Friday, July 23, 2010

Review/Giveaway: Starlighter

Starlighter (Dragons of Starlight)A WINNING READINGS GIVEAWAY!

Title: Starlighter
Author: Bryan Davis
Genre: Christian fantasy/teen fiction
How to enter: Leave a comment on THIS post right here! If you're a subscriber or a follower, leave a second comment for a second entry.
Entry deadline: August 10, 2010
Restrictions: Open internationally!

That's right, enter right here for this giveaway.  This is my review copy, so it has been gently read.

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Publisher: Zondervan
Physical Description: 400-page paperback
List Price: $9.99
ISBN: 9780310718369
Author Blog:  http://dragonsinourmidst.blogspot.com/
Author Web Site:  http://www.dragonsinourmidst.com/


Synopsis:
In the first novel of a new four-book fantasy series for young adults by bestselling author Bryan Davis, human and dragon worlds collide when Jason Masters enters the dragon planet and meets Koren, a descendant of humans who were kidnapped and are now the dragons’ slaves.
About the Author:
Bryan Davis is the author of the bestselling fantasy series Dragons in Our Midst, Oracles of Fire and Echoes from the Edge. He and his wife, Susie, have seven children and live in western Tennessee where he continues to cook up his imaginative blend of fantasy and inspiration.
What I Liked:

I've got to be honest and say I've had a hard time getting into fantasy literature in the past.  With realistic fiction, you have a common frame of reference to begin with, and the author can get right into the storyline without losing you in descriptive narrative.  With fantasy, it takes a bit longer to be captured by the story, at least in my experience.

However, I wanted to give fantasy another chance, and I'm glad I did.  True - it did take a little longer to get immersed in the story, but the author did a good job of combining action with background and setting details so the plot moves along while you are figuring out the setting and the "natural laws" of the fantasy world.

And I LOVE the rich Christian symbolism.  So far it's not so completely obvious or parallel to the story of mankind and God as to be predictable, but there are many references to the Creator, to Lost Humans, to lies told by the enslavers.  It's one of those books I didn't want to put down, but still found my mind drifting through the symbolism, trying to tie things to the story of salvation, allowing that story to grow in multi-facetedness...

Definitely a recommended book for the teens in your life who are interested in the fantasy genre.

What I Didn't Like: 

The end of this book very much leaves the reader hanging.  While it does wrap up one adventure to some extent, there are still lots of loose ends and a new adventure has started.  I HATE endings like that!  Especially when the next books in the series haven't been published yet!

Thanks to Zondervan for the review copy of this book, and to CSFF for coordinating this blog tour.

Blog tour participants include:
Posted by Jane from Mozi Esmé

57 comments:

Annette W. said...

I'd like to win this for my church library!

Annette W. said...

I follow you!

Bryan Davis said...

Thank you for mentioning my book. I'm glad you liked it (for the most part). Sorry about the ending. It's tough to draw a first book to a close and still keep readers wanting the second book. It's really one long story.

If you'll contact me by email bryan (at) daviscrossing (dot) com, I can send you an autographed copy of Starlighter for your giveaway, if you would like that.

Bluerose said...

I love Science Fiction fantasy! Please enter me.
bluerose_shelnut(At)yahoo(dot)com

Bluerose said...

I'm a follower.
bluerose_shelnut(at)yahoo(dot)com

tawndam said...

this book sounds great! (I'm sure that my teens will like it too... even though there are no apparent vamps... lol)

tawndam said...

google follower (signed copy? I'm for that too! ;-))

MannaB said...

Sounds like a great book!

crazypplrok@gmail.com

Carrie at In the Hammock Blog said...

Sounds really good! Thank you for the contest!!

inthehammockblog at gmail dot com

Carrie at In the Hammock Blog said...

I'm a follower via gfc :)

inthehammockblog at gmail dot com

Misha said...

I would love to win this book.
I am a follower.

misha
mishamary@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Please enter me in the giveaway :D
Seth,

Unknown said...

