Today in the course of working on my website, I had to go to Amazon to get page links for all my books and was delighted to discover there was, of all things, a new review on The Light of Eidon page. It was really cool.
Generally I don’t like to single any particular review out, because I love all my reviews (well, except for the negative ones that say I can’t write and reading my books is more boring than watching paint dry) and I deeply appreciate the fact that anyone would take time out to write one. This one, however, was so unexpected in the first place — after all, it’s Enclave that’s releasing not Eidon— it was a pleasant surprise in my day. Not only because it was very kind to the series, but it brought up an element near and dear to my heart that few others have noted to this degree — and that’s the fact my characters grow. Since that is the point of the whole Guardian King series, to take a man from spiritual death, through salvation and on to spiritual maturity, it’s gratifying when someone notices and comments on it. I also appreciated the observation that when you focus on character growth, the characters are probably going to start out flawed and perhaps not terribly likable. But that’s probably one of my favorite stories: the transformation of wimp to hero..
Posted June 26
By Berean Hunger – See all my reviews
It’s not often that I find a work of Christian fiction that genuinely challenges me in my walk with God, but The Legends of the Guardian-King series did just that.
I have never before read a series that so clearly and captivatingly captured the Biblical concept of walking in light versus walking in darkness. Hancock has wrapped deep truth in a fascinating and complex story. Following these characters through their mistakes, triumphs, and both good and bad choices really made me think of the power of what I choose to believe and whether I appropriate truth or not.
“Light of Eidon,” I will admit, doesn’t start off as captivating as “Arena” did, but keep reading. One of my favorite things about Hancock’s writings is that her characters GROW, and this requires starting off not being as likable as we might want. I love this because it mirrors real life and I actually learn, rather than just watching a perfect person go though life.
Karen Hancock has renewed my faith that God can challenge His church through fiction. Her grasp of Biblical truth is evident, as is her dependence on God to help her communicate truth.
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So thank you very much, Berean Hunger. And thank you to everyone else who’s ever posted a review of my books. I really do appreciate each one of them.
Originally this was to be the extent of my posting today, since I spent the bulk of my time working on the formatting of a My Bookspage, which is almost but not quite ready for “publication.” But then Mary Hugill posted another knock-out post on her blog tonight about some of her own spiritual growth issues which were realized through her experiences in homeschooling. It was such a great post I had to link to it: A New Direction in My Life. If you’re interested in homeschooling, spiritual growth or bible doctrine, please hop over and give it a read. You won’t be sorry!
Wow–I am so happy God used the review to encourage you! I didn’t think you’d ever see it. I DO love that your characters walk through stages in the Christian life. I loved how you made Abramm go through a “pointless” time in book four, for example. It seems we don’t really like to talk about wilderness times, much less write about them, but God definitely places them in our lives (speaking from Biblical observation AND current experience), so that resonated with me. At any rate, glad you saw it and glad God encouraged you with it!
Tamara (a.k.a. Berean Hunger)
Ooh, Tamara, you’re one of this blog’s readers! I didn’t think “Berean Hunger” would ever find my expression of appreciation, so it looks like God’s worked out both ends of this story. Again, thank you for the review and for the amplification here. And thanks for noting the “pointless” times. Many of the great leaders/teachers in the Bible had those times in the desert, from Moses to Paul. And our Lord spent thirty years doing carpentry work it would seem, before He was ready to start His ministry. Many might say that was pointless time. But with God in the picture, no time or activity is pointless if it’s what He’s called or guided you to do.
Ms. Hunger’s review of the Guardian King books captures pretty much the reason that I have always loved the series, as well. The journey from “wimp” to “hero” (spiritually as well as physically) is something that I also try to capture in my own writing. Looking forward to Enclave!