B. Noelle Huling

Yet another vivid, colorful epic from the imagination of Jeff Wheeler!

Revisado: 04-06-25

A satisfying conclusion to Bingmei’s arc that leaves me hoping for further stories in this world. Wheeler continues to impress me with his untiring storytelling and worldbuilding. He always bursts forth into new possibilities just when I think I have him pegged!

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Jeff Wheeler never disappoints!

Revisado: 02-19-25

Wheeler’s done it again…again!

I have never read a story of his I didn’t like. This one was radically different from anything I’ve ever read by Jeff, and he pulled it off brilliantly. The pacing was near perfect and the setting and character development superb. I’m hooked on this series for sure!

Though it’s a fantasy, most of the plot in this book reads more like an action/adventure thriller with a dash of dystopian political intrigue. The magic comes center stage toward the end. And lots of Mayan lore and history is deftly woven in with a fiction author’s fertile imagination filling in the what ifs.

Highly recommend!

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A well-woven, engrossing story

Revisado: 09-18-24

This series only improves with age. I enjoyed the first, liked the second even more, and was engrossed by the third. I really appreciated the chance to get to know Jane, Vincent, and now Melody better. Like a glamorist, the author keeps weaving layers that reveal more and more nuance in each of them and their relationships with each other. But don’t think this is just a story about characters. The events are full of nuance and unexpected, satisfying twists. The mystery connecting Mr. O’Brian, the coldmongers, and Vincent’s father is well worth following to the end. Well done, Ms. Kowal. I look forward to book four!

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Excellent sequel to a delightful first book

Revisado: 09-12-24

The story of Jane and Vincent takes on more nuance and intrigue in this second novel in the series. It was very well-done indeed, melding an interesting magic system with excellent plot and character development. My one small complaint (as a French speaker) were the French accents in English and pronunciation of French phrases. But as the author isn’t a native French speaker, she is forgiven. She certainly made up for it with an extremely compelling story and I look forward to the next in the series!

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A true encouragement

Revisado: 01-24-24

Sally so gently and generously shares with us her vision of what it really means to live a life completely defined by our irreplaceable purpose on earth with Christ. She challenges our preconceptions of what it looks like (we each have unique gifts), how equipped we have to feel, and when we are ready to own that life. She reminded me that God made me, so I own my life and serve him by embracing how he made me to the fullest, even if it’s different from what people expect.

For me, that meant realizing that maybe I really should prioritize my novel writing even above my idea of a “career”. I needed the challenge and encouragement to shift my mindset.

You were made to own your life in a unique way. You don’t just get to — you are called to! (I find that incredibly validating and inspiring.) Finding out what that really means might not be safe or conventional, but it will be an immensely rewarding adventure that will bless and enrich others and inspire them to be disciples, too, even after you are gone. What an amazing way to learn to walk with God!

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The ending we were waiting for

Revisado: 12-28-23

Well done, Bastille!

Without making book five’s ending out to be a joke or some sort of confused mistake, Bastille brings Alcatraz’s story to its true ending. The heavy consequences that so shocked us in Alcatraz’s ending aren’t undone, but they are redeemed.

And Alcatraz’s point about not being a good person, etc, etc? Well, ok Al — you finally got your point across, with a little help from Bastille. You’re not a good person. You’re arrogant, and a coward, and stupid. Sometimes. You’re no superhuman hero, despite that Incarna power. You’re a flawed human who has to fight his shortcomings over and over to choose what’s good, and who needs his friends and family as much as anyone else.

Well done, indeed. (Guess I’ll have to be true to my word and give book five that fifth star!)

An excellent story.

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Well…I can’t say he didn’t warn me.

Revisado: 12-26-23

Well, despite the fact that Alcatraz repeatedly, creatively, and overenthusiastically insisted through all five books that “he was a coward, he let everyone down, he wasn’t a hero,” blah blah…

I still never saw this ending coming. Talk about foreshadowing and yet, somehow, I was still waiting for the punch line that never came in that terribly depressing and shocking last scene.

You did it, Alcatraz. You kept your word. What a dirty rotten trick.

The ending of this book will definitely depress you. You will hate it. Also, I don’t recommend this for unsupervised children under 13. You’ll see.

But I’m so glad I didn’t quit and leave a betrayed, disillusioned review before listening to the final final afterword. Let’s just say I knew there had to be more to the story, and I thoroughly look forward to book six.

Depending on how that book ends, I will THINK about revising the number of stars assigned to book five. Alias “Brandon Sanderson” is an amazing author, but I have to punish him a little for what he put me through.

Yes, I’m holding this book’s rating hostage for a better ending in book six. Too bad I didn’t think of this plan before the thing was published…🤔

Maybe if I travel back in time to when he was writing the book, combining blackmail with that time travel pickle and salted cheese sandwich he asked for…?

Don’t say I (and Alcatraz) didn’t warn you, like, a million times.

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Brilliant, entertaining, and good storytelling

Revisado: 12-17-23

Despite the author’s incessant attempts to convince us that he’s a terrible storyteller and a despicable person, his excellent storytelling still shines through. Sorry, Alcatraz. I know you really, really want us to have a low opinion of you. It hasn’t worked yet. (Although, on second thought, if the writer is failing horribly at his entire story’s primary purpose…does that…actually prove his point?)

Fantastic follow-up to the first book in this series, continuing the mission to set all of us Hushlanders straight on the true nature of reality. Alcatraz, you’re a hero. How’s that for a backhanded compliment??

Also, don’t skip to the end to try to find out what really happens to Bastille. You won’t be rewarded.

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Amazing performance of a story that never grows old

Revisado: 09-01-23

I will never tire of Jane Austen’s stories, and this is one of my favorites. Rosamund Pike’s performance was perfection.

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A High Call to Friendship

Revisado: 07-03-23

Sally and her daughters share so much richness, depth, and practical encouragement to action in this book. It opened my thinking about what is possible in the realm of friendship and ministry, and inspired to take action in so many ways I’m going to have to write them all down! Definitely worth a read.

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