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Into the Darkness
Reviews, Feb 3, 2023

The Chosen Succeeds Where ‘Woke’ Stories Fail
Jenneth Dyck in Articles, Feb 2, 2023

Rose Petals and Snowflakes
Book Quests, Feb 1, 2023

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Silver Bounty, Victoria McCombs
A Sword for the Immerland King, F. W. Faller
Calor, J. J. Fisher
Once Upon A Ren Faire, A. C. Castillo
The Genesis 6 Project, Michael Ferguson
Exile, Loren G. Warnemuende
Aberration, Cathy McCrumb
The Truth Beyond the Lies, Kathleen Bird
Frost, Winter's Lonely Guardian, E. E. Rawls
Dream of Kings, Sharon Hinck
The Change, Bradley Caffee
Quest of Fire: Desperation, Brett Armstrong
Wishtress, Nadine Brandes
Flight, Kristen Young
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147. Why Can Christians Celebrate Stories about Merlin and King Arthur? | with Robert Treskillard
Fantastical Truth, Jan 31, 2023

146. How Did Animators Adapt The Wingfeather Saga For Streaming TV? | with Keith Lango
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145. How Did Edmund Spenser’s ‘The Faerie Queene’ Shape Christian Fantasy? | with Rebecca K. Reynolds
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144. Which Top Six Fantasy Franchises Gave Fans Grief in 2022?
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143. Which Top Ten Lorehaven Stories Proved Most Popular in 2022?
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142. What Christmas Gift ‘Tools, Not Toys’ Helped You Grow As a Person?
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Rose Petals and Snowflakes
Book Quests, February 2023

Prince Caspian
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Dream of Kings
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On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness
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Into the Darkness
“Charles Hack’s Into the Darkness summons a close-range science fiction story, focusing on the personal challenges of space warfare among alien cultures with a steady pace and serious tone.”
—Lorehaven on Feb 3, 2023

A Crown of Chains
“A Crown of Chains creatively retells a biblical tale to explore themes of providence, racism, faith, and fidelity.”
—Lorehaven on Jan 27, 2023

Lander’s Legacy
“Lander’s Legacy stacks modern thrills and complex characters on a foundation of biblical what-ifs.”
—Lorehaven on Jan 20, 2023

Prince Caspian
“Pacing starts slow but creature lore grows in C. S. Lewis’s sequel, introducing practical tyrants and talking-beast politics into a Narnian resistance.”
—Lorehaven on Jan 13, 2023

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Lorehaven helps Christian fans explore fantastical stories for Christ’s glory: fantasy, science fiction, and beyond. Articles, the library, reviews, podcasts, gifts, and the Lorehaven Guild community help fans discern and enjoy the best Christian-made fantastical stories, applying their meanings to the real world Jesus Christ calls us to serve. Subscribe free to get any updates you choose and to access the Lorehaven Guild.
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/ Library
Author:
Shaun Stevenson
Ages:
young adult
Genres:
fantasy
BookTags:
adventure islands kingdoms monsters pirates The Runners of Abra series
Publisher:
Crimson Pulse Publishing
Lorehaven may use referral links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
“Imagination dashes back in with the strange and even horrifying creatures intent on getting their hands, teeth, or claws on Eric.”
—Lorehaven review, fall 2018

The Last Runner

A teenage boy, enslaved to run jobs for the elite, must face the world of Abra, where monsters run free, Queens rule like iron, and death is only a breath away.
Shaun Stevenson · fantasy for young adult readers · January 2018

Ripped from his home on the Island of Jedros and slapped with a clasp meant to enslave him, Eric finds himself on a journey to the Runner Training Compound, where he must learn to fight and run jobs before the five islands of Abra have the chance to swallow him and spit out the bones.

But even on the first day of training, everyone can see Eric is different. He possesses abilities only legends have whispered about. And now the Queen has turned her eye in his direction. An eye bent on his destruction.

Before the Queen can snatch Eric away, a mysterious merchant hires Eric for his first job: retrieve the girl answering to the name Bella and hiding on the north side of the island. But darker forces are searching for Bella too. And they’ll kill to make sure no one else finds her. Because Bella has a secret hiding in the darkness. And if it ever comes to the light, the known world will change forever.

Race through the five islands of Abra, but be warned: around every dark tree lies the next threat. Nothing is ever as it appears. Monsters stir and hover, waiting for the moment to pounce. But the terrifying monster of all may not have claws and fangs. It might be lurking in the dim corners of every mirror, biding its time and slowly eating away at its host.

Book 1 of the The Runners of Abra series.

Lorehaven may use referral links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Review of The Last Runner

Imagination dashes back in with the strange and even horrifying creatures intent on getting their hands, teeth, or claws on Eric.
Lorehaven Review Team, fall 2018

Shaun Stevenson’s The Last Runner is certainly well-named. The book opens with the protagonist, Eric, being chased, and ends with him being chased. Throughout the story, Eric survives insane training to be a runner. Then he’s sent by his Bookkeeper to perform a very dangerous mission. The poor boy barely gets a moment’s rest from being chased. Some more explanations would have made this story more understandable and given it room to breathe. Imagination dashes back in, however, with the strange and even horrifying creatures intent on getting their hands, teeth, or claws on Eric.

Best for: Young adults, adults, and fans of action.

Discern: Deaths of domesticated animals, and faith portrayed as a leap in the dark.

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Lorehaven magazine, spring 2020

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Lorehaven helps Christian fans explore fantastical stories for Christ’s glory: fantasy, science fiction, and beyond. Articles, the library, reviews, podcasts, gifts, and the Lorehaven Guild community help fans discern and enjoy the best Christian-made fantastical stories, applying their meanings to the real world Jesus Christ calls us to serve. Subscribe free to get any updates you choose and to access the Lorehaven Guild.
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