29. The Prince and the Blight

The Prince and the Blight (The Dream Keeper Saga #2) Kathryn L. Butler. 2022. 274 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: This stuff is like ogre slobber. Lily screwed up her face at the paper-mache paste dripping from her brush and cast a doubtful glance at the mess of newsprint that slouched on the art bench before her.

The Prince and the Blight is the sequel to The Dragon and Stone. In the first book, readers met Lily McKinley, our protagonist, and were swept up and away to a fantasy world. A blend of characters--both human and fantastical--teamed up to conquer evil and 'save' the realm. At the end of the first book, the human characters returned to the 'real' world and the others were left to rebuild their world... It's been a month of our time, but several decades in the fantasy world, and the [fantasy] world needs saving once again. This time it seems even more pervasive and deadly dangerous. This evil blight is spreading and spreading fast--soon they'll be nothing left to save. But can Lily and friends (a few new characters are introduced including Keisha and Barth) save the world again????

Pax, the Prince of the land, is a unicorn. He made a few appearances in the first book--enough to be the ultimate hero--but it's been decades since he was last seen. Pax isn't completely and totally forgotten, but, he's not really foremost or first in anyone's thoughts--or hearts or minds. Lily is learning that all things are possible with Pax, but, she has to place all her faith in Pax. In other words, she has to live every moment as if Pax were in the room with her. She has to believe that Pax is still very much a present help in ALL situations no matter how dangerous. 

This one is children's fantasy. If it feels super familiar--that's intentional. It is meant to have all the exact same feels as The Chronicles of Narnia and the like. It does read in some ways like fan fiction for Narnia. There's slight differences to be sure. Lions and unicorns are completely different, right? 

I am not sure the same-ness is a bad thing however. Not really. If you think of the target audience and how predictability and familiarity and wanting to know what to expect exactly is just an all too real growing stage. Readers do tend to want a book "like" or "exactly like" one they've just read and loved. 

For Christian parents, this fantasy novel is along the same lines as the Chronicles of Narnia series. Some spiritual truths--mainly in regards to Pax and Lily--blended into fantasy. There is magic--light and dark. 

I liked the first book. I did. I was pleasantly surprised. I was disappointed with the second book. Don't get me wrong there are a few scenes that are definitely the best of the series. (A few scenes with aha significance and grand meaning.) But I couldn't help wishing that there was one book, one story that managed to have it all. 

I also did NOT like the ending at all. I thought the ending was just wrong. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

2022 Bible Reading Week #30

Bible reading week of 23 - 29 July 2022. 

I am reading the NASB 1977 for my Book of Common Prayer daily offices.

• Psalms 110-143
• Proverbs 23-29 
• 2 Samuel 8-24
• 1 Kings 1-22
• Song of Songs 1-8
• Ecclesiastes
• 2 Thessalonians
• 1 Timothy 
• 2 Timothy
• Titus
• Philemon
• Luke 1-8

For my morning devotions (with tea) I am reading the Beyond Suffering Bible NLT.

• Isaiah 48-66
• Ephesians
• Philippians 
• Colossians
• Micah
• Nahum
• 1 Chronicles
• 2 Chronicles 

I am reading the Revised English Bible for my afternoon devotions. Using the Horner plan (modified).

• Deuteronomy 1-10
• 2 Kings 11-25
• Job 29-42
• Psalm 145-150 AND Psalm 1-13
• Song of Songs 1-8
• Ecclesiastes 1
• Lamentations 
• Hosea 8-14
• Isaiah 1-15
• Joel 
• Amos 1-9
• Obadiah
• Mark 1-7
• Acts 14-21
• Ephesians 3-6
• Philippians
• Colossians 1
• Hebrews 9-13
• James 1-3
• 2 Peter 2-3
• Revelation 9-16

I have TWO ongoing year-long 30 Day MacArthur plans going. 

• In July I will be reading Acts 7 and Genesis 45-50 thirty times: LSB, NASB 77, KJV, NKJV, NASB 95, BSB, BSB.
• In July I will be reading Isaiah 34-39 thirty times: LSB, NASB 77, KJV, NKJV, NASB 95, BSB, BSB.

