Lorehaven finds the best of Christian fantasy by reviewing Christian-made, fantastical, published novels. Learn more about Lorehaven Review Team readers at our Crew Manifest. (Authors and publishers can request reviews here.)
Website · Facebook · Instagram · X (Twitter)

The Promise of Deception

The Promise of Deception, Jessica Sly
Jessica Sly’s The Promise of Deception blends murder mystery and historical fiction with a dash of the supernatural, with a compelling lively heroine and sharply drawn villain.

Dream of Kings

Dream of Kings, Sharon Hinck
Sharon Hinck’s novel Dream of Kings fantastically reimagines the biblical Joseph narrative, drawing readers into a vivid world of political intrigue and faith struggles.

Wishes

Wishes, Brittany Eden
Surprising twists and complex relationships grant Brittany Eden’s Wishes a fulfilling and fast-paced read.

The Deliverer

The Deliverer, Jason William Karpf
Jason William Karpf’s post-apocalyptic novel The Deliverer transports a grim yet hopeful story, leading to satisfying conclusions for his characters.

The Change

The Change, Bradley Caffee
Tight situations and Bradley Caffee’s rapid style energize this bracing finale for the Chase Runner world.

Immortal Guardian

Immortal Guardian, M. Louis Lambert
Immortal Guardian may start slowly and its prose may occasionally stumble, but this story asks interesting questions with a compelling plot.

The Choice

The Choice, Bradley Caffee
Bradley Caffee’s tight prose makes The Choice a quick Empire Strikes Back–style dystopian sequel that is difficult to resist.

100 Cupboards

100 Cupboards, N. D. Wilson
With thoughtful narrative voice and emotional honesty, N. D. Wilson’s 100 Cupboards (2007) opens doors to worlds of mystery and adventure.

Blood Secrets

Blood Secrets, Morgan L. Busse
Blood Secrets charts a satisfying conclusion to the Skyworld duology, with dashing prose that draws readers into this world of steam and mystery.

Jabberwock’s Curse

Jabberwock's Curse, R.V. Bowman
In Jabberwock’s Curse, R.V. Bowman blends different elements from Lewis Carroll’s classic into a quick-paced coming-of age story whose three heroes must learn who they were created to be.

The Governess of Greenmere

The Governess of Greenmere, Paul Leone
Obscure Arthurian and Celtic references blend with biblical imagery and high heroism in this brief yet old-souled story.

The Wonderland Trials

The Wonderland Trials, Sara Ella
Although indebted to a classic, The Wonderland Trials is inventive and colorful in its own right, abundantly able to charm and to intrigue.

Rise of the Earthborn

Rise of the Earthborn, Emma Buenen
Societal intrigue plus steampunk flair and a dash of romance help make Emma Buenen’s Rise of the Earthborn a solid extra-biblical adventure.

Elite

Elite, Kristen Young
Elite explores parallels to the early Church, beautifully intertwining faith and action in this high-stakes post-apocalyptic adventure.

My Brother’s Keeper

My Brother's Keeper, David Wright
In My Brother’s Keeper, David Wright presents a classic fantasy novel obliquely tied to the legends of King Arthur.

Lost Bits

Lost Bits, Kerry Nietz
Lost Bits boldly leads fans out of dead wastelands, exploring the nature of humankind through the lenses of a human creation.

When The English Fall

When the English Fall, David Williams
When The English Fall tells a bittersweet tale of community and commitment that plunges fearlessly into hard questions about the end of the world.

Clawing Free

Clawing Free, Josh Roberts
Clawing Free is an absorbing tale that seamlessly joins modernity and myth.

Realms of Light

Realms of Light, Sandra Fernandez Rhoads
Author Sandra Fernandez Rhoads creatively uses classical art and Milton’s writing to give Cera necessary information to fight the darkness, drawing readers deeper into this urban fantasy world.

Abort

Abort, C. D. Hulen
With vivid characters, compelling world, and serious questions, C. D. Hulen’s Abort fulfills its directive for an engaging sci-fi read.

Maxine Justice: Galactic Attorney

Maxine Justice, Galactic Attorney, Daniel Schwabauer
John Grisham meets Galaxy Quest in Daniel Schwabauer’s whimsy-gilded sci-fi tale, featuring robot judges, secretive aliens, and a truly flawed human heroine.

Stealing Embers

Stealing Embers, Julie Hall
This well-told tale grabs the reader’s attention with romantic tension and action that swoops in from the start and rushes unyielding to the very last page.

Truesilver

Truesilver, DJ Edwardson
Monstrous enemies, magic swords, and weighty discussions of honor and courage balance out teenage angst, village life, and small-minded characters.

Forsaken Island

Forsaken Island, Sharon Hinck
Sharon Hinck skillfully dances through competing storylines of witnessing, spiritual doubts, coping with a life-altering disability, and exploring a new world.

