5. Sacrifice

The turning point of many fantasy books is when the hero gives of their self for the cause. It might be to help the main character push through to the end or it might be to bring about an even better ending than there otherwise would be.

Brom.

Dumbledore.

Gandalf.

Aslan.

Some of these sacrifices deliberately point to Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Others are more ambiguous. Tolkien himself said that Gandalf’s death and resurrection wasn’t intended to be symbolism, but when you look closely at it, there’s no denying Tolkien’s worldview showed through.

This foundational aspect of fantasy can’t but help point people to the ultimate sacrifice that Christ made for us. Again, a heart longing for fulfillment of a story element in real life.

6. Prophecy

Along with the chosen one, there is usually some kind of prophecy that guides the main characters through their fantasy story. Whether it’s a designation of the chosen one or a statement that helps the main characters unearth their quest objective, some form of prophecy exists in most fantasy stories.

How does this relate to Christianity and real life? It’s easy to see the correlation with the Bible. A book, written years in the past, guides our lives today. Or there are the literal prophecies that were given and then later came to pass—like in the book of Daniel.

Again, here’s an opportunity for believers to share their faith through fantasy stories.

7. Orphan

Eragon

The Elfstones of Shannara

The Horse and His Boy

Uprooted (Okay, I didn’t honestly plan on being part of such an ostentatious list, but it’s true.)

All of these have main characters who are orphans, or who become orphans thus setting them on their quest.

Christians may wonder how I’m placing this within roots of their faith, but we are all orphans.

The earliest vision their eyes beheld was not one another. Upon humanity’s awakening, they first saw the glad smile of God. ~Cara L. T. Murphy, The Inquisitive Christ

Back in Eden, we had family. God was our Father, but due to the fall, from the time of our birth until we die, we are now orphans—unless we look to Christ. Then he adopts us into His family. The Apostle Paul talks about us being adopted and crying out “Abba, Father.”

Adoption probably should go under found family, but it’s the idea that we had no family and now we are adopted into a family. Many fantasy heroes have a longing for connection with their lost parents or mentors.

And so we have the next three reasons Christians should read fantasy. As we delve into the genre, we find there are aspects that drive our hearts’ longing. May you fulfill your true purpose this week.

3. The Chosen One

Every fantasy lover knows this trope. The lowly stable boy, the orphan girl, the underdog who no one knows becomes the prophesied savior. I don’t know how many fantasy stories include this in some way. And yet, what if it had its beginnings at the beginning of time?

Genesis chapter three tells of the fall of man, but God doesn’t just punish Adam and Eve for doing what they weren’t supposed to do, he gives a promise! One day, there will come one who will crush the serpent’s head. A Savior would come from the woman.

How many women through the ages wondered if their child would be the chosen one? How many young boys dreamed of being the savior their people longed for?

Then one day, an angel spoke to a young woman betrothed to a righteous man and told her she would bear a child who would be the Savior.

But the chosen one trope doesn’t end with Jesus as the Savior of the world. It goes on. Jesus chose twelve men to travel with him, and many others followed.

Ephesians chapter one verses three and four state:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love (English Standard Version, emphasis mine)

Did you catch that? If we are believers in Christ, then we are chosen. The longing of every fantasy reader to be that chosen hero can be true.

4. Magic

I can just hear Christians ready to cry, “Heresy!” Doesn’t the Bible forbid magic? Put down your stones—okay, at least hold them for a moment and listen.

Magic by its very definition is a supernatural ability. There are two sources to supernatural abilities in this world—from God or from the Devil (Enemy, Satan.)

God gave his Old Testament servants the ability to perform miracles which would very much appear as magic. Moses turning his staff into a snake for instance. The Egyptian magicians did the same thing through their dark arts. There were several signs that Moses did that the Egyptians were able to duplicate, but eventually, they could no longer keep up with God’s power.

In the New Testament, again, God gave signs to help people come to a saving faith in Jesus.

But there is a definite dark magic that the Bible forbids and with good reason. Its source is from the enemy, and he only wants to entangle us in his grasp.

So, as believers we must be careful where our magic system comes from in a fantasy book. There are definite dark fantasy books out there that dig into magic on an evil front.

As you go about your week, remember the chosen one. Are you one of them? Do you know any? But even more importantly, are you living life as a chosen one?

