My 16-year-old recently checked out “Unleash the Night” by Sherilyn Kenyon from the library. When I noticed it, my mind issued a red flag. Usually I let my kids chose their own reading material by the time they reach this age. I dialogue with them about what they are reading, remind them of important values and encourage them to choose well, but I don’t actively monitor their reading. This one jumped out at me, though. For some reason I couldn’t put my finger on, I was not sure my 16-year-old boy should be reading that author. (It is times like this that I know the Lord is answering my recurring prayer that we will catch the important things as we guide them to adulthood.)

         “Unleash the Night” by Sherrilyn Kenyon is a well-written book, but it is one most Christians would not enjoy. That’s too bad, because Sherrilyn is a gifted storyteller. Her characters come alive, the story world she creates is fascinating and many-layered and the events of the story keep the reader turning pages to the end. But the content of this story has little redeeming value.

         The world of “Unleash the Night” is built on the premise that the Greek gods are real and that their influence is active throughout an elaborate subculture of our modern world. Kenyon masterfully reveals much about this world in dialogue and action within the story. Even more can be learned from the glossary in the back of the book.

         Normally, I do not mind, and even enjoy, the supposition that there is an unknown, mysterious world running parallel and interconnected with this one. Julie Kenner, Shanna Swendson, J. K. Rowling and many others have created parallel subcultures that I enjoy reading. The world of “Unleash the Night,” though, is not one of those. The Greek gods were capricious and cruel, usually demonstrating the worst of humanity. Their selfish, impetuous, inconsiderate actions, combined with their seemingly unlimited power caused numerous tragedies within their ranks and that of humans, who were supposedly, at their mercy. Sherrilyn Kenyon has done a wonderful job recreating that, at best narcissistic at worst malicious, imaginary world. It is not one I enjoy visiting, even if it is only fiction.

         “Unleash the Night” is peopled with the descendents of a group of humans cursed by the Greek gods for an ancestor’s audacity to find a way out of another curse. (True to Greek god form, the recipients of both curses are innocents only tenuously connected to the original “sin” of their forefathers.) This curse created a race of shape shifters and a sub-culture more animalistic than human. Survival of the fittest, doing whatever it takes to get what you want and protecting yourself and yours no matter the cost to others are the mores most revered in this culture.

         There is small spot of light found in the romance that is the central story. The well-written characters of Wren and Maggie learn to love and trust and depend on each other in a way that enriches them both. They face and overcome seemingly insurmountable struggles to become one. They face and defeat inner and outer enemies, forging a lifetime bond quite appropriate between a man and woman.

         Unfortunately, they do so in an extremely promiscuous environment. Both the shape-shifter community and the humans in the story view sex as an animal appetite that should be fed often and with various partners. In fact, the shape-shifters know they found their “mate” when a tattoo appears on them after a sexual encounter. Only then is fidelity considered. At least in that respect Wren and Maggie are different. Even without the mark, they are soon committed to each other.

         It is troublesome, though, that their intimate encounters are so explicit, detailing every move and word. It is also troublesome that the desire they feel for each other seems to be the foundation of their love, not an outgrowth of it. That bothers me. This is the subtle message many romances convey. Sexual attraction equates love. I don’t like that. Romance and true love are hard to find. Sexual arousal, even satisfaction, is easy.

         Since this is essentially a romance between an animal shape-shifter and a human, that might cause a problem for some. After all, intimate relations with animals is abhorrent according to biblical practices. That does not concern me as much as the blatant promiscuity, but for some it might be more of an issue.

         The story of a woman and man who discover in each other a soulmate is wonderfully satisfying. It is why I love reading romances. That need to have someone who accepts you, believes in you and by their very presence encourages you to be more than you thought possible is universal. This book tells that story. I’m just not sure it is worth wading through the muck where resides.

         I certainly won’t be letting my teen read it.