The Retrievers: Valley of the Roden

The Retrievers: Valley of the Roden, Nicole Sager
Nicole Sager’s The Retrievers: Valley of the Roden introduces a fun cast of tiny characters and soaring hawks, sharing faith-filled themes of holding onto hope when all seems lost.

The Undine’s Tear

The Undine’s Tear, Talena Winters
Calandra’s spiritual struggles and eventual awakening bring true hardship and loss, pointing to greater hope across the horizon in sequels to this rip-roaring read.

Oathbound

Oathbound, Victoria McCombs
This tale of oaths and bonds steers an exciting voyage through dangerous waters. Secrets and ambition lurk at every turn, and sins bring real consequences.

The Green Ember

The Green Ember, S. D. Smith
S. D. Smith’s fantasy The Green Ember, book 1 of the Green Ember series, presents a surprisingly earnest epic about small creatures drawn into big spiritual ideas.

First Contact

First Contact, T. D. Patrick
This well-written chapter book promotes courage and other virtues, making First Contact a great tale for boys.

Of Fire and Ash

Of Fire and Ash, Gillian Bronte Adams
Ceridwen’s repeated volatile actions and battle crescendos may threaten to overrun this kingdom, yet the Fireborn Epic’s first book also benefits from two side trails.

Shadow

Shadow, Kara Swanson
Kara Swanson’s page-turner soars while wonderfully concluding this creative retelling of the classic Peter Pan.

Prodigy Prince

Prodigy Prince, Natasha Sapienza
In Prodigy Prince, Natasha Sapienza builds a complex and rich fantasy world that explores friendship and sacrifice through allegory.

The Centauri Survivors

The Centauri Survivors, Andrew J. Chamberlain
Imagine an alien invasion, but inverted. . . . This fun, leisurely-paced story brightens a constellation of classic sci-fi tropes.

Princess of Shadows

Princess of Shadows, A. G. Marshall
Stirred by sustained tension, quiet humor, and a bit of snark, Princess of Shadows rouses readers and keeps them wide-eyed in this ancient Greece–inspired world.

The Bear of Rosethorn Ring

The Beat of Rosethorn Ring, Kirsten Fichter
The Bear of Rosethorn Ring’s quirky players cast their spell through the magic of forgiveness, applying unique twists and new thrills to old routines.

The Chase

The Chase, Bradley Caffee
Readers who catch a second wind will find a gripping adventure and reason to anticipate the next match.

Power On

Power On, H. L. Burke
H. L. Burke’s Power On lights up an enjoyable superhero world, charging quickly toward themes of a man’s responsibility to himself and others.

Wolf Soldier

Wolf Soldier, James R. Hannibal
Simple prose and candid heroes enjoin biblical truth, highlighting Scripture-like verses and faith as means of vanquishing external enemies.

Hælend’s Ballad

Haelend's Ballad, Ian Conrey
Ian Conrey creates a fantasy that borrows from steampunk, forging a thought-provoking and richly constructed war story.

That Pale Host

That Pale Host, L. G. McCary
That Pale Host slips through the walls of time, exposing spectral groanings too deep for words and the hope of healing that often lingers just out of reach.

Crown and Creed

Crown and Creed, Laura VanArendonk Baugh
Laura VanArendonk Baugh’s saga deepens political and romantic intrigues among a richly unique fantasy world and compelling cast of characters.

Ignite

Ignite, Jenna Terese
Ignite balances superhero action with deep questions about prejudice and responsibility in a complex, challenging world.

Apprentice

Apprentice, Kristen Young
Common dystopian themes quickly grow beyond clichés in this thrilling search for truth and the meaning of reality.

The Seventh Sun

The Seventh Sun, Lani Forbes
Law and grace collide like elemental powers in this rich tale, whose author keeps taut yet luxuriant focus on mythology and setting.

Secrets in the Mist

Secrets in the Mist, Morgan L. Busse
Treasure hunts and zombies sail smoothly in the skies of this post-apocalyptic world, raising natural questions about why such horrors and miseries exist.

Fractures

Fractures, Jason C. Joyner
Jason Joyner’s second superhero tale Fractures offers a deft combination of action, spiritual themes, and the tribulations of growing up.

The Dying of the Light

The Dying of the Light, Mirriam Neal
Amid a sprawling and realistic cast, Mirriam Neal keeps myriad story threads taut in this first epic installment of the Brotherhood of the Moon series.

The Winter King

The Winter King, Christine Cohen
Christine Cohen’s The Winter King is everything a fantasy lover wants: adventure, political intrigue, and a little bit of romance … this story is a must-read.

Strays

Strays, Remy Wilkins
Remy Wilkins’s Strays joins spiritual warfare with a coming-of-age tale set in small-town America … an unexpected and intriguing fusion of spiritual war and childhood’s end.

Brave Ollie Possum

Brave Ollie Possum
This madcap tale from Ethan Nicolle includes over 200 illustrations and plenty of silly scenes, well-suited for reading aloud.

