Releasing on November 1st, 2024, this is the third book in a non-magical fantasy series, The Chronicles of Elira. The book is available to preorder in ebook, paperback and special edition hardcover!
The blurb:
Years have passed, the world has shifted, and the Eliran people have faced unimaginable loss.
Elgon, ensnared in a royal catastrophe, must navigate betrayals and personal grief. With his kingdom’s fate hanging by a thread, he clings to a sliver of hope, waiting desperately for the return of his most trusted knight.
Malcolm’s quest is a treacherous odyssey, fraught with danger and shrouded in secrecy. With a charge to rescue and protect, the weight of his past mistakes threatens to crush him. Can he redeem himself in the eyes of his brother and king, or will their secret mission be discovered and ended by their enemies?
Rosalie, isolated in a castle tower for most of her life, knows little of the world beyond her prison walls. Rescued by a mysterious stranger and propelled towards her destiny, she embarks on a perilous adventure. Will she survive the grueling journey, or will the trials of a lost heir prove too great?
A knight on a quest, a lost princess, a malevolent foreign ruler, and a secret of epic proportions will alter the fate and future of Elira forever.
I know…it’s only mid-November. BUT. Some of my extended family exchanges gifts on Thanksgiving weekend, and in case anyone else is out there looking for last-minute Christmas/Thanksgiving gifts for a family member (or is actually being proactive about seeking Christmas gifts a whole month ahead of time!), I thought I’d put this post out there right away.:)
Let me know at the end if you’ve already enjoyed any of these books!
Also, disclaimer…I’m a very picky reader when it comes to editing. I don’t haphazardly recommend indie books that simply have potential but are a dumpster fire when it comes to that area. If you’re concerned about that, I just wanted to throw it out there that these are books that I (or one of my little sisters:)) have thoroughly enjoyed, with zero to minimal editing road bumps.:)
clean thriller // memorable characters // tea // banter // clean murder mystery // new adult // lovely portrayal of light vs. darkness
Oh my goodness…I had been eyeing this book ever since it came out, and it did not disappoint. My favorite aspect of this book was the characters…they were so vivid and different from one another, and yet each one was relatable in their own way. This would be a wonderful book for the friend who enjoys reading realistic contemporary fiction written with a classical influence.
former assassin // the best banter // FBI // fast-paced adventure novel // fun family dynamics // sequel on the way (!!!)
Whenever I read the book of someone I’ve already befriended, I always go in with a certain amount of fear that I won’t love the book as much as I love the person. I was delighted that I could find no flaws in this novel! XD It made me laugh, it made me think, and it held my interest from the moment I read the epic tagline: To live is Christ. To die is much more likely. This would be a great gift for the teenage friend who wants to enjoy a fast-paced adventure without the gore.
// non-magical fantasy // mountains // disability representation // prolife themes // the sweetest subtle romance
This is the second book in the Chronicles of Elira series, and I love it even more than the first one. The themes of healing and redemption just blessed my heart so much, and God used this book to grow my prayer life, as well. This would be a lovely gift for the friend who enjoys non-magical fantasy and a deeply emotional read.
Content warning: While it’s handled discreetly, it’s implied that one of the main characters has been a victim of SA and human trafficking, and the healing from that is a major theme in the storyline. Because of the nature of that theme, I personally don’t recommend this novel to anyone under 16.
// contemporary middle-grade fiction // large family dynamics // fashion show // small town feels //
My little sisters fell in love with this series last year, and they were over the MOON when they recently got to meet the author (a friend I met on a writing retreat!). I haven’t personally read it, but I have been unofficially hired by my sister to draw fan art for the series, so…that’s got to count for something. XD This would be a perfect gift for the little ladies in your life who want contemporary fiction about girls their age!
This is the first book I annotated (see pictures here), and it’s one I keep coming back to for a breath of fresh encouragement. This would be a lovely gift for someone who loves both poetry and gardening! (But, hey, this is coming from the blackest thumb alive, so I think that anyone could enjoy this collection, whether they’re botanically gifted or not.)
