Julia N. White
It’s November, which means the Christmas feelings are arriving. Candy canes, Christmas trees, and nutcrackers haunt my dreams, so it’s time to pull out my favorite Christmas fantasy books!
A Soul as cold as Frost
The Narnia vibes and biblical reflections in this book …*chiefs kiss*.
I loved the main character, Helen, and the struggles she faces. Her life, in the beginning, seems sad but unremarkable… until a strange woman holding an even stranger orb appears. After she receives the orb, Helen meets a darkly clad boy named Zane who leads her into a mysterious new world.
Magical creatures, deadly foes, crazy jesters who resemble a certain jolly old soul, a sparkling orb of truth, dwarves, and more candy than you could ever hope to eat fill this book to the brim with whimsical magic.
The unique storytelling and chapter breaks made this feel like a book lost in time, in a good way!
The magical poetry woven throughout the story and the handful of allegorical nods, wrapped this tale up in a beautiful red bow. (Oops! Zane doesn’t like red)
The overall message is that truth will prevail no matter who tries to cover it up. The only criticism I will offer is that I didn’t like how much Zane picked on Helen. Though confronted with his rudeness, he only lightens up a little. I believe this is merely a personal reflection, as I’m not a fan of the endearing way some people make fun of others. But this is only book one, and there is lots of room for change and plot twists!
Scoresheet:
Category: Cozy YA Fantasy
Spice/Romance: No spice/ minimal handholding
Violence: None/mild
Morals/Worldview: Christian worldview in allegorical form
Recommended reading age: 12+
Language: None
A Heart as Red as Paint
Without giving spoilers, book 2 is just a whimsical but also as deadly as book 1.
Hellen is met with self-doubt and wonders why the Patrolman who promised to protect her has vanished and left her to fight her battles alone. Instead of picking up a weapon to fight, Hellen must face a court of royalty and politics in a red dress and a disguise. Soon another heart seems smitten with her, and more deadly games of shadow and deception follow her. How can she possibly choose the right path when everything is veiled in secrets no one wishes to share?
Scoresheet:
Christmas vibes: 100000%
Category: Cozy YA Fantasy
Spice/Romance: No spice/ minimal handholding
Violence: None/mild
Morals/Worldview: Christian worldview in allegorical form
Recommended reading age: 12+
Language: None
Now, if you want Christmas with a little less Narnia vibes and more Hallmark romance, you should check out our very own Storyteller Squad Member, Laurie Germiane.
Here is the blurb for her book,
The Daze Before Christmas
She fled her old life for a new one. Trouble is, she can’t remember why she ran.
Struggling artist Gwynn Sadler never planned to return to her hometown after escaping from a teenage tragedy nine years ago. She left everyone to believe she’d died, including the boy she loved, and buried painful memories in the process.
Such is the price for safety.
Then an unsettling encounter with a jolly old gentleman three weeks before Christmas triggers a hasty return to her mountain roots, where Gwynn collides with her former crush and wrestles against the dark secrets in her past.
Unable to immediately retreat to the security of her new life, Gwynn feels trapped. The Lord promises the truth will set her free, but how can she confront the very memories that might reveal a monster in the mirror?
An inspirational Christmas romance with a splash of intrigue and a dash of whimsy.
If you have never read these novels, I encourage you to give them a try and…
…to all the naysayers…
CHRISTMAS STARTS IN NOVEMBER!!!!!!!!
Elise Haroldson
Misha
Jennifer Kropf’s books have been on my TBR for too long. It is probably time for me to bump them up! But, I also echo the recommendation for Daze Before Christmas! Such a great book!