The Weight of Memory

The Weight of Memory, Shawn Smucker
Shawn Smucker’s The Weight of Memory unfolds like a sleeper waking from a dream: slowly, tentatively, clinging to the hope or fear of world-ending reality.

Penance

Penance, Paula Richey and Thomas Plutarch
Penance by Paula Richey and Thomas Plutarch mixes superheroes and aliens for a lively, heartfelt sci-fi tale built with engaging characters in a vivid world.

Cinderella Spell

Cinderella Spell, Laurie Lee
In Laurie Lee’s dark fairy tale retelling Cinderella Spell, Cinderella is more than she seems, and true love doesn’t lie where you think.

(Sponsored Review) Seed: Judgment

Seed: Judgment, Joshua David
Joshua David’s Seed: Judgment marries The Thing, Resident Evil, and Mad Max to generate a post-apocalyptic tale of frenetic intensity.

Sojourner’s Path

Sojourner's Path, Amy Kurlyo
In Sojourner’s Path, Amy Kurylo shows how a likable heroine’s ordinary life is interrupted by the spiritual world.

Salvare’s Mountain

Salvare's Mountain, D. P. Rowell
In Salvare’s Mountain, D. P. Rowell creates a fantasy shaded with allegory and anarchic worldbuilding.

Hunter’s Moon

Hunter's Moon, Sarah M. Awa
Sarah M. Awa’s howlingly intense drama Hunter’s Moon is perfect for young adults who enjoy plot-driven stories and horror genres.

The Land of the Purple Ring

The Land of the Purple Ring, Deborah J. Natelson
Deborah J. Natelson’s The Land of the Purple Ring is a delightful romp through wordplay and half-sketched puns.

Lovely People

Lovely People, Minna Sundberg
Minna Sundberg’s short graphic novel celebrates adorable bunnies and the full gospel while warning against modern consumerism and moralistic surveillance.

Operation Grendel

Operation Grendel, Daniel Schwabauer
With terse prose and hairpin twists, Daniel Schwabauer’s galactic noir Operation Grendel sizzles through the circuits of the human soul.

Heart of the Curiosity

Heart of the Curiosity, H. L. Burke
Biblical themes dazzle and heroines must heal from harm throughout the wonders of H. L. Burke’s The Heart of the Curiosity.

Akiniwazisaga: A Light Rises in a Dark World

Akiniwazisaga: A Light Rises in a Dark World, M. D. Boncher
M. D. Boncher’s fantasy novel Akiniwazisaga: A Light Rises in a Dark World is a fascinating blend of history, religion, and sinister folklore.

All the Queen’s Sons

All The Queen’s Sons, Elizabeth Kipps
All The Queen’s Sons from Elizabeth Kipps will delight both young and old fans of level-headed girls, charming princes, and lovely lands.

Songflight

Songflight, Michelle M. Bruhn
Songflight by Michelle M. Bruhn tells the gripping story of dragon singer Alísa, and is best for lovers of fantasy and dragons.

Moonscript

Moonscript, Hannah Williams
In Moonscript, H. S. J. Williams creates a classic fantasy and deeply weaves strong spiritual element into the world.

Nomad

Nomad, R. J. Anderson
R. J. Anderson’s fantasy Nomad is a rollicking read with fascinating conflicts and plot twists.

Legend of the Storm Sneezer

Legend of the Storm Sneezer, Kristiana Sfirlea
Teen readers fond of lengthy, lighthearted ghost-and-zombie tales will enjoy Legend of the Storm Sneezer by Kristiana Sfirlea.

The Icarus Aftermath

The Icarus Aftermath, Arielle M. Bailey
Arielle M. Bailey’s The Icarus Aftermath spins a golden yarn of vivid characters and gripping emotion, set in a world ripe for exploration.

The Hourglass and the Darkness

The Hourglass and the Darkness, Kyle L. Elliott
Kyle L. Elliott’s novel The Hourglass and the Darkness posits a world before the great Flood, starting a promising series.

Gretchen and the Bear

Gretchen and the Bear, Carrie Anne Noble
Carrie Anne Noble’s delightful fantasy/sci-fi mashup Gretchen and the Bear defies every expectation.

Torch

Torch, R. J. Anderson
Torch blazes a solid conclusion to the series’ themes of just leadership and racial reconciliation among fairy folk.

Fugue for the Sacred Songbook: In Eb Minor

Fugure for the Sacred Songbook, Keith A. Robinson
Fugue for the Sacred Songbook plays a lyrical read, though without much subtlety regarding the author’s ideas.

Flight of the Raven

Flight of the Raven, Morgan L. Busse
Exciting twists make Morgan L. Busse’s Flight of the Raven, book 2 of the Ravenwood Saga, a very enjoyable read.

The Eternal Struggle

The Eternal Struggle, Esther Wallace
Esther Wallace’s novel The Eternal Struggle forms a dark sequel that brings hero and heroine into close fellowship with loss and brutality.

