The Light of Eidon (Legends of the Guardian-King, 1)

Rating:
Summary: Light of Edion shines
Review: Abramm has the heart of a seeker, but after being manipulated and lied to for years, when he is finally offered truth he can't bring himself to trust it. While "Light of Eidon" offers a gripping tale of adventure and heroism, it also challenges the reader to join Abramm in examining issues of faith, the preconceptions that keep us from embracing truth, and the distortions that trick and trap us.

Light of Eidon is not for the faint of heart. Gritty realism and gladiatorial violence are part of the rich and textured world that Karen Hancock has created. A complex geo-political structure provides a backdrop for the very compelling story of one man called to a unique destiny.

Her created world is alive with interwoven societies and people groups, conflicting loyalties, strange cultures, and creatures painted with vibrant description. Yet the novel never bogs down in those details. I believe that is because of Ms. Hancock's power in sharing authentic and multi-faceted characters that we deeply care about. I felt a visceral level of shared experience as I traveled with Abramm through tragedy and hope.

A great book leaves me changed at some level. Light of Eidon, with its unflinching look at the battles of life, has inspired new courage in me for my own day's challenges.

Rating:
Summary: Rising Up!
Review: Fantasy and allegory are compatible shelf-mates in the world of fiction. Yet, for some reason, the Christian market has generally ignored them since the days of Tolkien and Lewis. Karen Hancock, Randall Ingermanson, and Michael Warden are leading the way to see that this changes.

Hancock's first novel, "Arena," was a wonderfully rendered allegory, full of interesting characters, landscapes, and inner struggles. "The Light of Eidon" is more fantasy than allegory, but spiritual truths abound. Again, Hancock introduces us to characters with deep doubts and allows us to witness their transformations. In this case, a religious student by the name of Abramm comes face to face with betrayal, loss of faith, and rebirth in the flames of violent struggle. He finds himself a slave, a gladiator, a pretender...But ultimately, Abramm must discover his true purpose.

Although the book has some fantastic sections and ends with a heart-pounding climax, I found myself plodding through a number of scenes. At times, I yearned for more of the colorful landscape and less of the political dealings. I'm glad I pressed on, though, because the overall result is worth it. Spiritual light is brought to bear on the ugliness of religious pretense, and Abramm's final decisions are moving and believable.

It's great to see fantasy writers rising up in the Christian market. Without Hancock's books, we would be deprived of some of the best new stuff available.

Rating:
Summary: Solid Ingredients---Could Grow Into Something Nice
Review: Hancock does seem to be the brightest light in the minor Christian-fantasy renaissance we're having. If plot drives popular fiction, and characters drive more literary fiction, setting drives fantasy. Hancock can arrange a fantasy setting. She handles symbols fairly deftly (her endlessly-multiplying necklaces work as well as anything we've seen yet to identify conversion); she has an eye for detail (the ubiquitous onions work well for me). The names of her characters and creatures are mostly not irritating. Her hero Abramm, like the monk in Lawhead's "Byzantium," quits his European-style country and faith early in the novel to wander Southern regions of appealing swarthy heretics and doubt. A great deal remains unexplained about the world, especially Kiriath (which Abramm left so early) and the actual Eidonic religion (What are the Flames and why? What exactly happened to Eidon's son Tersius?), but this is why we have fantasy series.

The first half of the book I enjoyed more than the second. It began to read like a standard Christian biography. I didn't know exactly what was coming, but I knew the general outline---after many agonising crises of faith, the hero would become a Terstan. I was kicking him to get on with it the last hundred pages or so. There was little suspense, so to speak (why I'm not guilt-stricken over offering you a plot-spoiler).

My challenge to Hancock as she continues to craft this world and this plot is this: I'm an evangelical Christian. I agree with you. Surprise me.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Fantasy
Review: I often skim read a book to find out how it ends, and then if I am interested read the book through at my leisure. I could not do that with this book. Every chapter was fascinating and held my interest to the point that I did not want to skim read ahead to see how the story was going to end.

The story itself is a fascinating allegory that can best be described as a cross between the Arabian Nights and C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia. The hero of the story, Abramm finds his destiny by a series of betrayals, each of which takes him further away from the life he has chosen for himself. In his struggle to stay alive he discovers a strength within himself that he did not know existed.

At the climax of the book Abramm discovers that his strength is also his greatest weakness, because it blinds him to his need to submit to a greater power.

The book is full of unexpected twists and turns in the plot, which mirror the realities of life. "For who knows what a day will bring forth."

When I read this book to my children at bedtime, I expect every night to hear, "Read one more chapter Daddy, just one more."

Rating:
Summary: Sweet Fires Aloft!!!!
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. As I had LOVED Karen Hancock's ARENA I was very excited to get to read a second book by her. Though this book has nothing of the feel of ARENA it takes on a whole new category of its own, equally superb. The depth to the plot, the heart wrenching events, and the constant fight of evil against good in this book is excellent. Karen Hancock's writing is a delight to the eyes... flows very well, no choppiness. THE LIGHT OF EIDON is an outstanding science fiction novel, a very good start to the new series.

Abramm is the son of the King... of royal Kalladorne blood. He has no worries, or so he thinks, because of his placement of 5th in line to the throne. He is about to enter into the Holy Flames of Eidon when he discovers the true identity and character of his mentors. Betrayed by his mentors, he is rescued by the other side... He has to figure who is the true people of Eidon... Filled with mystery, intrigue, suspense, death, and betrayal, the Light of Eidon shines... always winning to the end...

Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Review: Karen Hancock has done it yet again! If you have read and enjoyed Arena, then you are sure to like this book!
Abramm Kalladorne, fifth son of the king of Kiriath, has dedicated the last eight years of his life to preparing himself to be worthy enough to touch and tend the sacred Flames of Eidon. However, on the night of his vow-taking, he finds that he has been decieved by his spiritual mentor, and is even sold into slavery by his own brothers! Full of anger and fear, he is forced to fight as a gladiator; however, a newer, greater purpose is awakened within him.
I could not put this book down! I especially love Karen Hancock's ability to bring allegorical significance into any tiny thing; this book will truly keep you guessing!