I'm now following so I would like to be entered for a second entry lol.

Cindy W. said...

I would love to win a copy of Starlighter. Thank you for the chance to win a copy.

Smiles & Blessings,
Cindy W.

countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

Cindy W. said...

I am a GFC follower and email subscriber.

Smiles & Blessings,
Cindy W.

countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

Anonymous said...

I would love to read this. Thanks for the giveaway.

peacelily_2006(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I'm a follower and email subscriber.

peacelily_2006(at)yahoo(dot)com

Nancye said...

Please include me

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Follower

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Bakersdozen said...

I am glad that there is a good alternative to some of the other fantasy literature that is out there. I would read this and share it with my teenagers. vidomich(at)yahoo(dot)com

Bakersdozen said...

Winning Readings email subscriber. vidomich(at)yahoo(dot)com

Misha said...

I am a follower and an email subscriber.

Misha
mishamary@gmail.com

Katie said...

Please enter me! I love Bryan Davis' books!

God bless!
~Katie G.
katiegalyean (@) yahoo (.) com

Katie said...

Im a follower.

abfantom said...

This sounds like an interesting book that I'd like to read. Please enter me in the giveaway.

abfantom at yahoo dot com

abfantom said...

I follow via GFC: abfantom

abfantom at yahoo dot com

mindy said...

sounds fabulous thanks for the giveaway minsthins at optonline dot net

wmmahaney said...

Please enter me.
wmmahaney(at)att(dot)net

wmmahaney said...

I follow in Google Reader.
wmmahaney(at)att(dot)net

Unknown said...

A great book for the younger set. I have several grandchildren that would enjoy this book. I'm a subscriber. Thank you for this chance and please enter me.

Barb Shelton
barbjan10(at)tx(dot)rr(dot)com

Unknown said...

Please enter me for this giveaway. I'm a subscriber and would like to win this book for my grandkids. Thank you. Please enter me.

Barb Shelton
barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

Jenn S. said...

Starlighter sounds like a book my daughter and I would both enjoy. Count me in!

Jenn S. said...

GFC follower.

idahomom said...

We are doing a lot of camping which means I get to do a lot of reading. Thanks for the chance at what looks like a good read.

Hoa said...

Would love to read this book! Please enter me.

alittlepieceofheaven777(at)yahoo(dot)com

Hoa said...

Follower via GFC
Name-Hoa

alittlepieceofheaven777@yahoo.com

Renee G said...

Would love to read this.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com

Amy said...

I'd love to read this and i'm a follower

Nickolay said...

My daughter would love this book. Thanks for the chance

jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com

Becky said...

Sounds like a good read!
beckyspoolstra at gmail.com

Valeen said...

I think my daughter and I would take turns reading it! Thanks for a great giveaway!

sweepyhead at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I hope i win

jim.coyne2@verizon.net

Sunnyvale said...

I'd enjoy this

Breanne said...

I love young adult fantasy books! They're my favorite.

lknott said...

This looks like a book my daughter would love to read. Even though we read the same books, sometimes she is into the paranormal more then I am. Want to win to share with her!!!!


lknott@partnercom.net

K Wray said...

I'm a follower! blackbird0615@yahoo.com

K Wray said...

Sounds like a great giveaway!
blackbird0615@yahoo.com

susansmoaks said...

I cannot wait to read this!

susansmoaks at gmail dot com

Gloria's Bits and Pieces said...

I like to read it and give to my daughter also.

Gloria's Bits and Pieces said...

follow as kngmckellar

Ash said...

This looks interesting.......I hope I get a chance to read it!!

Ash said...

Following via GFC

sdianen said...

Would love to win this book.


sdnwdn@cox.net

Julia said...

I think my sister would love this book!

juliabaxter at ihmail dot com

Nancy S. said...

I'd like to win this book.
ncschools at yahoo dot com

Nancy S. said...

I follow with GFC.

Unknown said...

It sounds like a great book. My daughter would love it. garrettsambo@aol.com