Blood and Bond

Blood and Bond, Laura VanArendonk Baugh
This book is brilliant and engaging, expanding on the series’ world and characters while building its own plot.

Book Reviews

Mists of Paracosmia

Mists of Paracosmia, Emily Golus
Stakes are high in this well-written middle-grade fantasy from author Emily Golus.

Labyrinth of Shadows

Labyrinth of Shadows, Kyla Stone
Inspired by Greek myths, Kyla Stone’s Labyrinth of Shadows tells its own story with cleverness and breathless suspense.

Swift

Swift, R. J. Anderson
This little novel packs big twists and turns that will keep readers engaged all the way through the end.

Crystal Witness

Crystal Witness, Kathy Tyers
Crystal Witness exudes a galactic aroma that pulls in readers with strength like the vacuum of space.

Daughter of Lightning

Daughter of Lightning, Anna Kate Logan
Daughter of Lightning is a fun adventure that promises to branch into an electric epic as the Dragon and Storm series continues.

Swimmer

Swimmer, Avily Jerome
Those who dive in will find Avily Jerome’s novel Swimmer an absorbing, dark-edged fairy tale.

Fire Dancer

Fire Dancer, Catherine Jones Payne
Fire Dancer is a brilliantly written story full of emotion and action that will have readers blazing through the pages.

Strayborn

Strayborn, E. E. Rawls
E. E. Rawls’s fantasy Strayborn offers an energetic, colorful story, with nature-bending child students and familiar school archetypes.

Skate the Thief

Skate the Thief, Jeff Ayers
Although Skate the Thief makes a few leaps in story logic, its sympathetic characters will steal readers’ hearts.

Featured Review: Seventh City

Seventh City, Emily Hayse
Good heroes live in Emily Hayse’s Arctic-flavored fantasy.

Sponsored Review: A King’s Return

A King's Return, J. J. Johnson
A King’s Return sweeps the reader into a world of complex, sympathetic characters.

Bane of Ashkarith

Bane of Ashkarith, Ariel Paiement
Bane of Ashkarith gives glimpses of this unique secondary world that prove intricate and compelling.

Sponsored Review: Still Small Voice

Still Small Voice, Allen Brokken
This simple frontier story gives its child heroes complex dilemmas.

Book Reviews

Dust

Dust, Kara Swanson
Nothing is as it seems, and wishing on stars will get her nowhere in this delightfully twisted sequel to a classic.

The Vault Between Spaces

The Vault Between Spaces, Chawna Schroeder
The Vault Between Spaces is an inventive fantasy with heart for its religion and its characters.

Book Reviews

Let the Ghosts Speak

Let the Ghosts Speak, Bryan Davis
Although often grim, Let the Ghosts Speak gives a captivating read of murder, mystery, and spirituality.

(Sponsored Review) The Light Unbound

The Light Unbound, C. S. Wachter
Ambitious in scope and relentless in speed, this novel concludes C. S. Wachter’s saga on a high note.

Heartmender

Heartmender, V. Romas Burton
V. Romas Burton’s Heartmender pumps new blood into the classic good-versus-evil paradigm by way of the classic Seven Deadly Sins.

Mortal Sight

Mortal Sight, Sandra Fernandez Rhoads
With frequent references to Milton, Mortal Sight is a promising beginning to an intriguing series.

Cora and the Nurse Dragon

Cora and the Nurse Dragon, H. L. Burke
Cora and the Nurse Dragon poses hard questions yet keeps a light touch, preferring to serve the pleasant read of an immersive fable.

Outsmarting Time

Outsmarting Time, Laura Hanks Kline
What happens when time ends up looking like an M. C. Escher artwork? . . . Outsmarting Time is a good read with nice character development.

(Sponsored Review) A Shattered World

A Shattered World, Lelia Rose Foreman
This is the Puritan space colonization epic you never knew you needed.

Jordan’s Arrow

Jordan's Arrow, Allen Steadham
Jordan’s Arrow is a good follow-up to the first story, showing Jordan’s growth and struggles in her new world.

Emberhawk

Emberhawk, Jamie Foley
Jamie Foley’s worldbuilding is astounding . . . layers of plot and various twists make this a book readers won’t want to put down.

Sorrowfish

Sorrowfish, Anne C. Miles
A twist to the familiar notion of secret passages between our humdrum world and a magical world . . . Sorrowfish is a creative, empathetic fantasy.

For Whom the Sun Sings

For Whom the Sun Sings, W. A. Fulkerson
W. A. Fulkerson’s debut opens the eyes of adults with childlike faith.

Airfoil: Origins

Airfoil: Origins, Steve Rzasa
Evil villains, family struggles, and a dynamic arch-nemesis make this superhero story a fast-paced and engaging read.

Light of Mine

Light of Mine, Allen Brokken
How-to descriptions of building and cooking are interspersed with moral instruction . . . the story conveys a sound faith lesson.