// reflective poetry // nature imagery // raw and realistic // shot with hope //
This is such a cathartic poetry collection that has been written and compiled so masterfully. (It even has a playlist and list of further reading recommendations in the back!) Cathedral would be a wonderful gift for the deep-thinking friend who’s a fan of the classics.
// battle imagery // freestyle poetry with a bit of a lilt // regret and brokenness // eternal hope //
Hehe…of course I couldn’t do a post on indie books without plugging my own! XD This little poetry collection would be the perfect gift for a friend who doesn’t like poetry. One of the most common pieces of feedback I receive is “I never liked poetry until I started reading yours!” So grab a copy for the friend who turns up her nose at poetry and see what she does. Worst case scenario: she despises it and gives the copy back to you! “Free” poetry!!
I hope this post was helpful (or at least enjoyable) to you! Which books do you want to add to your wish list?
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase something through one of the links I share in this post, I receive a small commission…at no extra cost to you.:)
Friends, meet one of my favorite books and the first one I’ve had the privilege of endorsing!
This Life of Mine has earned a forever home on my bookshelf and in my heart. Featuring memorable characters and a powerful stance on the sanctity of life, it had me in tears with its story of redemption in the wake of regret. Victoria Lynn has done it again, weaving a tale that holds out hope to the ones who have been broken…and to the ones who have broken others.
Laurel Luehmann
First off, let me introduce you to the book via the blurb…
Marcus is tired of losing those he loves. The last shred of his childhood has been uprooted, and he feels alone… again. When the ruler’s new policies take effect, the anger of the Rusalkan mountain king is unleashed upon the borderlands. With refugees streaming into Elira by the hundreds, the stories from the wall are horrific.
Marcus joins a convoy to lend his medical skills to those in need at the Eliran border. What he finds there requires him to face his own deformities. Will he be able to overcome them? Or will his life forever be marked by suffering and sacrifice?Dilara’s life as a slave in Rusalka was anything but idealistic. Consumed by a system designed to use, abuse, and discard the likes of her, she has been taken through the very depths. Carrying a traumatic secret and wounded in her frenzied escape, she finds herself with an unlikely protector and an even more confusing relationship. Can she traverse the waters of this new life of hers and make it her own?
“Curses often have a way of turning out to be blessings in disguise. It’s a wise man who will see the first and recognize it as the other.”
This Life Of Mine – The Chronicles of Elira
What I loved about This Life of Mine
The characters.
Even the side characters in this book had so much personality! Everyone was so endearing and just came alive so effortlessly in my mind. (I’ve got to admit that Keitha was probably my favorite side character.:) )
I loved how you got to see the main character’s flaws, too. The characters weren’t unrealistically perfect…they were believable and relatable.
Marcus’ prayers/conversations with God.
Every now and then, there comes a fictional character who challenges you to live your life differently, and Marcus’ effortless open dialogue with the Lord did just that for me.
The recurring imagery and parallels.
Man, oh man. This was so much fun. It was the ashes one that got me.
The reveal.
I can’t say much about this because of spoilers, but WOW. This was one plot twist I never saw coming, and the absolute beauty…
“Pain shared brings healing instead of making the wound grow deeper with each remembrance.”
this life of mine – The chronicles of elira
Intrigued? Purchase a copy from Amazon here or a signed copyhere!
This Life of Mine is the second book in Victoria Lynn’s series, The Chronicles of Elira, but this book can also be read as a standalone! If you’re interested in hearing more about the first book in the series, check out my review of Once I Knewhere.
Meet the author
Victoria Lynn has an insatiable desire for truth, light and beauty.
Traveling to destinations of beauty created by our Heavenly Father, reveling in creative pursuits that fill her with joy, or pouring her heart into words of life are some of her favorite things to do.
She seeks to bring the life giving words of the Savior to a dark and broken world that desperately needs to know of His sacrifice.
A writing and publishing coach, author, journalist, seamstress and creator, she loves spending time with any of her 8 siblings, exploring her native state of Michigan, and sewing gowns fit for a princess.
Welcome to my review of one of my new favorite books!!!!! I don’t habitually binge-read anymore, but I tore through this one in about a week. (For other more voracious readers I know this is nothing, but check my Good Reads to see how often it is I actually finish a book. XD)
First, we need to talk about the cover. The cover. Isn’t it gorgeous??? The golden light, the font, the cloak, the everything. This cover makes me so very happy. *smiles dreamily*
Second…
The blurb
Violet lives her quiet life in her sleepy village, trying to remain as dead to the politics that are threatening their world as possible. She follows the rules, stays out of trouble and does her best to remain out of sight from the dreaded and overbearing Kingsmen.
With the new regent on the throne till the prince comes of age, the country has been thrown into a turmoil. Unlike the kindly king before him, the new ruler is overbearing, frightening and tyrannical in his rule. Taxes are bleeding the people dry and without the money or goods to pay, they have been forced into penal servitude and imprisonment by the Kingsmen, who show no mercy. The despair and fear that has taken over their lives has ruled out any level of hope.
When Violet stumbles upon an unconscious and injured Kingsman in the woods, despite the consequences, she is compelled to take care of the injured man. When he wakes and has no memory of his identity or past, she takes the only precaution that will keep her and her grandmother safe; she destroys the evidence of his past life.
If Violet’s lowly Kingsman regains his memory, will she survive the consequences? And will the Kingsman be able to live with his past life? Who will fight to free Elira?
Loyalty cannot be bought, and integrity should not be sacrificed at the hand of tyranny.
Violet Frell (Once I knew)
My thoughts
Not many books literally change the way I live and see the world…Once I Knew did. The part of the blurb that originally caught my attention was the forgotten identity and the political turmoil…and while I do love that aspect of the story, the themes of redemption, forgiveness, and courage, plus the way Victoria didn’t shy away from including God in this non-magical fantasy in a powerful way are what made this story stand out to me.
More things I love about Once I Knew
The multiple POVs.
I really enjoyed getting to see the story from one character’s point of view, and then see that same character from another character’s perspective! It gave me such a good sense of each character’s strengths and weaknesses.
The characters.
I have a huge soft spot for the strong, fatherly figures, the grandmothers, the sweet, tenderhearted-yet-manly side characters…this book delivered. Also, the character development in the main characters (and their friendship) was so inspiring.
The inclusion of God, prayer, and righteousness.
I’ve noticed that books in the fantasy genre tend to simply have a “God figure” or good morals – know I’m not bashing this at all; I really enjoy books like this! – and so I was delighted to find that the characters in Once I Knew have real, believable, life-changing relationships with the true God. This truly made the book so powerful and life-changing, and there were some scenes with spiritual breakthroughs that had my heart in a puddle.
The romance.
Victoria handled the romance so. well. There were no uncomfortable kissing scenes (well, there was a kiss, but it wasn’t gross or way too soon XD) or cringey emotional things. Just a sweet romance between two friends who had solid character and a deep love and respect for one another.
The forest setting and all of the references to light.
I love the great outdoors, and so all of the references to trees, fields, and golden light were the best!
You have only ever pushed me to discover the purpose for which God made me, shown me a hope that has made me serve a higher calling, and propelled me to pick up the destiny for which I was created.
Victoria Lynn has an insatiable desire for truth, light and beauty.
Traveling to destinations of beauty created by our Heavenly Father, reveling in creative pursuits that fill her with joy, or pouring her heart into words of life are some of her favorite things to do.
She seeks to bring the life giving words of the Savior to a dark and broken world that desperately needs to know of His sacrifice.
A writing and publishing coach, author, journalist, seamstress and creator, she loves spending time with any of her 8 siblings, exploring her native state of Michigan, and sewing gowns fit for a princess.
(Also, quick note: I got to meet and spend some time with Victoria this spring on the Glory Writers retreat. She is the sweetest, and I so admire her courage, talent, and fiery heart for the Lord! Her Instagram account is also one of my favorites, so be sure to check it out.:)
Have you read Once I Knew or any of Victoria’s other books?
Laurel Luehmann 