         I don’t always feel it is necessary to mention in a review, but my view of physical intimacy differs significantly from the common culture. In many of the books I read, sex is seen as a recreational activity, something akin to reading a book or going for a boat ride. Some stories have characters who only have sex within a serious relationship, and, while most romances end up with the characters in a monogamous, lifetime relationship, rarely do you find a character, outside the inspirational genre, who believes marriage is the only time such intimacy is truly appropriate.

         According to the creator of sex, though, we have it wrong. We as a culture have abandoned the original design. Sex is not a toy, not a sport, not a different way of communicating. It is the unique exclusive interaction between a man and a woman committed to a lifetime relationship. Anyone with eyes can see that our culture has rejected and replaced that original design. (This is why there are so many broken relationships and problems that have to be navigated as part of life in our contemporary world, but that is not the topic of this blog.)

         This current way of thinking is reflected in our entertainment. It permeates the books published, the movies produced and our choices of recreation. If it were my way, I could find something objectionable in each and every book I review. As I said, except for specific genres, this recreational-sex mindset is the norm.

         But my way is not to tear down. My purpose is not to find fault. I want to find the good, the lovely, the noble in the books I read. And, even with that erroneous belief that sex outside of marriage is good and fun and without problems, many stories are worthy of approbation. So there may be times when I don’t mention my objection when this pervasive mindset appears in a story. You can be assured that I WILL mention it if it is an integral part of the story, as you’ll see in Friday’s review of Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Unleash the Darkness. If, however, it is the occasional passing thought, such as Katie Chandler’s in Enchanted, Inc., I probably won’t mention it. In Enchanted Inc, there is talk of characters desiring that intimacy, but nothing is explicitly shown during the story. And the overall tenor of Katie’s life is one of goodness, of doing what is right because it is right. And we need more stories like that, where right is right and good fights evil.

         So I hope I don’t disappoint you, but I will probably never get nit-picky about sex or alcohol or anything else in the stories I review. I look at the overall message and the pivotal actions of the characters to determine the value of time spent reading the book. Just as each of us is a conflicting mass of good and bad, right and wrong-thinking, I will allow the characters of the fiction I read to live in that same tension. I will do them, and their authors, the honor of viewing the entire story, the overall picture and to remark on the remarkable. I hope as I do so, you will be enriched and encouraged to do the same.

         “Enchanted, Inc”, ISBN 0-345-48125-9, is another magic realism book, this one set in New York City, written by Shanna Swendson and published by Ballantine Books in 2005. It is the beginning of a series that includes “Once Upon Stilettos,” “Damsel Under Stress,“ and “Don’t Hex with Texas.”

         Katie Chandler is ordinary, a trait direly needed by Magic, Spells and Illusions, Inc, the company actively trying to recruit her. Katie, formerly from Texas and living in New York for the past year, is skeptical at first that this is a real job offer, but the months spent surviving an ogre of a boss come to a head and she is ready to seriously consider a closer look at this mystery job.

         Not until her first day at work does she realize she traded a figurative ogre boss for a real one. But by then, that little fact is just one of many that add interest and excitement to her day. As was explained to her when she came to interview at MSI, most people have at least a little magic in them. Some, like those working for MSI, can perform magic, but many only have enough to make them susceptible to spells and illusions. Then there are the few like Katie, called immunes, who are not affected at all by magic. They can walk through magical barriers. They see through the illusions fairies, elves and gnomes wear to escape notice. And, a main reason MSI is recruiting them, they can see magically hidden clauses in contracts and notice suspicious people or actions during business meetings.

         Katie learns soon after starting work at MSI, Inc that the magical community is nervous. Apparently there is trouble brewing, but no one is sure where it will strike next. Because of her astute observations and quick thinking, Katie soon becomes invaluable to MSI, discovering and helping eliminate at least one possible threat to the company. Everything is not all serious, though, as Katie adjusts to her new life in a magical company. She socializes with her new co-workers, rescues a frog-prince, attempts to date with some seriously hilarious results, all the while juggling her new life and her old life in an effort to keep the truth from her roommates.