The Story Hunter

The Story Hunter, Lindsay A. Franklin
Danger, intrigue, and unforeseen twists make The Story Hunter an entirely satisfying conclusion to the Weaver Trilogy series.

(Sponsored Review) Remnant

Remnant, Daniel Peyton
Daniel Peyton’s sci-fi simplifies complex themes while raising important challenges to faith.

The Best of Christian Fantasy

Wilding

Wilding, L. A. Smith
L. A. Smith’s historical fantasy Wilding offers a lively journey through the foreign world of ancient Europe and the wild world of the Fey.

Tinsel in a Tangle

Tinsel in a Tangle, Laurie Germaine
Laurie Germaine’s Tinsel in a Tangle is a nice and enjoyable young-adult holiday romance set in a fanciful version of Santa’s town.

Mouse

Mouse, Kaylena Radcliff
Mouse is an intriguing adventure whose characters draw in readers, with a complex world that promises to become even more rich and vibrant as the series continues.

Masque

Masque, W. R. Gingell
Utterly delightful with every page, W. R. Gingell’s Masque is so light on its feet that readers won’t want the dance to end.

The Jehzydak Prophecy

The Jehzydak Prophecy, A. R. Morgera
A. R. Morgera’s fantasy The Jehzydak Prophecy is best for readers who like complex psychology mixed with high action.

The Heir of Ariad

The Heir of Ariad, Niki Florica
In The Heir of Ariad, Niki Florica crafts an archetypal fantasy with chosen heroes, strange creatures, and quests that carry the fate of the world.

Escape to Vindor

Escape to Vindor, Emily Golus
This uplifting story rumbles along at a good pace, accessible to believers and nonbelievers alike.

The Darkened Land

The Darkened Land, Larry Paris
Larry Paris’s novel is an ambitious work, filled with heroes battling various grotesque monsters.

The Book of Secrets

The Book of Secrets, M. L. Little
M. L. Little’s The Book of Secrets imagines fantasy that hovers in a sci-fi setting, playing with magic in industrialized societies and alternate dimensions.

Blood Traitors

Blood Traitors, Stella Dorthwany
Stella Dorthwany’s Blood Traitors brings cousins Cora and Faryn back home to the capital, where nonstop action and intrigue swiftly ensue.

Jordan’s World

Jordan's World, Allen Steadham
Jordan’s World provides engaging escapism with a cast of likable characters.

Sponsored Review: Skinshifter

Skinshifter, Alycia Christine
Alycia Christine’s Skinshifter sinks its fangs into a meaty plot pumping with action.

Book Reviews

To Ashes We Run

To Ashes We Run, Just B. Jordan
With To Ashes We Run, Just B. Jordan spins a rich and heartfelt fantasy, crafted with imagination and care.

The Treasure of Capric

The Treasure of Capric, Brandon M. Wilborn
With The Treasure of Capric, Brandon M. Wilborn blends Brother Cadfael with Prince Caspian to conjure a complex, lived-in world.

The Story Raider

The Story Raider, Lindsay A. Franklin
More adventure, higher stakes, and betrayal at every turn make Lindsay A. Franklin’s fantasy The Story Raider a sequel that exceeds expectations.

Shard & Shield

Shard & Shield, Laura VanArendonk Baugh
Laura VanArendonk Baugh’s Shard & Shield will intrigue readers with its world-building and complex relationships.

Romanov

Romanov, Nadine Brandes
Wrapping history in layers of humanity and magic, Nadine Brandes’s Romanov brings the captivating story of Anastasia to life in a new and vivid way.

Prelude and Abduction: in A Minor

Prelude and Abduction in A Minor, Keith A. Robinson
Prelude and Abduction: in A Minor strikes up a distinctive melody in the key of Star Wars by providing music-based powers to alien races in conflict.

Going Back Cold

Going Back Cold, Kelley Rose Waller
Kelley Rose Waller’s sci-fi Going Back Cold sets a mother’s bitter struggle with stillbirth against the backdrop of cutting-edge scientific research in Antarctica.

The Alien’s Daughter

The Alien's Daughter, JC Morrows
The Alien’s Daughter presents an intriguing take on how an alien could blend in with earthlings.

(Sponsored Review) Beatitudes and Woes

Beatitudes and Woes, editor: Travis Perry
Beatitudes & Woes is a bold experiment . . . the showstopper entries by themselves are enough to justify the price of admission.

Featured Review: Brand of Light

Brand of Light, Ronie Kendig
Sci-fi and fantasy clash in this rapid-fire genre-blender.

(Sponsored Review) The Flame of Telbyrin

The Flame of Telbyrin, Br. Benedict Dyar, O. S. B.
Our elven heroes prove charming, and the narrative burns hot and quick.

Featured Review: Hidden Current

Hidden Current, Sharon Hinck
Sharon Hinck’s fantasy dances to the rhythm of our Creator’s heart.

Book Reviews

Sponsored Review: The Deceit of Darkness

The Deceit of Darkness, C. S. Wachter
“The third installment in C. S. Wachter’s epic fantasy series crystallizes the series’ Christianity.”

