First, an introduction: a week or so ago, I joined the Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy Blog Tour group, which means that I have access to review copies of upcoming Christian speculative fiction and that I get to participate in promoting those books. I was too late to get a copy of the book I’m about to write about, but the author has generously provided a sneak peak of its sequel. It’s all rather exciting. End introduction.
The Book of Names by D. Barkley Briggs is the first in the new Legends of Karac Tor series published by NavPress. It looks to be classic portal fantasy for young adults: two brothers, grieving the loss of their mother, find their way into “a world in peril,” where their destiny will play out. Its underlying myths are northern, like Tolkien’s; Norse and Celtic. Its underlying truths are Christian.
Particularly fascinating to me is the story behind the story. Portal fantasies appeal to us perhaps because we can’t make sense of this world without coming to grips with another–with its existence and central importance to us–and this story’s background especially reflects that. Mr. Briggs wrote The Book of Names to help his four sons through the loss of their own mother. You can read more about the author, his story, and the story he’s written on his Hidden Lands Web site.
More about The Book of Names tomorrow. In the meantime, here are links to the other participants in the blog tour. Most of them have been doing this longer than I have, so you should find some actual reviews below!
Sally Apokedak
Brandon Barr
Keanan Brand
Rachel Briard
Valerie Comer
Frank Creed
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Shane Deal
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Andrea Graham
Todd Michael Greene
Timothy Hicks
Joleen Howell
Jason Isbell
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Magma
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirtika
Eve Nielsen
Nissa
Steve Rice
Crista Richey
Alice M. Roelke
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Jason Waguespac
Phyllis Wheeler
Timothy Wise
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