Should Christians read fantasy? I grew up in a family that answered this in the negative. It wasn’t until I was in college that I read Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Let alone C. S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia. But as I grow in my faith and dig deeper into fantasy, the more I see that fantasy is an outworking of the longing of the heart for God.

How? Here’s ten themes within the fantasy genre that harken back to the roots of Christianity. We’ll look at 2 at a time.

1. Found Family

The number of stories in fantasy that have found family as a theme are beyond my counting. Even The Lord of the Rings have the hobbits coming together as a family, not to mention Gimli and Legolas.

But where is found family in Christianity?

Back in the Garden of Eden, God placed Adam and Eve and told them to multiply and fill the earth—in essence, become a family. Unfortunately, it didn’t take them long to break the perfect world God had created, including the family. Cain killed Abel!

When Jesus came to earth, he created the church. Paul uses the image of family for the church. Could it be that the church in its perfect form is to be one big found family?

2. Kingdom Fantasy

One of the subgenres of fantasy is Kingdom Fantasy where there isn’t any magic, just a medieval kingdom; while another trope of fantasy is to have it in a medieval setting.

Many who read fantasy wish to return to the medieval era. Why else would we have Renaissance Faires and the SCA? But what is the draw to this kingdom setting?

Especially in the United States of America, I believe the draw is to the monarchy. Even though our forefathers separated from it, we still are drawn to the idea of a king, queen, prince, and princess—hence the fascination with the British royal family.

The overarching concept of a monarch is that they have supreme control over the kingdom. There’s a bowing down in honor to them; a feeling of awe and reverence.

Wayne Thomas Batson does this well in his The Door Within series where the throne room is held in awe, and Aidan can’t even look at it in passing if the door is open.

Just as Gwenne covered Aidan’s eyes with her hands, a thunderous rumble sounded. The King’s enormous doors began to open. The entire hallway filled with searing light. The fierce brilliance streamed in through Gwenne’s fingers.

Aidan fell facedown, burying his head in his hands. Gwenne bent down to his side as the King’s chamber doors closed and the light withdrew.

“I warned you,” she said sympathetically. “Are you all right?”

“My eyes!” he complained, rubbing both vigorously with his knuckles. He blinked tears and opened his eyes. The only image he could see, eyes opened or eyes closed, was the vague outline of Gwenne’s fingers.

“The glory of the King… it is perilously pure,” she said.

Every believer knows that Jesus is given the name King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Could the fascination with fantasy kings be our desire to understand our own King?

Even better, could reading a fantasy book like The Door Within or others help bring a ‘welcome awakening’ to someone who is longing for a loving king who controls everything?

We’ll look at another 2 reasons next week.

But it’s more than mirroring our world, it’s more so our innate longing for what once was. And so there are ten ways fantasy reflects what our hearts long for. Because of this, I also describe them as ten reasons why Christians should read fantasy.

I know, that can be controversial. But I’ll line out those reasons later. Meanwhile, I posted the question of how fantasy mirrors the real world.

Genres that Mirror the Real World

As I look at fantasy genres, there’s at least one that mirrors our longing for another world. C. S. Lewis and many others, including me, write Portal Fantasy.

Portal fantasy is where the characters go from our world into a fantasy world. But how does this mirror our longing? Listen as this facebook creator explains Aslan.

Did you hear what he said? Find me in your world. Portal fantasy is a longing for the world we were originally created for. A world that can be ours again at the end.

The Door Within by Wayne Thomas Batson not only is portal fantasy, but shows the ending of what could be–adventures with God, not sitting on clouds playing harps.

Characters that Mirror our Longing

The hero is a longing for something more as well. Think about it. We want someone to come in and rescue us!

I once heard a speaker describe it as “Bog Theology.” It’s the time in your life when you’re in the middle of a bog–think mile long and wide where you’re sinking into it. Kind of like the Fire Swamp in The Princess Bride. There are dangers and you’re sinking wanting out.

Bog Theology says that instead of God sending you a helicopter to get you out, he comes alongside you and walks with you through it.

How many fantasy heroes do that. We walk with them through their journey, but in so doing, they walk beside us, helping us through our real-life struggles.

If this sounds like something you want to know more about, follow the series. Next up will be a series of posts with two reasons each of why Christians should read fantasy. It’s the same idea. This longing for a place to call your own that resonates within us with fantasy.

The Wrinkle in Time sisters were prominently seated up front with Meg and Wallace Charles beside them. They’d been a help when our water had been turned off for over twelve hours this week. Whereas Brom and Dalmir had walked to the creek and hauled water to various houses.