(Sponsored Review) Oath of the Outcast

Oath of the Outcast, C. M. Banschbach
“Oath of the Outcast bursts with brawn and brains, providing plenty of action.”

Valiant

Valiant, Merrie Destefano
Once this story ramps up, it’s a thrilling read, with plenty of unexpected twists, a surprise ending, and pressing questions that demand a sequel.

Tranquility

Tranquility, Christa Conklin
In the human world of Christa Conklin’s Tranquility, conflict and tension defer to the pleasantries of picnics with fairies and merfolk.

Speed of Sight

Speed of Sight, C. R. Flamingbush
In Speed of Sight, C. R. Flamingbush presents a fun concept—comic book stories within Pete’s comic-book-style story, like plays within a play.

The Savage War

The Savage War, Esther Wallace
With The Savage War, Esther Wallace spins a tale that balances moral conviction with moral complexity.

Oath Sworn

Oath Sworn, Meg MacDonald
Strange concepts and tumultuous dialogue can soar over the reader’s head, but this narrative moves at a riveting clip.

Living in Times of Dragons

Living in Times of Dragons, John A. Pretorius
John A. Pretorius’s Living in Times of Dragons crashes out of a wild imagination. It’s a shot across the bow of Christian fiction.

The Hidden Queen

The Hidden Queen, Janelle Garrett
Janelle Garrett’s romantic yet political fantasy The Hidden Queen turns out to be a smart story.

The 49th Mystic

The 49th Mystic, Ted Dekker
In The 49th Mystic, Ted Dekker overhauls Other Earth with an adventure that’s part The Village, part Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.

Chains of Gwyndorr

Chains of Gwyndorr, Joan Campbell
Unique worlds and sympathetic characters entice readers through a maze of slow-moving action.

The Caves of Fire

The Caves of Fire, K. Berklund-Page
Can a slave say no? Fee and Daniel struggle with decisions as fully formed characters.

The Bachelor Missions

The Bachelor Missions, Jes Drew
Jes Drew’s The Bachelor Missions follows our hero, Kristian Clark, through three separate but connected espionage adventures with plenty of romantic difficulties.

Armor of Aletheia

Armor of Aletheia, Ralene Burke
Ralene Burke’s Armor of Aletheia gives readers classic fantasy suffused with spirituality.

Featured Review: Light from Distant Stars

Light from Distant Stars, Shawn Smucker
Magic-edged memory meets the reality of death and family trauma.

(Sponsored Review) Logic’s End

Logic's End, Keith A. Robinson.
This bleak and alien world’s only law is ‘survival of the fittest.’

Book Reviews

The Awakened

The Awakened, Richard Spillman
In Richard Spillman’s The Awakened, readers find a world in which Lazarus, the man Jesus raised from the dead as recorded in John’s gospel, is still alive.

The Aykotah Daughter

The Aykotah Daughter, Andrhea Goertzen
The Aykotah Daughter paints a beautiful picture of true sacrificial love and submission.

The Worlds Next Door

The Worlds Next Door, C. E. White
C. E. White’s The Worlds Next Door is best for adult fans of inventive Christian fantasy and thoughtful theological fiction.

The Story Peddler

The Story Peddler, Lindsay A. Franklin
This story spins a perfect array of delightful characters living with complex magical abilities in a truly unique world.

The Sign of the Sibyl

The Sign of the Sibyl, Phillip Metzger
Readers may love how this alternate-universe tale integrates biblical elements as “lost lore†in an alien world.

Heir to the Raven

Heir to the Raven, J. Wesley Bush
Heir to the Raven masterfully weaves history, politics, and myth into a breathing world.

Gods They Had Never Known

Gods They Had Never Known, J. S. Helms
Gods They Had Never Known strongly supports biblical morality and the truth of how sin distorts goodness.

For Us Humans

For Us Humans, Steve Rzasa
This adventure morphs into a complex fusion of intergalactic conspiracy, prejudice erasure, redemption narrative, and call to personal revival.

The Emperor’s Harvest

The Emperor’s Harvest, R. A. Denny
In The Emperor’s Harvest, R. A. Denny reimagines elements from the biblical account of Christ’s birth in a fantasy setting.

Elvensty

Elvensty, M. B. Aznoe
Fastidious worldbuilding, diverse cultures, and detailed geography give the tale distinctive flair.

Eilinland: Through the Wall

Eilinland: Through the Wall, Bailey Davenport
Eilinland: Through the Wall serves a light, entertaining read, with good thematic substance to accompany the fun.

The Edge of Over There

The Edge of Over There, Shawn Smucker
Shawn Smucker unveils a masterwork of lyrical grandeur … this story cracks the spacetime doorway to reveal a reality far richer than the world we know.

Exclusive | Book Reviews

(Sponsored Review) The Reluctant Disciple

The Reluctant Disciple, Jim O'Shea
The Reluctant Disciple tours popular thematic attractions via disquieting paths.