         This is lighthearted read with quirky characters and a fascinating world to discover. Katie Chandler is a sympathetic, down-to-earth heroine. Her observations and reactions to single life in New York City add levity to an already humorous story. I’m sure subsequent books will see her having even more fun and becoming even more invaluable to the magical community of MSI, Inc.

         Occasionally I wonder if I should spend as much time as I do reading and writing fiction. I look at the culture around me and I see way too much emphasis on entertainment. There are much more important things in life. There are meals to be cooked, clothes to be laundered, rooms to be cleaned. There are the poor and the sick to help, the tragedies of life to better. There are errands to run and countless chores to be done. When I think on all the routine and extraordinary issues of life, , entertainment seems frivolous and unnecessary.

         So why do I embrace it?

         On one level, I can’t not tell stories. Even when I try, when I become mired in life’s day-to-day responsibilities or caught up in important, life-changing events, the stories still cavort in my mind. Those I’ve read, those I’ve written and those begging to be heard. And that is as it should be.

         I am a storyteller. A storyteller does not just entertain. A storyteller gives hope and inspiration. A storyteller calls us from the mire of the everyday to experience the richness of the possible day. The stories that come from the storyteller’s pen or voice tell of adventure and romance and the struggle to achieve something lasting. The best stories show the wisdom and success of living rightly along with the folly of unwise choices. When done well, in the midst of an enthralling story, truth is discovered. Even without the lessons, stories ennoble us, call us to desire and strive for more than the humdrum routine of day-to-day life. Reading, watching, and especially creating stories pulls us out of the routines of life and gifts us with a fresh look at the world, at our circumstances, at out choices.

         Hearing and telling stories. That’s what I want to do.

         And that is a good thing.

         “Garden Spells”, ISBN 978-0-553-80548-2, was written by Sarah Addison Allen and published in hardback by Bantam Dell in 2007. Allen has also published “The Sugar Queen” and has at least one other book due out soon. “Garden Spells” is a light, fascinating story. As with most novels published in the current culture, there are some out-of-wedlock relationships and explicit intimacy portrayed. While rare and done tastefully, some Christians might find these offensive. If you are able to overlook that, though, this book could prove to be a satisfying break from day-to-day reality.

         “Garden Spells” is a sweet magical realism story set in the small fictitious town of Bascom, NC. Many of Bascom’s residents have unique quirks (every generation of Youngs has a Phineas who is the strongest man in town, Clark women were great lovers and always married well, or all Hopkins men married older women). The Waverly family, though, was the oddest of the town. Or so it seems for Claire and Sydney, sisters who had drastically different reactions to life in the Waverly house and garden.

         Claire and her mother returned to Bascom when her mother was pregnant with Sydney. Claire relished the safety and security of life under one roof and immersed herself in the life of a Waverly. The house and garden was magical, with flowers blooming without regard to normal seasons and an apple tree that threw apples at you. If you ate one, you saw the most momentous occasion of your life. Claire, and most of the Waverly women, did not like apples as a result. In Claire’s words,

“If it’s good, you’ll suddenly know that everything else you do will never make you as happy. And if it’s bad, you’ll have to live the rest of your life knowing something bad is going to happen. It’s something no one should know.”

         Claire grows up and starts a catering business that capitalizes on the Waverly tradition of the magical garden, using the different edible flowers to impart various magical effects. Sydney, however, cannot get away from Bascom fast enough. She leaves town soon after graduation and does not return for ten years. When she does return, she is running, with her six-year-old daughter, from an abusive relationship. The book explores the tragic and sometimes humorous history and new life as the two women learn to forgive each other and forge a new, more satisfying relationship. In the end, both women find peace with themselves, their history and their new loves.

         While it seems as though this blog is about reviewing and discussing books, particularly fantasy, I have a wider purpose in mind. I want to challenge and encourage those who claim to believe the Bible to use its principles in choosing and enjoying their entertainment. To that end, I’d like to recommend a product my family has used for years. (I’d say I’m not getting anything for the recommendation, but that’s not strictly true, as you’ll see if you keep reading.)

         Several years ago we purchased a ClearPlay DVD player. From the first time we used it to filter and watch movies, we loved it. Suddenly, almost-acceptable movies became good, good movies became great. We no longer had to fast forward through inappropriate scenes or cringe when we heard words that offended. We started enjoying movies again.

         We recently received a letter from ClearPlay telling of a Valentine’s special they are running.

         In their words:

Here is the deal. Simply tell your friends:
- buy a ClearPlay DVD player at one of these fine retailers
- when your friend calls to activate ClearPlay, tell them to mention your name
- and tell our customer service representative the secret Valentines code “I love Matt more”.

We will give your friend AND YOU an extra month of membership. (psst..there isn’t a limit on the number of free months you can collect, as long as your friends call before the 14th). Now that’s true love!

         Rather than try to explain the technology to you, I’ll point you to ClearPlay and let them do that. The great thing about this product is it is safe from the Hollywood copyright lawsuits because the ClearPlay filters do nothing to the movies themselves. They simple create a mask to seamlessly blank out offending material (as defined by the user through multiple menus and choices). Since it is totally user controlled, it is analogous to you buying a book and choosing not to read certain pages. Copyright laws dictate restrictions on adapting, manipulating or selling another’s creative work, not on how the end user privately enjoys that work.

         So if you are interested, check out ClearPlay. And, if you feel so inclined, mention my name.

         Fridays are normally the days I post a review of a book I have read. It is almost physically impossible for me to read and write a review every week. (One of the reasons I hesitated to even start this site.) That is why I decided early on that I would post a new review 2-3 times a month (on the 2nd, 3rd and 5th Fridays) and link to someone else’s review the other 2 Fridays (1st and 4th).

         Instead of a link to a review of just one book, this week I would like to recommend another reviewing website. A year ago, when searching for similar sites, I could find no one reviewing secular books from a Christian viewpoint. (They might have been on the Web. I just didn’t find them.) This time, though, I found Christian Review of Books. As you see from their About page, their stated mission is similar to mine.

“We decided there should be a Christian review, one that critiqued not only the books in the strictly Christian genre, but those that Christians are more likely to read from the mainstream or literature world, too.”

          What I read was interesting and well-written. A little different from my reviews (or my vision, which doesn’t always amount to the same thing ), but definitely a place to go for a reliable opinion.

         Go check them out. . . . Just don’t forget to come back here next Friday for a “Stephanie’s personal perspective” review. See you next week!

          In case you haven’t caught on yet, I love fantasy. I love reading it. I love dreaming it. And I love writing it. I can think of little that is more enjoyable than being transported into a radically different world and getting a glimpse of what life is like for those characters. The experience is even more enjoyable when I see many of my core beliefs mirrored in positive ways throughout the story.

         Finding those worldview affirming stories can be difficult. (Exactly why I started this site.) Much of genre fiction rejects, ridicules or downplays those values I consider most important. Or they give a positive spin to actions and opinions I consider negative. Even if there is nothing objectionable in plot, theme or character, sometimes neither is there any depth to the story or character journey. Discovering books of depth and spiritual insight is a thrill.

         That’s why I’m so excited to learn about Marcher Lord Press, a new start-up publisher whose stated mission is to get Christian speculative fiction directly into the hands of the fans who devour it. Founder and owner of Marcher Lord Press, Jeff Gerke is acquiring and publishing stories of alternate worlds and fantastical characters that are firmly rooted in a core Christian worldview. (I’ll be reviewing one of them in a few weeks.)

         Like Marcher Lord Press, I believe Christians need to be champions and guardians of Truth and Light in entertainment. We need to monitor and evaluate everything we read and watch through Scripture even as we expand past the borders of the status quo. We are part of this world. We are not meant to separate ourselves and create a sub-culture of our own, excluding and alienating those our Lord came to rescue (just as He rescued us). We are to be part of this world, living in its culture, revealing the new character our Lord gave us. We are to be a clear, brilliant reflection of Him and His message. In doing so, in life and in fiction, we show the world what we already know . . . That there is much rest, much life, much joy in a well-told fantasy tale which shines with Light and Truth.