ESV Gospel Transformation Bible:

• Mark 8-16
• Leviticus 1-27
• Zechariah 1-6

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

28. The London House

The London House. Katherine Reay. 2021. [November] 368 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Caro hugged Martine, whispering close to her ear. 

There are essentially two main stories unfolding in Katherine Reay's The London House. There is a story within a story. Caroline Payne is being compelled to revisit a "dark family secret." A friend--or former friend, possibly still a true forever friend--is about to publish an article revealing her family's dark, scandalous past. She doesn't believe him--at first. Her father--who is dying--is irate. She cannot deny blind facts. But she can question their interpretation and possible biases by the author. His name is Mat Hammond, and they were college friends and classmates. The big "dark" "scandalous" secret is that her great-aunt Caroline Waite ran away with a Nazi lover [allegedly] and betrayed her country. The cover-up through the generations is that Caroline died as a child. 

Caroline promises to comment [or contribute] to the story...but only after she's done her own research into the past. She returns to her family's British home--THE LONDON HOUSE--and finds the diaries, letters, etc. from both her great-aunt and her grandmother. There are certainly "secrets" to be found, but do they fall in line with Mat's story??? Or does what she reads convince her that Mat's theories are all wrong??? Is the "scandalous secret" that simple and straight forward? 

Much of the plot is centered around events in the 1930s and early 1940s. In the years leading up to war and the war itself. Caroline [the aunt] wroked in Paris for a designer named Elsa Schiaparelli. There are some historical details woven into the story. Like discussion of the lobster dress. 

Quotes:

History reflects humanity. It isn't one dimensional, or even two-dimensional; it's multifaceted and far more complex and nuanced than we allow.

Humans are messy. Their history is going to be messy. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

2022 Bible Reading #29

Bible reading week of 15 - 22 July 2022.

I am reading the NASB 1977 for my Book of Common Prayer daily offices. 

• Psalm 79-109
• Proverbs 15-22
• 1 Samuel
• 2 Samuel 1-4
• Acts 17-28
• Colossians
• 1 Thessalonians

For my morning devotions (with tea) I am reading the Beyond Suffering Bible NLT.

• Jonah
• Ecclesiastes
• Song of Songs
• Isaiah 1-47

I am reading the Revised English Bible for my afternoon devotions. Using the Horner plan (modified).

• Numbers 13-36
• 1 Kings 9-22
• 2 Kings 1-10
• Psalm 110-144
• Proverbs 31
• Job 1-9
• 1 Maccabees 
• 2 Maccabees
• Hosea 1-7
• Acts 7-13
• Romans 15-16
• 1 Peter 1-5
• 2 Peter 1
• Galatians 2-6
• Ephesians 2
• Hebrews 3-9
• Revelation 2-8

I have TWO ongoing year-long 30 Day MacArthur plans going. 

• In July I will be reading Acts 7 and Genesis 45-50 thirty times: NASB 77, BSB, NLT, BSB, NASB 77,
• In July I will be reading Isaiah 34-39 thirty times: NASB 77, BSB, NLT, BSB, NASB 77, 

ESV Gospel Transformation Bible:

• Job 
• Colossians
• Ecclesiastes
• Mark 1-7

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

2022 Bible Reading #28

Bible reading week of 9 July - 14 July 2022. 

I am reading the NASB 1977 for my Book of Common Prayer daily offices. 

• Psalm 44-78
• Proverbs 9-15
• Joshua 1-24
• Judges
• Ruth
• Philippians
• Acts 1-16

For my morning devotions (with tea) I am reading the Beyond Suffering Bible NLT.

• Ezekiel 33-48
• Daniel
• Esther
• Galatians 
• Hosea
• Jude
• Joel
• Amos
• Obadiah

I am reading the Revised English Bible for my afternoon devotions. Using the Horner plan (modified).

• Leviticus 21-27
• Numbers 1-12
• 2 Samuel 13-24
• 1 Kings 1-8
• Psalm 90-109
• Proverbs 24-30
• Ecclesiasticus 8-51
• Baruch 1-6
• Prayer of Azariah and the Song of Three
• Daniel and Susanna
• Daniel, Bel, and the Snake
• Prayer of Manasseh
• Matthew 24-28
• Luke 24
• Romans 8-14
• Acts 1-6
• 2 Corinthians 8-13
• Galatians 1
• Hebrews 1-2
• 1 John 3-5
• 2 John
• 3 John
• Jude
• Revelation 1

I have TWO ongoing year-long 30 Day MacArthur plans going. 