(Sponsored Review) Outbreak

Outbreak, Joshua C. Chadd
Outbreak will doubtless thrill readers who enjoy a good zombie yarn.

Thoughtreal

Thoughtreal, Michael Gryboski
Michael Gryboski has thought up an intricate narrative that avoids potential tropes while touching on important issues.

Shivering World

Shivering World, Kathy Tyers
“This story grows on the reader much faster than bacteria in a barren biosphere. . . . Shivering World is good medicine.”

Sand and Storm

Sand and Storm, Stella Dorthwany
This book is a delightful read, with a unique and well-developed magic system, engaging characters, and a thrilling plot.

The Rejected Princess

The Rejected Princess, Katie Clark
With The Rejected Princess, Katie Clark has fashioned a cozy political thriller braided with thoughtful ambiguity and adorned with romance.

Hideous Beauty

Hideous Beauty, Jack Cavanaugh
Hideous Beauty strives to (very) graphically illustrate the war of dark versus light waged unseen by mere mortals.

Flower

Flower, H. L. Burke
H. L. Burke’s clever twists keep the story fresh while still delivering on classic premises.

Fairest Son

Fairest Son, H. S. J. Williams
H. S. J. Williams’ novella Fairest Son contains familiar echoes: seven “dwarves,†a poison apple, a poem of prophecy. But the story is unique.

The Electrical Menagerie

Magicians’ rivalries are backlit by murder, and the characters, scenery, and action are so well-drawn.

Dragons and Romans

Dragons and Romans, William David Ellis
Dragons and Romans invests the climactic Third Punic War with high peril, deep meaning, and the spark of the fantastical.

The Curse of the Vassal Fruit

The Curse of the Vassal Fruit, Eric Sietsema
The Curse of the Vassal Fruit starts out as a light and fluffy children’s story, but by the end, Eric Sietsema’s narrative has some hop to it.

Child of the Kaites

Child of the Kaites, Beth Wangler
With well-realized characterization, the overall narrative flies like a thematic arrow toward the real-life account of God freeing his people from Egypt.

Bramblewild

Bramblewild, Audie Thacker
Despite its occasional slowness, Bramblewild is an engaging journey with a comforting end.

Sponsored Review: Jaclyn and the Beanstalk

Magic beans meet medieval myth in this young heroine’s tale.

Book Reviews

Sponsored Review: The Light Arises

The Light Arises, C. S. Wachter
The Light Arises will leave readers craving the next word for the next world.

Featured Review: Enclave

Enclave, Thomas Locke
After America falls, white-hat heroes work for a better world.

The White Forest

The White Forest, Aviya Carmen
Best for: Pre-teen readers who like fantasy stories.

Launch

Launch, Jason Joyner
The story inhabits its youthful, modern world with conviction. Fun and never airy, Launch offers a good ride.

The Last Runner

The Last Runner, Shaun Stevenson
Imagination dashes back in with the strange and even horrifying creatures intent on getting their hands, teeth, or claws on Eric.

Kristian’s War

Kristian's War, Peter Wisan
The writing is terse and focused on characters’ actions, making for a quick and enjoyable read.

The Kinsman’s Tree

The Kinsman's Tree, Timothy Michael Hurst
Readers will find charm in the everyday life of the Etom boy Nat, his mother Nida, and the other Etom.

Keeper of Shadows

Keeper of Shadows, Bridgett Powers
Bridgett Powers creates something unusual in fantasy: a heroine who, physically damaged to the point of disability, can fight only through spiritual strength.

Imani Earns Her Cape

Imani Earns Her Cape, Bokerah Brumley
Bokerah Brumley paints a colorful urban-fantasy backdrop and peoples it with distinctive characters.

Coiled

Coiled, H. L. Burke
H. L. Burke weaves faux-mythology and complex characterization into a narrative that slithers along at a brisk clip.

Blessings and Trials

Blessings and Trials, Thomas Davidsmeier
Blessings and Trials spans a large and fascinating world filled with angels, either exiled from heaven or sent from heaven to help mankind.

Featured Review: Mark of the Raven

Mark of the Raven, Morgan L. Busse
Those who walk in dreams wield great power to inspire—or destroy.

(Sponsored Review) Affinity

Affinity, Dianne J. Wilson
Affinity is a creative and original play on old concepts, and if you’re willing to take the ride, you’ll find it goes places.

Book Reviews

The Gevaudan Project

The Gevaudan Project, A. K. Preston
A. K. Preston has spliced together a bone-hard, near-future sci-fi in the tradition of Michael Crichton.

Experiment 93

Experiment 93, R. S. Burghardt
Good storytelling mechanics … serves a light and enjoyable read.

Castaways

Castaways, Jes Drew
A memorable and entertaining tone … younger readers will take delight in this light, sweet tale.

