Review: Bible Journaling Kit

Tags

Bible Journaling Kit, Ellie Claire, FlyBy, Journaling, review

About the Product

Personalize your Bible! Create a work of art on the pages of your favorite Bible. Draw, color, or journal your thoughts, dreams, and prayers.

Kit by Ellie Claire

This kit includes:

• 8 colored pencil twists that never need sharpening
• 1 archival-quality journaling pen
• 4 sheets of inspirational word stickers
• 4 sheets of alphabet stickers
• 24 tab stickers to mark special passages
• A ruled page protector mat with die cut edge for tracing lines
• A Philippians 4:3 “Whatever Is Lovely”-inspired pouch that has an adjustable strap to fit most Bibles—perfectly sized to store your pencils, pens, and tabs!
• Presented in an attractive gift box

**Bonus: As part of this promotion, they are hosting their own giveaway and are going to be giving away 5 different kits. Enter by following this link: http://bit.ly/BibleJournalingKitGiveaway (The link also offers free downloads of several coloring pages).

***Second Bonus: I am hosting my own giveaway of a single copy of this kit, open through December 10th so enter now and invite your friends! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Where you can buy a kit:

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/BNBibleJournaling

Amazon: http://bit.ly/BibleJournaling

Books-A-Million: http://bit.ly/BAMBibleJournaling

Christian Book Distributors: http://bit.ly/CBDBibleJournaling

My Review: While this isn’t a book, this is certainly something that can and will enhance your Bible reading/studying time. Along with adult coloring books, there is currently a rising trend for Bible journaling and this kit is an excellent purchase for anyone looking to get started down that path. I love that the pencils never need sharpening, and while I never had breakage issues my wife (who has used these far more than I have!) cautions that the pencils are prone to breaking. Also, depending on the Bible you are using you may be able to see the pen on the other side of the page. While this may bother some people, as a highlighter of my own Bible I am used to seeing a little hint of what has been done on the other side of the page so it never bothered me. The pen itself doesn’t bleed through to other pages, and writes very well.

The pouch itself is one of the best parts of this whole kit, and is a permanent fixture with my wife’s Bible and other Bible-time items. The one part of the kit that kind of fell flat was the stickers because they simply weren’t of interest to us. We’d rather write and color in the Bible than spell out words with letter stickers. But others may love the stickers and, at the least, anyone with small kids can find plenty of uses for those even if they don’t want to use them in the Bible. On the other hand, we did keep the tab stickers as those were an excellent idea for marking pages that hold some of our favorite passages for an easy way to find them again.

As a whole this was a great kit and definitely worth the investment. If you, or a loved one, has an interest in Bible journaling this is is a great product to have and would make a great Christmas gift.

“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the
Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

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Book Review: Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

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Epic Fantasy, review, Robert Jordan, Wheel of Time

Eye of the World

by Robert Jordan

Published 1/15/1990 by TOR Fantasy

782 Pages (Hardcover)

Blurb:

The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and go, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth returns again. In the Third Age, an Age of Prophecy, the World and Time themselves hang in the balance. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.

My Take: I read this book years ago, along with the first few in the series. I remember losing interest due to the storytelling style of Jordan that many others have mentioned before me, namely his insistence on describing everything in such great detail to where pages can pass with nothing happening. But as time has gone on I have found myself wanting to give the series a second chance and see if I can’t get through all fourteen books. I will mention that for most of the time I was listening to the audiobook version, read by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading. I am going to go on the record and mention that it is an absolutely wonderful audio rendition and I look forward to getting through many of the subsequent books in audio format as well.

I found that I had almost no recollection of the events of the book which was probably a blessing because it allowed me to experience most of it with a new set of ears (and eyes). I was able to get sucked into the story which, at least in this first book, is absolutely fantastic. While it seemed to take forever for the characters to leave the Two Rivers, and equally long for them to reach Whitebridge, there is so much packed into these chapters that it kept me interested. By the end of the book I felt as though I was invested with the main core of characters, even those that aren’t as likeable or don’t have their own point of view chapters. And while there are novels out there (the first in an epic fantasy series) that have drawn me in better (such as Wizard’s First Rule) or have forged stronger bonds with a broad cast of characters (such as A Game of Thrones) this was by no means a bad first novel. In fact, it was really good and one that I enjoyed from start to finish. And one that I was disappointed when it did end.

The cluster of main characters, primarily Rand, Mat and Perrin, evolve through some impressive character growth. The threat of the Dark One and his minions is clear and present from about the fourth chapter onward until the end, driving the plot and the characters forward. It certainly has many elements and moments that remind me of Tolkien’s trilogy, something that I personally enjoy but others may get tired of.

The overall verdict is that this is certainly a book for all fans of fantasy, especially epic fantasy. There is so much that Jordan does right in terms of world building and character development to make it worth the time invested in at least this first book. This may not be the best book for newcomers to epic fantasy but anyone who isn’t afraid of longer books that take their time developing characters and events will enjoy giving this classic a read.

Book Review: Atlantis in Peril by T.A. Barron

Tags

Atlantis in Peril, Fantasy, review, YA

Welcome back for another review, this time of the second book in the Atlantis series.

Title: Atlantis in Peril

Author: T.A. Barron

Publisher: Philomel Books

Blurb: The second in the Atlantis trilogy by New York Times bestselling author T. A. Barron

In Atlantis Rising, Promi and Atlanta saved their homeland by transforming it into the magical island of Atlantis. They had hoped that would keep it out of the clutches of the evil spirit warlord Narkazan. But Narkazan has returned, more determined than ever to conquer the spirit realm and Atlantis as well. Will the destiny of the mystical isle lie in the boat of Greek sailors who wash up on shore? The powers of the ethereal oceanglass? Or will the growing bond between Promi and Atlanta cause the strongest magic?

With his trademark action, adventure and suspense, master of fantasy T.A. Barron explores the magical world of Atlantis and how its inhabitants’ actions sow the seeds of its destruction.

Praise for Atlantis in Peril:

“Barron’s trademark fast-paced action with a twist of humor will pull readers along.”–School Library Journal

Praise for T. A. Barron’s novels:

“Brilliant, significant, and illuminating . . . an intense and profoundly spiritual adventure.”—Lloyd Alexander

“A crescendo of miracles.”—Madeleine L’Engle

“Interesting and august . . . compelling.”—The New York Times

“In the best tradition . . . classic.”—Parents Magazine

My Take on the Book: My first comment, and perhaps among the best praise I can offer, is that I believe J.R.R. Tolkien would have whole-heartedly agreed with many of the main ideas being raised regarding nature versus industry/technology.

That being said, this was a good sequel to the first book. It certainly moved the plot forward in the trilogy and paved the way for the events of the upcoming third book. We get to spend some time with the two main characters from the first book, Promi and Atlanta, and gain access to two other important viewpoints in chapters throughout the book. There is still action and mystery and some excitement woven into the pages. It serves its purpose well for what it is: the second book in a trilogy. Yet that is also where its biggest stumbling block comes into play.

The action, excitement, and tension are all building throughout the book. And the ending does resolve one of the main problems that come up in the book. Yet there is a feeling of much to be desired with how quickly it ends, with so many things unresolved until the third book. This book is over a hundred pages shorter than the first one which is another reason to feel a little cheated by how many big things are waiting for the next installment. I completely understand the desire to have an impressive conclusion to the trilogy, and I don’t doubt that Barron will deliver, but I want that third book in my hands now so I can see how it all wraps up! Waiting is the worst part of a situation such as this – the first book delivered some closure in its final pages with hints of promise toward future adventures to come. This book hints at resolution but I could not see it standing on its own as a solo book should a reader just pick it up and begin with this one.

All things said, this is a good second book. If I had read it at a time when the third was also available perhaps the ending would have been a great thing because it would have sent me straight to the book store to pick it up and see how it all ends. This book is certainly worth reading, as is the series, and I would still give an honest, heartfelt recommendation to anyone to pick it up and read it because it was a good book in a good series, which is why there is any reason to be disappointed that there wasn’t more in the second book.

Final Verdict: Go read both of these books! These are excellent novels in the YA Fantasy genre and certainly worth reading through at least once!

Book Review: Retribution Falls by Chris Wooding

Tags

Airships, Firefly, review, Steampunk

Title: Retribution Falls

Author: Chris Wooding

Publisher: Spectra

Blurb: Sky piracy is a bit out of Darian Frey’s league. Fate has not been kind to the captain of the airship Ketty Jay—or his motley crew. They are all running from something. Crake is a daemonist in hiding, traveling with an armored golem and burdened by guilt. Jez is the new navigator, desperate to keep her secret from the rest of the crew. Malvery is a disgraced doctor, drinking himself to death. So when an opportunity arises to steal a chest of gems from a vulnerable airship, Frey can’t pass it up. It’s an easy take—and the payoff will finally make him a rich man.

But when the attack goes horribly wrong, Frey suddenly finds himself the most wanted man in Vardia, trailed by bounty hunters, the elite Century Knights, and the dread queen of the skies, Trinica Dracken. Frey realizes that they’ve been set up to take a fall but doesn’t know the endgame. And the ultimate answer for captain and crew may lie in the legendary hidden pirate town of Retribution Falls. That’s if they can get there without getting blown out of the sky.

The Verdict: It all started with an article I ran across on Twitter with 5 recommended Steampunk books to read. While the other four books on the list sounded good, this one had me hooked as soon as it was described as “Steampunk for fans of the TV show Firefly” or something along those lines. And let me tell you, I am a huge fan of Whedon’s Firefly. While I’m still waiting with the army of Browncoats for a Season 2 to get announced, I thought I might as well take some time and get my hands on a copy of this book to see how it stacks up.

The bad news: it isn’t Firefly. I don’t think it was ever meant to be, but it has a lot of things in it that certainly remind me of that beloved show and that is a good thing. Comparing this book to that show would be an injustice, one I will try hard to avoid. The book should be judged for what it is.

And this book is, at the end of the day, a great book. It has a great crew aboard the Ketty Jay, each one with a secret that is being kept from the rest of the crew. The dynamics between the crew members is easily the highlight of the book. That was one of the things that made Firefly memorable as well, so this is where I believe at least part of the idea of touting it as a Steampunk Firefly came about. There are plenty of twists, as well as back story reveals, that keep everything interesting. It was a difficult book to put down. the only caution is that there are plenty of unsubtle innuendos and profanities that would make this book unsuitable for a younger crowd.

Who should read this book? If you like Steampunk, motley crews, airships, pirates, heists, airship battles, betrayal, scenes of Russian roulette, golems, intricate schemes, witty banter, poker references or Firefly you will probably enjoy this book.

Review: Atlantis Rising by T.A. Barron

Tags

Atlantis, Barron, Fantasy, MG, review, YA

Blurb: From T.A. Barron, the New York Times bestselling author of the Merlin Saga, comes a new fantasy world about the origins of Atlantis, perfect for fans of The Lord of the Rings, Eragon, The Beyonders, Percy Jackson and the Olympians and, of course, T. A. Barron’s Merlin Saga.

In a magical land called Ellegandia, a young boy named Promi scrapes by, stealing pies, cakes and sweets to survive. But little does he know that his country is a pawn in an ages-old war between good and evil, battled both in the spirit realm and in the human world. Harboring secrets of his own, Promi teams up with a courageous girl named Atlanta and the two vow to save their land — and each other — no matter the cost. But their vow has greater repercussions than they ever could imagine—in fact, it may just bring about the creation of Atlantis, an island cut off from the rest of the world, where magic reigns supreme.

With his trademark action, adventure, and poignancy, master of fantasy, T.A. Barron explores a new mythology—the origin of the legendary isle of Atlantis.

I am a huge fan of King Arthur. I have read dozens of books and many more short stories about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. But I have a confession to make: I still have not read any of the Merlin Saga by T.A. Barron. It is a shameful secret, I know, and one I hope to correct soon. When I was approached with the chance to review the first two books in his new Atlantis series, I knew that I had to agree. What better way to make up for this shortcoming than by reading and reviewing his new series? Besides, I had just learned, through reading the letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, that Tolkien was partially inspired by the Atlantis legend. It was perfect timing to dive into an Atlantis series so I took the plunge.

I was not disappointed.

The main character, Promi, is memorable and is exactly the sort of person you can’t help but to cheer for. He finds himself wrapped up the web of an ominous prophecy that predicts the end of all magic which, in Atlantis, would mean a drastic change for everyone there. Why? Because magic is tailored in to many aspects of Ellegandia, including the boots that Promi wears (they magically adjust to the size of his feet). I love the imagined setting of Ellegandia – the diverse people and creatures that live in or around Ellegandia and the elements of magic woven into it. The Listener magic is an interesting system that is central to the events of the story and it creates some intriguing sacrifices and situations for Promi. The supporting cast of characters is wonderful and the nature surrounding Ellegandia, home of fascinating magical creatures and Promi’s friend, Atlanta, captures the imagination.

I can’t say enough good things without spoiling the essence of the book. It is written for Middle-Grade/Young Adult readers which makes this a fast-paced page-turner of a book. This is a perfect read for anyone who enjoys magic, fairies, tales of prophecy, moments of daring and swashbuckling adventure, sweet food and journal entries, the Atlantis mystery/mythology, or nature. This was a great read and I can enthusiastically recommend this one to just about everyone that I know and will do so in the future.

Also, from August 14th-23rd I will be featuring a giveaway on this website for a copy of this book, as well as its sequel. So make sure to come back around that time to enter for a chance to win a free copy of two great books.

Final Verdict: You should read this book! You won’t regret it.

A free copy of this book was provided by Goodman Media International, Inc. in exchange for an honest review of the book. The opinons stated above are my own and were not in any way influenced by any outside parties.