• In July I will be reading Acts 7 and Genesis 45-50 thirty times: HCSB, ESV, BSB, NASB 77, BSB, NASB 2020, NASB 95
• In July I will be reading Isaiah 34-39 thirty times: HCSB, ESV, BSB, NASB 77, BSB, NASB 2020, NASB 95

ESV Gospel Transformation Bible:

• Galatians
• Exodus 
• Habakkuk
• Zephaniah
• Haggai
• Ephesians
• Philippians

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

27. The Dragon and the Stone

The Dragon Stone. (The Dream Keeper Saga #1) Kathryn L. Butler. 2022. 240 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Lily McKinley trudged into the house, plodded to the kitchen, and froze. On the counter in front of her, with its barbed tail curled like a question mark, a dragon gobbled her mother's Crock-Pot chili.

Lily's world is falling apart. I was tempted to say seemingly falling part. But that wouldn't be true. No doubt, it is. Her father has died--or at least been reported so, no body found. Her mother is stressed, stressed, super-stressed. Her grandmother has dementia--or presumably so. Her mom is carrying the weight of the world, and Lily is trying to do her share--more than her share. She can no longer "afford" to daydream or let her imagination run away with her. So when she sees a DRAGON in her kitchen, well, she's flabbergasted, scared, and worried. Worried that her imagination is at play again. How could there be an actual real life dragon in her kitchen??? Her mother can't handle dragons! Her grandmother, well, she's too fragile. So once again, Lily feels the pressure to handle something on her own. And this dragon in the kitchen, well, it's just the start. Things only get weirder from here...

Lily soon finds herself NOT in this world but swept away to a fantasy realm where she, Lily, may be called upon to save the world...or at least do her share in saving the world. And it all has something to do with a STONE necklace that her father left for her. This stone is magical--not just because of who gave it to her--but because of its origin. It is from Eden. There were twelve stones, I think, and twelve keepers to protect the stones??? Anyway, the realm is in trouble and Lily (and her ever-growing company) are needed. But beware a betrayer may be in her midst.

I really enjoyed this one! I was super skeptical when I requested it for review. I didn't know how it would hold up. Would it be good? entertaining? something that I could actually recommend? Christian publishers and Christian authors aren't particularly well known for doing children's fantasy--C.S. Lewis excluded. But to be fair, the Narnia books were published in the 1950s. But I really enjoyed this one. I found it a compelling read. I enjoyed all the characters introduced. I thought the story was well-written. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

2022 Bible Reading #27

Bible reading week of 2 July - 8 July 2022.

I am reading the NASB 1977 for my Book of Common Prayer daily offices. 

• Psalm 9-43
• Proverbs 2-8
• Numbers 22-36
• Deuteronomy
• Ephesians 
• Hebrews

For my morning devotions (with tea) I am reading the Beyond Suffering Bible NLT.

• Luke 13-24
• Acts 
• Ezekiel 1-32

I am reading the Revised English Bible for my afternoon devotions. Using the Horner plan (modified).

• Exodus 31-40
• Leviticus 1-19
• 1 Samuel 13-31
• 2 Samuel 1-12
• Psalm 70-89
• Proverbs 17-23
• 1 Esdras
• 2 Esdras
• Tobit
• Judith
• Wisdom of Solomon
• Ecclesiasticus 1-7
• Matthew 17-23
• Romans 1-7
• Luke 17-23
• John 17-23
• 2 Corinthians 1-7

I have TWO ongoing year-long 30 Day MacArthur plans going.

• In July I will be reading Acts 7 and Genesis 45-50 thirty times: BSB, NLT, NASB 77, BSB, ESV, Darby,
• In July I will be reading Isaiah 34-39 thirty times: BSB, NLT, NASB 77, BSB, ESV, Darby

ESV Gospel Transformation Bible:

• Genesis 27-50
• Jonah
• Micah
• Nahum
• Hosea
• Matthew 8-28

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible