The Berinfell Prophecies

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Review- Venom & Song, by Wayne T. Batson & Christopher Hopper

Before getting into this month’s book, I have to apologize for being a little late on the reviews this summer.  There have been a lot of things going on, and I’ve not been able to live life in the ways I’ve planned.  I’m really hoping things turn around in the next couple months, because my body is telling me it cannot continue this way for very long.  Please pray for me.

Last month I did get a post in, but because I missed the July dates my name was (rightfully so) dropped from the August list.  So here’s a link for the August post for those who missed it… https://crisjesse.wordpress.com/2010/08/25/csffbt-august-favorites/

Ok, now on to some good stuff!

So for September’s CSFFBT book we get to finally read the second installment in Wayne Thomas Batson’s and Christopher Hopper’s “The Berinfell Prophecies”, and the book is called “Venom & Song”.  I’ve been looking forward to this book since we went through the first book… “Curse of the Spider King”!

Book 1 was great!  It started off kinda weak to me, but by the end I was completely impressed.  I was a fan. 

And now this book comes out!  It’s getting even better!

In Venom and Song we learn a lot more about the world of Allyra.  The world building is very well done in Venom and Song, bringing to life not only the populated lands but even the lands of the past.  The stories of the past.  Long lost stories and places are brought to the forefront of what our young heroes must face.  Stories that were prophesied about long ago unfold before our eyes, and anticipation is built up for the prophesies not yet seen.  And I have a feeling there’s more to be revealed (past, present & future) that hasn’t even been hinted at yet.  I hope our authors do not let Allyra get away from us before it is fully explored.

The main characters are also developed well in this book, good and bad guys alike.  Some real surprises on all sides will keep the reader eager for the next chapter, and the chapter after that one as well.  Most of the characters were very well done and easy to get into.

The pace of the story is great.  Even the “slower” parts didn’t seem slow.  Nothing felt like it was being forced upon me so other parts of the book would make sense or be exciting.  Every part of the book stood well on its own and added to everything around it.

I still haven’t explored much of the “out of the book” material the authors have drummed up.  The book itself contains teasers for these extras.  I hope they are enjoyed by the readers!  If you’re interested, check out www.heedtheprophecies.com.

From beginning to end (including the amazing job Thomas Nelson did on the cover!), Venom & Song is a book that stands on its own.  It also meshes so very well with the first book in the series.  I have no doubt that the next book will be just as good as the first two.

Now for my only real complaint… why didn’t you guys include a chapter for book 3 at the end of Venom & Song?  I really liked that the first book had a teaser for book 2, and was sad when I got to the end of book 2 and found nothing for book 3.

;(

Ok, I’m done whining now.

Thanks again for another great adventure Wayne and Christopher!

No matter who you are, if you enjoy fantasy fiction then I highly suggest you pick up this book… “Venom and Song”, you can get a copy at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1400315069

You should also make sure to check out the authors’ sites at:

Wayne Thomas Batson  – http://enterthedoorwithin.blogspot.com/
Christopher Hopper – http://www.christopherhopper.com/blog/

And finally, check out what fellow blog tour members had to say:

Angela
Brandon Barr
Keanan Brand
Amy Browning
Beckie Burnham
Morgan L. Busse
Melissa Carswell
Jeff Chapman
Valerie Comer
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
D. G. D. Davidson
April Erwin
Tori Greene
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Timothy Hicks
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Dawn King
Leighton
Rebecca LuElla Miller
John W. Otte
Donita K. Paul
Chawna Schroeder
Tammy Shelnut
James Somers
Kathleen Smith
Rachel Starr Thomson
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Jason Waguespac
Dona Watson
Phyllis Wheeler
Jill Williamson

In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

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Review- Curse of the Spider King, by Wayne Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper

This month’s CSFFBT book is “Curse of the Spider King”, book one of “The Berinfell Prophecies” series.  It is written by Wayne Thomas Batson & Christopher Hopper.

My first impression when seeing the title & target audience was that it was going to be a good book, but not super impressive.  So I wasn’t as excited about reading it as I was with other books.

Then the book arrived.  I was immediately impressed (extremely impressed) with the look, feel and quality of the hardcover edition I received.  Thomas Nelson knows how to make their authors look good!  The fact that there’s so much forest green on the cover helped to, since it’s my favorite color (I have a feeling that if God has a favorite color it’s green too).

So with my hopes lifted up I began the book.  Then… my hopes started dropping again fast.  The first chapter or so just didn’t seem well done.  I thought “Well, at least now I know my book will have absolutely no problem getting published with Thomas Nelson!”  Then I thought, “One of the authors is obviously not meant to write a book, but maybe the other author will be better.”  So I read on, and sure enough when there was a shift in the book (seeming to be a switch in writers) the book got WAY better.  I was hooked!  But then I realized it was going to shift back to the other author…

Well, it was at that point I realized that Thomas Nelson found a winner in this duo of writers.  The novel took off and never looked back.  Maybe the beginning was just rushed, or the maybe the editor wasn’t as focused on it.  Whatever the case, I devoured the rest of the book faster than anything I’ve read before.  Both authors did an amazing job!

At the end of it all I was saddened for two reasons:
1-the book was over and the next one isn’t out yet…
2-my hopes of an easy publishing contract were flushed away, it was back to a competitive market.

One thing that still puzzles me is how satisfied I was with the entirety of the work.  Once I finished it I felt that it was basically an introduction, and a thinned-out one at that.  Yet it stands alone very well.  I will say that it left me salivating for the next one in the series, but if this was the end of it all I’d be ok with that.  I’m not sure how they pulled it off, maybe it’s because they did an excellent job of laying the foundations for a new world to enjoy.  I’m a sucker for a well-built reality in fiction and in gaming.  However it was accomplished, well done Wayne & Christopher!

The target audience is definitely young adults, though I don’t think there’s an upper age limit on who will like it.

In regards to the spiritual aspect of the book, I think they did a good job there too.  There were no life altering spiritual depths (that I can recall), but truths of God were solidly built upon.  I believe God is honored by the novel. 

Curse of the Spider King is a must have for those who love fantasy and adventure, and I imagine that the whole “The Berinfell Prophecies” series will be quite the collection.  Pick it up, read it with your kids, your spouse, or by yourself.  Whatever you do with it, if you read it you’ll probably tell others to check it out.

Thanks Wayne Thomas Batson & Christopher Hopper for this book, and thanks ahead of time for the rest of the series!

You can dive deeper into the Berinfell Prophecies at www.heedtheprophecies.com

Pick up your own copy at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1400315050

The authors can be found on the following sites…
Wayne Thomas Batson’s blog – http://enterthedoorwithin.blogspot.com/
Christopher Hopper’s Web site  – http://www.christopherhopper.com/

Other members of the tour have written about the book on the following pages:
Brandon Barr
Justin Boyer
Amy Browning
Valerie Comer
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Shane Deal
Jeff Draper
Emmalyn Edwards
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Todd Michael Greene
Ryan Heart
Timothy Hicks
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Tina Kulesa
Melissa Lockcuff
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirtika
Nissa
John W. Otte
Cara Powers
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Speculative Faith
Robert Treskillard
Fred Warren
Jason Waguespac
Phyllis Wheeler
Jill Williamson
KM Wilsher