Gandalf came around the corner. “We’re all set, Kandi. You’re sure I can’t light fireworks to celebrate our newest award member?”

“No!” I realized it came out too harsh when those in the back row turned to look at us. “No,” I repeated quieter.

“Very well, then.” He grimaced, but the twinkle in his eye told me he hadn’t completely set the idea aside.

I strode toward the windows, nodding to Alden and then gaping as a man with white hair and a long beard took a seat.

“Dumbledore?”

He nodded a greeting.

When had he arrived? Beside him sat a prim rabbit who was knitting. Mentally shaking my head, I continued to the front, making sure to not worry about where people would stay after the party. At least most of them were accustomed to camping out. I had a large yard they could use.

Once at the front, I cleared my throat. “Please, take your seats. We are about to begin.”

There was the rustling of people adjusting and the scraping of chairs along the wood floor. Trying not to be nervous, I glanced about. The room was filled with characters from books I’d read and some I’d not even heard of! I knew my to-be-read list was going to grow by leaps and bounds.

With only the noise of traffic to interrupt me, I opened the ceremony. “Welcome to the 2026 Silmaril Awards for Wisest Counselor.”

Meg squirmed in the front seat, and Mrs. Who (or was it Which) patted her on the knee.

I raised my hand to Gandalf and took my seat in the front row beside my husband. Gandalf seemed to glide to the front, his long beard ruffling to the side. At least his wizard’s hat didn’t hit the ceiling. With a gleam in his eye, he turned to the gathering.

“As our esteemed hostest has said, we are here to honor the Wisest Counselor in all of fantasy literature. This year, as always, the votes are close and by even being nominated, you have risen to the top of the best. But know, whether you are here as a guest or nominee, by virtue of your place in your story, you are important to those in your party. No hero ever made it to the end without the help of their counselor. Never forget that.”

He allowed the silence to drag on, and in that space, a motorcycle zoomed by, its engine reving. A chuckle rose to counter it. Gandalf pulled out a scroll.

“In fifth place…” He cleared his throat. “Athelas from The City Between.”

Polite applause filled the room. Although I hadn’t known Athelas for long, I was sorry he hadn’t won. But that might have been due to his love for my Langlois Fog tea.

When he had taken his seat, Gandalf squinted and read, “In fourth place is Dalmir from The Turrim Archive.”

My heart sank as I applauded and hooted. I’d so wanted Dalmir to win. After all he’d gone through with Grayden and the others, he deserved a silmaril.

“In third place…” Gandalf cocked his head and then nodded. “Ah, yes, The Magus from The Queen’s Thief.”

He’d been the one who’d suggested where we could find tea in my own backyard. I’d been grateful for his suggestions. I was sorry to see he hadn’t placed higher, but that left two favorites for the top contenders.

Gandalf glanced about the room, allowing silence to fall before he said, “In second place is Rendar from Moonscript.”

Loud cheering erupted, and I almost jumped to my feet.

My husband placed a hand on me. “Easy, Kandi. We can’t show favorites.”

But I couldn’t help it. After all, when the kids were younger, we’d had ferrets named Durza and Arya, and when my last series had come out, I’d sent Christopher Paolini a proof copy to ask for an endorsement. Instead, I received a nice letter saying he was working on a project–a project that ended up neck and neck in amazon ratings with my series as it released.

Gandalf raised his hands. “And as you have surmised, the winner of Wisest Counselor for 2026 is Brom from The Inheritance Cycle.”

This time, the cheering was so loud, I hid an ear in my shoulder. It didn’t really help.

Brom made his way to the front. As he arrived, a host of sparkles floated down on him. I looked to Gandalf and he winked at me. It wasn’t fireworks, but it worked for what we needed.

As Gandalf settled the Silmaril on Brom, I snapped a photo to send to my oldest son who still had a copy of The Inheritance Cycle sitting on his bookshelf.

“I am told, there is a feast prepared outside for all to enjoy,” Gandalf said. “And until next year’s Silmaril Awards, may you share wisdom wherever you go.”

Don’t miss the rest of the awards

Most Devoted Couple – T P Sarah at Light and Shadows
Most Epic Heroine – C. O. Bonham
Most Faithful Friend – Mackenzie K. Writes
Most Nefarious Villain – Janelle Leanne Schmidt
Strangest Character – E. E. Rawls
Most Magnificent Dragon – Rachel A. Greco
Most Epic Hero – DJ Edwards
Silver Tongue – S. L. Dooley
Most Rakish Rogue – Grace T

Parents of school-age children often hit the same wall: the usual after-school activities fill time, but they don’t always spark creativity or fit a child’s changing interests. Between busy schedules, limited local options, and the pressure to “pick the right thing,” the parenting challenge becomes finding something that feels meaningful instead of just convenient. Many families want creative enrichment options that support children’s personal growth, build real confidence, and keep curiosity alive. The goal is simple, expanding children’s horizons.

Why Nontraditional Learning Builds Confidence

Nontraditional learning opportunities are activities that teach through doing, creating, and experimenting instead of following a set script. The heart of it is creative learning as an engaging and imaginative process, where kids get more say in how they learn and show what they know. That freedom often sparks new interests and strengthens real-world skills.

This matters because confidence grows when kids see themselves improve through practice, not just performance. It also widens their perspective by showing there is more than one “right” way to solve a problem. The fact that 48% of parents prefer a hybrid learning model reflects how many families value flexible paths.

Think of a child who hates worksheets but lights up in a stop-motion animation club. They plan, revise, ask questions, and share a final project they can proudly show. The same child often starts taking healthy risks in other areas, too. That mindset makes it easier to protect quality time with simple, shared routines that still feel meaningful.

Build a 15‑Minute After‑School Routine You Can Do Together

When kids get chances to explore and create, they grow, but they also need to feel your steady presence behind the scenes. One of the simplest ways to protect that connection during busy seasons is to pick an after-school activity you can do with your child, even if it’s just 15 minutes. The goal isn’t a big production; it’s consistency. When you have a small plan of attack, your child reliably gets quality time with you, and you don’t carry the same pressure to “make it up” later. That together-time can look a few different ways:

• Join their activity in a small, doable way, sit down and participate alongside them rather than supervising from across the room.
• Be available for bedtime every night when you can, so the day ends with connection.
• Invite them into simple chores while you’re working in the kitchen, so being together doesn’t depend on having extra hours.
• Plan a new experience together (something to look forward to), which builds closeness even before it happens.

If you need help thinking through busy-season priorities without adding more guilt to your plate, it can be reassuring to map out what matters most. Once you’ve protected that small daily “us” moment, it’s easier to choose from a wider menu of outside-the-box activities that fit your child’s age and interests.

Pick Outside-the-Box Activities (With Age-Friendly Examples)

A good after-school activity doesn’t have to be a big weekly commitment. If you already have a simple 15‑minute together routine, these options plug right in, try one in “tiny mode” first, then build only if your child asks for more.

1. Run a “craft skill ladder,” not random crafts: Pick one craft learning goal for 2–3 weeks (cutting, stitching, weaving, origami folds) and repeat it with small upgrades. For younger kids, that might be cutting straight lines → zigzags → simple shapes; for older kids, sewing a button → repairing a tear → making a mini pouch. Keeping a “before/after” page in a notebook helps kids see progress, which boosts confidence.
2. Make arts education feel like a mini studio, not a worksheet: Choose one artist “move” per week, shading, collage layering, perspective, or color mixing, and do a 15‑minute warm-up side by side. Then let your child make one “final piece” on the weekend using the same move. A helpful north star is that 63% of young people who engage in creative activities report increased confidence and reduced stress/anxiety.
3. Try instrument lessons in a “micro-lesson” format at home: Instead of “practice for 30 minutes,” set a timer for 8–12 minutes and focus on one bite-size win: one riff, one chord change, or four clean measures. For ages 5–8, rhythm instruments or simple keyboard patterns work well; ages 9–12 can track a short practice streak and choose a “showcase song” every month. End by recording a 20‑second clip so they can hear improvement over time.
4. Build language acquisition into daily life with a theme week: Pick one theme, snacks, sports, pets, feelings, and learn 8–12 useful words plus 2 short phrases. Use them during your existing 15‑minute routine (label items, act out verbs, play “I spy” in the target language). Older kids can add a weekly voice note or short comic strip using the theme words.
5. Do a “kitchen STEM” experiment series with one variable at a time: Choose experiments you can repeat with small changes: paper airplanes (wing shape), slime (ratio), plants (light), or ice melt (salt/sugar/sand). Keep it simple: write a guess, change one thing, and note what happened. For teens, STEM programs can be especially worthwhile, one review found STEM education showed stronger cognitive outcomes in high school.
6. Start kid-friendly entrepreneurship with a tiny, low-stakes project: Pick a one-week “mini business” that fits your family schedule: a bookmark-making table, a dog-walk flyer for neighbors you know, or a donation drive. Ideas like selling homemade crafts help kids practice pricing, presentation, and polite communication without needing big startup costs. Keep the goal small, earn enough for one shared treat or donate proceeds to a cause they choose.
7. Create a rotating “choice board” so quitting turns into tweaking: Post 10 options (mix crafts, art, music, language, STEM, and entrepreneurship) and let your child pick 2 per week: one easy comfort choice, one stretch choice. If motivation dips, swap the format before you ditch the whole activity, shorter sessions, a different theme, or doing it together during your 15‑minute routine. These small experiments make it easier to balance costs, time, and follow-through without turning after school into a battle.

