decent titles and I love how it is a mixture of self-help, intriguing, fiction, and refreshingly real biographies. Can’t wait.

On a sad note, I just read a sample of Shadow Walker by L.A. Banks and thoroughly enjoyed those sixty pages written with such description and clarity, I felt I was a part of the Neteru Academy. However, after browsing the web for this author I learn that she has passed away last year due to Adrenal Cancer…this kicked me in the gut because when I first learned about Octavia E. Butler in 2007 I find out she passed away the year before and again it was a kick in the stomach as if I knew these two African American women as close friends.

Their words live on in their stories.

We’re going to miracle school, book review of ‘Miracles Are For Real’

This is the season of believing again. The miracles once performed by Jesus thousands of years ago can be done and has been done by others, but we clearly do not see it everyday. In their new book *Miracles Are For Real, Jim Garlow and Keith Wall not only explore what miracles truly are, they give multiple accounts of people who have experienced extraordinary out of this world miracles. The book also spends time relating to those of us who may be skeptical or a bit too logical.

Jim Garlow begins the book assuring us that he is not just someone talking about miracles—he is waiting for one himself and just reading that page alone is encouragement for the rest of us who are waiting on a miracle to happen as well. Yet the book does focus on those who have miracles on their side like a handy shield. So the first question is: What is a miracle exactly?

Miracles are those instances where God intervenes to heal and help outside the realm of science or logic.

That’s my own definition based off the stories told in this book.

There are some really cool chapters which I suggest atheists and agnostics read. Even skeptical Christians may want to study this one: What Skeptics Say on page 69, explores what happens when events take place outside science for which no empirical data can stand up to. You’ll meet “Ralph” who says “Science became his god”(Garlow &Wall, 2011,p. 70: Miracles Are For Real). Ralph suffers from a major heart attack and died for many hours…until he was raised from the dead- literally.

You’ll also read the account of an old woman who was able to lift a car and save a man. The man was not a believer in the supernatural, but after that day something changed…

There are more stories like this and the authors do a beautiful job balancing the miracles and how to read into them biblically and logically. It is okay to have a healthy does of skepticism- why? Garlow talks about phony healers and miracle chasers, great chapters for those who think the book is all about one side of the topic.

In sum, the book was a great read and I took notes on scriptures to help my own studying of this topic. You should too.

*Book received for review from Bethany House Publishers.

Book Details

Miracles Are For Real

Jim Garlow and Keith Wall

Published: Bethany House(2011)

ISBN: 978-0-764209079

Price: $14.99

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This is not about writing, but about modernization of the soul

Hello friends,

Via my other blog, co-authored by my husband and I, we are embarking on researchh, interviews, polls and everything to do with the modern church. We have decided that it isn’t so much about the church as it is in helping our fellow human. This is a great mission for everyone and it actually feels good inside to lend a helping hand. He and I are tired of the fakes, the hypocrites, the rich folk who have no heart.

If you have thoughts on this issue pelase read full blog post here and post your coments on The Write Web or Mission Possible.

Erica