June Book Club: Quest for Celestia

I’m thrilled that the Storyteller Squad agreed to feature Quest for Celestia by Steven James for our June Book Club selection. It’s one of the best books I’ve read in a very long while. That’s saying something because I read more than fifty books a year. I hope you like it as much as I do.

This stand-alone fantasy is a crossover book, great for both teens and adults. It’s a unique reimagining of one of the bestselling books of all time, The Pilgrim’s Progress, published more than 300 years ago.

When 16-year-old Kadin’s health deteriorates after an encounter with a strange man, he embarks on an epic journey to Celestia, which is rumored to have the cure for his frightening condition. The dangerous quest opens his eyes to the truth that could heal both his body and his mind. Kadin’s best friend agrees to accompany him, but turns back at the first threat. Later, Kadin makes a new friend, Leira. Together, they follow their hearts through a fantastical world of witches, dragons, and giants. They’re tracked by an evil lord who has made it his mission to do anything to keep them from reaching Celestia. Along the way, they meet several wise characters who offer lifesaving advice.

“Kadin, you’ll find that in these hills your heart often awakens when your body sleeps. Pay special attention to your dreams tonight. This land is different from the one you grew up in. There’s something here that’s even stronger than magik.”
— Tobal, the doorkeeper

This is an amazing read with mind-blowing twists and turns. The imagery is amazing, and the book is beautifully typeset with dragons on every left-hand page. Each chapter ends in a cliffhanger, so beware. You’ll blast past whatever time allotment you gave yourself to read. And if you think you have the ending figured out, think again.

Steven James is a master award-winning storyteller. I heard him speak at a writers conference last year. His presentation blew me away. I could have listened to him for hours. He’s written 20 books. Of those, 17 are adult suspense novels, one is this YA novel, and the other two are about the writing craft. His short fiction has appeared in more than 80 different publications, including Writer’s Digest and the New York Times. If you’d like to listen to him, check out his podcast, The Story Blender. Visit his website for his full biography and more information on his books.

What will we be talking about on Tuesdays this month?

• June 8 — Misha McCorkle will post a quiz. If you email your answers to me at jill@jillkwillis.com, I’ll place your name in a drawing to receive a Kindle copy of a future Storyteller Squad Book Club selection. The winner will be announced in our first July blog.
• June 15 — Candice Yamnitz will post a comparison of Quest for Celestia and The Pilgrim’s Progress.
• June 22 — I’ll post an interview with Steven James. He had some surprising answers to my questions.
• June 29 — Misha will post a deeper blog, paralleling scenes in the book with biblical scripture.

While we post Book Club specific blogs on Tuesdays, our discussion group runs 24/7. To join, click Book Club at the top of our website’s homepage, then click Join Book Club in the drop-down list. You’ll have a choice of which club to join. Click on Quest for Celestia. If you have any questions, please contact me at jill@jillkwillis.com.

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