Common Questions Parents Ask About After-School Ideas

Q: What if I can’t tell which activity my child will actually like?
A: Start with a short “taste test” week and watch for energy, not perfection. The five core dimensions can guide you: do they enjoy it, want it often, prefer doing it alone or together, and like the setting? Let them choose the next tiny step.

Q: How do I balance activities with homework and downtime?
A: Pick a hard stop time and protect decompression first, even if that means only 10 minutes of an activity. It also helps to consider how they will affect the entire family so your schedule stays calm and predictable.

Q: Can I support my child’s interests without pushing too hard?
A: Aim for encouragement, not outcomes: notice effort, curiosity, and problem-solving. Offer two options and let them pick, then end on a “we’ll pause here” note before frustration spikes.

Q: How do we build consistency when motivation is all over the place?
A: Keep the same small time slot on most days so it becomes automatic. Track streaks with something simple like a calendar dot or one sentence about what they tried.

Q: What should I do when an activity melts down or they want to quit?
A: Treat it as feedback, not failure: reduce the difficulty, shorten the session, or switch materials. Ask one question, “What part felt too hard?” then help them make one change for next time.

Build Confidence Through One New After-School Choice This Week

It’s easy to feel stuck between wanting kids to try more and worrying about over-scheduling or choosing the “wrong” activity. A steadier path is a positive parenting outlook that treats after-school time as low-pressure experimentation, guided by empowering parental choices and honest check-ins. When that mindset leads, confidence in activity selection grows, and so does a child’s curiosity, independence, and other developmental benefits as their horizons expand. One new experience at a time is how confidence is built. Choose one small next step this week, sign up for a trial, visit a club, or simply ask which idea feels worth testing. Those small yeses build resilience and connection that carry well beyond the school year.

Katherine Williams knows that one of the most difficult things about parenting is taking good care of yourself so you can take the best care of your children. She created When the Baby Sleeps to help parents prioritize self-care so they can be there for their kids. She knows that finding time for self-care as a parent never gets easier, but she hopes the advice and resources shared on her site will help her visitors be their best parenting selves.

So, here’s an excerpt from the early section of the book.

A frosty morning

When Ruskya and Kyn exited the abode the next morning, a heavy fog hung in the air so that the top of the canyon could not be seen. A thick layer of frost crunched under their feet. Each blade of grass seemed to be enlarged three times or more with tiny hairlike particles; it was as if each flake of ice built on the next to create miniature castles.

The riders went about their normal morning chores and training, but over it all hung an air of anticipation for the time when Ruskya would go to Caravan Canyon to meet with Kyle and the woman who wanted to be a dragon rider. Duskya had a bad feeling about the whole thing and tried to talk her brother out of going, but Ruskya was adamant. She opted to follow him with their mental link. Glendyn had decided that he and Kyn would wait at Meredyth’s abode. Her place was the closest to Caravan Canyon they could get without freezing or drawing unnecessary attention. They arrived just before the midday meal.

Meredyth greeted them with hugs. When she heard that Ruskya couldn’t stay but needed to go to Caravan Canyon to meet up with Kyle, she quickly set about making a snack and fixing tea that she poured into a container wrapped with skins to keep it warm. Ruskya thanked her and headed back out into the cold.

The fog had lifted, but still hung from the sky as low clouds. The frost clung to the sagebrush and grass, but the slightest wind would create a small blizzard. The cold sucked the breath away from the young rider, and he drew his furs tighter. He was glad his ma had fixed him some of her tea. He had tucked it and the snack she had given him away under his cloak where they would stay out of the cold.