Book Reviews

(Sponsored Review) Road of the Lost

Road of the Lost, Aidan Russell
Aidan Russell creates action-driven fantasy of all the good old things.

(Sponsored Review) Journey Into Legend

Journey Into Legend, Henry Schreiner
All this story’s realism and complexity wraps around an old, blazing vision.

(Sponsored Review) The Sorcerer’s Bane

The Sorcerer's Bane, C. S. Wachter
C. S. Wachter flings thematic windows open to sunlight and storms.

Wolf of the Tesseract

Wolf of the Tesseract, Christopher D Schmitz
A rapid start in divergent universes … Wolf of the Tesseract is a satisfying adventure.

The Unlikely Intrusion of Adams Klein

The Unlikely Intrusion of Adams Klevin, J. R. Greco
This is a fun, engaging adventure with fantastic worlds and action.

Tyrant

Brian Godawa’s Tyrant unites history, spiritual warfare, and eschatology in an ambitious epic.

The Rise of Aredor

The Rise of Aredor, Claire M. Banschbach
Claire M. Banschbach spins an enjoyable, worthwhile adventure of wartime courage.

Fawkes

Fawkes, Nadine Brandes
Here in Nadine Brandes’s color-magical world, the Thames still burbles with sewage and even sincere men can believe and die for false religion.

The Remnant

The Remnant, William Michael Davidson
The Remnant spins a future of well-meaning tyranny sure to help readers ponder the threat of potential real-world dystopia.

The Lightningfall

The Lightningfall, Steve Rzasa
Steve Rzasa’s sequel is best for older teens and adults seeking a swashbuckling sword-and-sorcery spectacle.

The Bloodheart

The Bloodheart, Steve Rzasa
Rzasa’s first-person, present-tense delivery proves surprisingly versatile.

The Red Rider

The Red Rider, Randall Allen Dunn
The Red Rider bears teeth, but horror fans will find it gives an exciting chase.

Masters and Beginners

Masters and Beginners, Daley Downing
Daley Downing blends the traditional Faerie mythology with biblical ideas of angels, Nephilim, and the war in heaven.

Day Moon

Day Moon, Brett Armstrong
Immersive descriptions and ornate prose . . . presents a richly layered world and magnetic plot with need for a sequel.

Nick Newton is Not a Genius

Nick Newton Is Not a Genius, S. E. M. Ishida
Children and grown-ups alike will be charmed by this gentle, creative tale.

A Marriage in Time

A Marriage in Time, Anna M. Aquino
Anna M. Aquino paints a rich historical setting for a timeless tale of the bondage of sin, the impact of the choices we make, and the power of forgiveness.

(Sponsored Review) The Tremblers

The Tremblers, Raquel Byrnes
Crack open this rip-roaring tale of post-apocalyptic steampunk peril.

Frayed

Frayed, Kerry Nietz
This slow-burning psychological drama holds rich rewards for those who unravel its thematic threads.

Book Reviews

Flood

Flood, Brennan S. McPherson
Strong personalities, vivid descriptions, and lifelike dialogue steady the reader amidst ravaging action and deceptively placid interludes.

(Featured Review) The Man He Never Was

The Man He Never Was, James L. Rubart
James L. Rubart’s novel fleshes out the quest of a man at supernatural war with himself.

For Steam and Country

For Steam and Country, Jon Del Arroz
Jon Del Arroz’s For Steam and Country constructs a world of escapades, mystery, and heroism.

Breakwater

Breakwater, Catherine Jones Payne
Readers looking for a quick, pleasant read will find that this book swims well.

Alison Henry and the Creatures of Torone

Alison Henry and the Creatures of Torone, C. J. Darlington
Despite its simplicity, Alison Henry is good comfort food for people who dream of other realms.

Walking on the Sea of Clouds

Walking on the Sea of Clouds, Gray Rinehart
In Walking on the Sea of Clouds, Gray Rinehart depicts a world of claustrophobic vistas and high-tech deprivation

The Beast of Talesend

The Beast of Talesend, Kyle Robert Shultz
Kyle Robert Shultz creates an enchanting story world grounded in familiarity yet saturated with fairy-tale qualities.

RotoVegas

Earthcore Book 1: RotoVegas, Grace Bridges
The sense of place is lovingly grounded, and the style flows like water.

Dongeng

Dongeng, Anna Tan
Author Anna Tan creates a beautiful multicultural world for Dongeng, weaving in characters from traditions both familiar and foreign.

Orphan’s Song

Orphan's Song, Gillian Bronte Adams
Gillian Bronte Adams draws us into a classic medieval fantasy setting populated with archetypes that somehow feel fresh and vigorous.

The Songweaver’s Vow

The Songweaver’s Vow, Laura VanArendonk Baugh
Laura VanArendonk Baugh masterfully draws on legends and myths both familiar and obscure to create a world that is all too similar to our own.

Saint Death

Saint Death, Mike Duran
This second installment in the Reagan Moon series conjures a menagerie of the grotesque and macabre.