Ruskya made it to Caravan Canyon in good time. He looked around for the others, but didn’t see them. He wasn’t sure if he was early or not. He waited a few minutes and then heard some voices coming up the canyon toward him. He walked toward them and found Kyle and the woman just arriving from Woolpren.

“You made it here. Good,” Kyle remarked. “I wasn’t sure if you would when I didn’t see you in Woolpren.”

“You said to meet here at the canyon,” Ruskya replied, “so that is what I did. I haven’t been here long.”

“So, where is this dragon rider of yours?” the woman inquired.

“I don’t know,” Kyle said, pulling the hood of his cloak closer around his face, while looking around as if the rider would materialize out of thin air. “He said to be here. He should be here.”

A Dragon Rider Appears

Ruskya decided to watch his companions for signs of anything amiss. Neither of them seemed to have picked up on the presence further out of the canyon. He figured that if he watched Carryl and took his cues from her, he would appear normal. A few minutes later, he noticed a sparkling frost fall upon the edge of the canyon behind them. Ruskya repositioned himself so that he could watch that side of the canyon without appearing to do so. Carryl noticed the shift and looked around. Her sharp eyes picked out the frost shift, also.

“Is someone coming?” she asked.

“Where?” Kyle asked, looking back the way he had come into the canyon.

“I don’t know,” Ruskya answered truthfully. He didn’t know if there was someone with the dragon.

An uneasy silence hung over the group as they watched around the canyon. Ruskya’s dragon senses saw the person first and flared away immediately; this was someone who would recognize dragon senses being used on him. Ruskya knew it was a man and that he was strong. He seemed different from Glendyn or any other rider Ruskya had met or felt. He immediately moved to guard his thoughts and his dragon senses.

“What was that?” Glendyn asked.

“It’s the rider,” Ruskya carefully called. “Do you think he can hear this?”

“No, Ruskya,” Wyeth answered. “No matter how strong, another rider cannot hear a dragon’s communications with his rider. Talk only to me. Glendyn can still watch through your thoughts.”

“Okay,” Ruskya answered shakily.

“Courage, young one,” Wyeth called. With his dragon’s words, Ruskya felt strength return to him as if he had just received dragon courage breathed on him.

“There,” Carryl whispered, “there’s a person coming down the ridge.”

“Where?” Kyle demanded, sounding loud compared to Carryl’s whisper.

Ruskya noticed the look of offense that Carryl sent toward the other man. She almost held him in contempt.

Before she could say anything, Ruskya replied, “She’s right. He blends in with his brown and white outfit, but there is a man coming down.”

The look Carryl sent Ruskya was the exact opposite of what she had thought of Kyle, her green eyes searched him, looking for what he was made of.

“How can you tell it is a male?” she questioned.

Ruskya thought quickly; he had known it from the first contact he had. “I thought I saw his figure as he came around that small bend,” he said truthfully. The glimpse had been enough to confirm what he had known all along. Carryl nodded, satisfied, her hair bouncing like little springs.

They waited in anticipation for the next couple of minutes as the rider made his way down the canyon wall toward them. When he arrived, the rider paused before greeting his perspective riders. Even Kyle had the presence of mind to wait until he was addressed before talking.

Summary

The rider tests them and then when the sun’s all but set they await his decision.

Shocking Ending

The rider waited again. This time no one moved. The fog seemed to creep into their bones. Ruskya felt the touch on his mind again. His mind felt unclean after the rider moved on to the others. He wondered what the rider was searching for.

“I admit, there is only one more test,” the rider said, as the sound of large wings beat in the air.

“You did bring dragons with you,” Carryl said with awe in her voice. No sooner were the words out of her mouth, then an enormous turquoise dragon landed at the rider’s right side.

The dragon’s wings were larger than any Ruskya had ever seen, and the light of the torch made them glow in their iridescence. The dragon folded his wings, and Ruskya noticed the dark veins of blue streaking through the dragon. It reminded him of a large turquoise gemstone set into a cloak clasp or on a belt hook. There was something unnerving about this dragon. The dragon landed and Ruskya had barely taken in all of him, when Ruskya felt Wyeth’s scream of agony.

“Wyeth, are you okay?” he called urgently.

Before Wyeth could respond, Duskya called to him, “Ruskya, is everything okay?”

Ruskya had no time to reply to his twin, for the rider had stepped up to Kyle and with a roar, brought his hand back and slapped Kyle across the face.

“What were you thinking, you imbecile?”

Kyle went down onto his knees at the force and unexpectedness of it.

The rider drew back his hand and smote again. “How dare you bring a rider here!”

Get Dragon’s Future for free

Did you like what you read? You can download your own copy for free or purchase the paperback for a gift for someone who loves dragon books.

Do you love worlds where there are high stakes? Worlds where cultures clash and people have to figure out how to get along? Where love is gentle and comes along slowly?

Then you’ll love Sharon Rose. Whether she’s writing stories in space or a medieval world, she brings all of that together in a masterful story.

Arts of Substance

This unique world has three gifts: Formers, Weavers, and Streamers.

Formers can sense and move the ground. They polish stones, excavate, and build.

Weavers move the wind and can control the weather patterns.

Streamers control the waters.

The gifts are given based not on the person but what Creo deems best for the world, and if someone acts in defiance to him, their gift can be taken away! In a world where status is held based on your gift, that’s not something people are willing to chance.

Book 1: To Form a Passage

The first book introduces us to Dirklan, an underground province that is expanding and bringing ore to the rest of the kingdom until there’s a collapse and the province is cut off from above. Their will to survive is challenged, and politics come to the fore as they seek a passage to reach the world above.

Book 2: To Weave the Wind

Set several generations after the first book, To Weave the Wind gives us a glimpse of the world outside Dirklan and then the problems that have resulted from years of isolation below.

An ambassador is sent from above to Dirklan province, but this ambassador is the daughter of the king and queen. Her gifting has always been valued, and she’s grown up knowing that she’s needed below.

When she arrives, though, she discovers she’s not what the people of Dirklan think she is. They want a streamer to open the waterways that bring in supplies, but she’s a weaver of the wind. What need can there be for wind in an underground world?

To make matters worse, all the eligible bachelors are vying for her hand in marriage. Thankfully, her father gave instructions to the governor of Dirklan that she’s capable of making her own decision.

As the passage that brings food in worsens and political scheming rises, the ambassador and the governor’s son work together with their unique giftings to bring unwanted but much needed help to the province.

Review of To Weave the Wind

Sharon Rose did it again! A story that brings to light the problems that can form when we don’t see things from different perspectives. The age-old struggle of thinking our way is right without bothering to discover that there are other ways of thinking.

Her use of the giftings is masterfully woven to show that each person is unique even if they have the same type of gift–each gift is manifested in a unique way. The whole idea of gifts resonates throughout the story shedding light on our own world.

A must read for those who love fantasy worlds with a touch of realism, characters to love, and books that transport you while they encourage you.

Why me?
Why them?
They’re my best friend, such a wonderful person. They don’t deserve that!

In the midst of tragedy it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and dismayed. Even to blame God. Afterall, he allowed this to happen!

Previous Conclusions to Bad Things

More theological minds than mine have delved into this question and come up with answers. Most of them conclude with set ideas about God.

1. God is all-powerful (omnipotent) and has allowed this to happen. Therefore, he must be a mean God.

2. God is kind and loving and yet these bad things happened. Therefore, he must be a weak God.

Both of these conclusions, lead believers to despair and to turn away from God, for who would want to worship a mean God or a weak God? Not me!

A Trite Reply

Have you ever been through a terrible time and a loving friend says “Romans 8:28, you know.” Or maybe they phrased it like this, “Remember all things work together for good.”

You’re neck deep in tears and struggling to even breathe, and they say that? What good is it?

It doesn’t take into consideration your pain, your struggle. Let alone the fact that your faith may be at its weakest. You may be fumbling to grasp the concept that God is good, that he even loves you! And they say all things work together for good?

It’s about like the scene in The Princess Bride where Miracle Max says, “While you’re at it, why don’t you give me a nice paper cut and pour lemon juice on it?”

A Better Conclusion for Bad Things

While your friend probably wasn’t trying to be trite, what they said was true, they just didn’t dig deeper. The answer to why bad things happen to good people is found in the verse following Romans 8:28.

That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son.

Romas 8:28-29 MSG

Did you catch the why to our trials and sufferings? To make us into the image of his son! Every single bad thing that happens to me is there to make me more like Jesus!

If you have time, I encourage you to read the full passage from the Message Bible.

Bad Things, Good People, and Resolved

Poor Siobhan. She’s a princess who’s locked into an arranged marriage–one that was arranged without her even knowing! Besides that she’s abducted–not once but twice! This leaves her with PTSD, a husband who knows nothing of statecraft, and then she becomes a mother while her PTSD has been triggered.

If that wasn’t enough, her husband thinks she’s better off without her, leaving her to rule a nation and raise a daughter. At least he left his Captain of the Royal Guard for her.

As her heart heals, she finds she may be able to love again, but war looms over her nation–again her fears haunt her. An evil mage attacks her, and she heads out to battle.

Didn’t she have enough trouble? Why would I put her through all that?

As a discovery author I could say that the story wrote itself, but in reality, my subconscious decided to pen out a treatise on why bad things happen to good people in novel form. I didn’t set out to do so, but that’s what happened.

As you struggle through life’s trials, I hope this will help you. It’s not meant in a trite way. In fact, I’ve been there really questioning whether or not God was good. It was Frank Peretti’s words from Realm Makers 2021 that kept me going. I can still see him on stage as he said:

We’re God’s sheep. He’s the good shepherd. We see his back and his staff and follow him. Rarely does he turn around and say, “Sheep, this is where we’re going, because….” But when he does, listen up! No matter what, follow the staff.

We follow believing that he is good! Just like Aslan, he’s not a tame lion, but he’s good.

As an author there have been several of my novels that were inspired by songs. I hummed the chorus to Who You Say I Am all the while as I wrote Dragon’s Winter. Paskal’s Hope and (working title) The Rebel and His King both are yet-to-be-published novels that were driven by specific songs.

Resolved and Songs

The Sunday before Resolved released, I walked into the church service late because I’d been talking with our Sunday School teacher. I discovered one whole row filled with my family and their significant others, and my parents in the row in front of them. My heart was filled to overflowing as my daughter’s boyfriend stood to offer me his seat. I squeezed in and made room for him as well. Then the music started, and tears streamed down my face. Tears of gratitude and thanksgiving. But with each consecutive song, I was drawn into my own story world. I saw Siobhan in all of it.

Blessed Be Your Name by Matt Redman

The premise of this song is that through good and bad I’ll praise God. Part of the tears flowing with this song was because I remembered another time when I’d lost a friend in death. We’d sang the very same song. Now I sat in a row full of family and all was well.

The chorus states:

Every blessing You pour out, I’ll
Turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

This reminded me of Siobhan at the end of Resolved. The final chapter came to mind and I cried even more.

The Goodness of God by Bethel Music

This song will probably inspire another novel or more. The lyrics are just so amazing. The chorus talks about God’s goodness running after me. Just the imagery of that blows my mind away, but that Sunday, it was again the final chapter of Resolved that played out on my mind’s eye.

You have led me through the fire
In the darkest night
You are close like no other
I’ve known You as a Father
I’ve known You as a Friend
And I have lived in the goodness of God

Exchange the word God for Jeeah, and that’s exactly what Siobhan was saying as well.

How Great is Our God by Chris Tomlin

I love this song and usually sing it in three different languages. In fact, that Sunday I did. My daughter’s boyfriend looked at me strangely at first, but when I explained that I was using American Sign Language and singing in Spanish on the chorus, he smiled.

This song is just a wonderful song to raise in praise. To realize how wonderful God is. I envisioned Siobhan standing on the field singing this one to Jeeah.

The Door Within

Meanwhile, I’ve been listening to Wayne Thomas Batson’s The Door Within Trilogy. Books 2 and 3 were bookcased around Realm Makers–listening on the five hour trip to the airport and back, and finishing when I was down sick with a cold after the conference.

The trilogy is an amazing Christian fantasy that in some ways is like a modern-day Pilgrim’s Progress. Teens find their way into the land of Alleble full of Glimpses (spirit halves of the people from earth), and a fight between King Eliam and Prince Paragor. The story dropped me into the world of Glimpse-kind and knights of Alleble to such a degree, that when I went to church to set up the PowerPoint for Sunday, I was transported to King Eliam’s throne room with each of these songs:

Hosanna (Praise is Rising)
All Hail, King Jesus
Ancient of Days
He is Exalted
You Are My King (Amazing Love)
Come, Let Us Worship and Bow Down
Majesty
Holy Is the Lord

What songs have reminded you of books? Or are there books that remind you of songs? I’d love to hear your thoughts.