The Silent Songbird

I had originally thought this book was based off Han's Christian Anderson's fairytale "the Nightengale", but to my delighted surprise it was based off another of Han's fairytales, "The little Mermaid"

Blessed with a voice that nearly enchants all who hear it Evangeline feels a prisoner within her own home. Never allowed out of the castle without a full armed escort for fear of kidnapping she has seen very little of the outside world. When rumor spreads that her cousin, King Richard II, is planning to marry her one of his advisor's Evangeline fears she will never be free. When she meets her betrothed Evangeline fears for her very life.

I have always been a huge fan of fairytales, especially from Han's Christian Anderson, so when I saw the similarities between not only the little mermaid, but to me also of The Nightengale, I was love with the book even more. This is part of a series, but you don't have to read the others to understand what is going on. Though if you want to read the stories of some of the characters in this book read A Merchant's Daughter, it is Melanie Dickerson's take on Beauty and the Beast, and the best way to start this series if you are interested!

I finished off this book within the same day of getting it in the mail. That's just how good it is. With clean content for young adult, yet still captivating while keeping it realistic. Any age group will enjoy this, and any, of Melanie's books. I am heart broken that her next one will not be coming out until May of 2017. I guess that just gives me time to read the previous books again!

That's all I have for now folks. Until next time, I hope you have a blessed day!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my Honest review, which I have given.

Legs on Fire

 For today’s post I bring you My Legs are on Fire by Samuel Faulk.

This isn’t my normal Christian fiction reviews, nor is this book from a review program; this is a normal fiction/memoir/poetry (covers a broad area of subjects for just 17 pages, doesn’t it?). This book does have some language in it; so if you are not over the age of 18, talk to your parents before reading this book.

We’ll start with the fiction part first. It is focused on a high school girl with cerebral palsy, a physical impairment that affects the muscles in her arms and legs. Adding on the struggles and strife modern high schools put on to teenagers, especially ones with a handicap. What makes this story special is our main character, Phoebe Razek, and her goal to be apart of the track team.

I was inspired by this young woman's aspirations. She wanted to do something the entire world said was impossible for her to achieve. The story flowed smoothly, and I feel would relate to teenagers on the same level as 13 Reasons Why, by Jay Asher.

The next part to review is the memoir. As you can guess this section goes over some events in the life of Samuel Faulk, and the struggles he survived throughout his life. I have only read one other memoir besides this one, and that was back in 2012, but this one had the same impact on me. 

Seeing someone on the outside as you walk by, you can never know his or her full story. What trials have they faced? What kind of jokes and humor do they share with friends and family? And how do they get through the day? Reading this short memoir was like being able to look into the eyes of that person and to see important moments of their lives, ones that are not easily described. 

And here comes the poetry! One of my favorite things about this book. This author has a talent for poetry, for I have been honored to read some of his other works besides these two poems. These two are very clear, and flow well in their parts. 

There is no need for extensive poetry study before you read these. Not to say they are dumb or silly, just that when you read them you will have no trouble hearing the  written words in your mind flow together into symphony.

The last section is this book is a bonus called "The Confessions of a Pyromaniac". This one was a little oddball, but it does help bring the title "My legs are Fire" into full circle. No he did not set himself on fire, but the author expresses his passions for fire, and fireworks. An interesting piece, but I might put a warning label with it that says, "Do not try attempt any of this". But it was still a good read.

All in all I did enjoy the book, minus the language. If this sounds like a book for you then follow the link below

My Legs are on Fire

Well, that's all for today folks. Kaitlyn W. signing off, I hope you have a blessed day

who said Chivalry is dead?

Taking place shortly after the events of Dina  L. Sleiman’s previous book Dauntless we meet young Gwendolyn a woman setting her heart out on being a knight, and proving she is more then just another helpless female.

I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect from Chivalrous since I have not read Dauntless, and in truth I thought it might be another somewhat unrealistic book where a girl becomes a knight and all her dreams come true. I won’t spoil things for you, but Chivalrous is so much better then that.

Gwendolyn has to battle more then just the constant reminder that for her time skills such as fighting and horseback riding are deemed unladylike and would bring shame to a family if that girl is ever caught. Her father, a cruel and unjust man, would see her married to a man who could break her very spirit.

I found that Gwendolyn is a very relatable character for any girl. In this day and age marriage is almost always looked on unfavorable and isn’t really encouraged anymore, to the point that girls get the wrong impression about marriage. Instead of seeing it for the beautiful commitment to one another under the power of God they see it as a ball and chain, or sometimes a prison depending on the examples of marriage that have been shown to them. This was the view Gwendolyn had of marriage and vowed never to go into marriage, no matter the costs.

Gwendolyn also had another relatable thing to just about anyone; the desire to be loved for who you are, not for what people want you to be. I struggle with this too, and seeing a character have to deal with the same things I have to in a setting where myth and knights was even more amazing.

This book is not only about Gwendolyn though, there are so many supporting characters I have come to know and love, to watch them grow and make their choices was amazing. Another amazing thing to watch was the change in Gwendolyn. Some think the changes made by God are wrong, that it makes you someone too different then who you want to be, but this book showed that the changes that God makes to make you a new person are not so drastic, and that He is making you the person you were always meant to be, the better person you could not be with sin controlling your life.

I would recommend this book to EVERYONE, and I want to read Dauntless even more now. I hope that Dina will make more books, if she continues with this series or not I will look forward to any work by her.

Well until next time folks, Kaitlyn W. signing out. I hope you have a blessed day.

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, which I have given

I'm not so sure....

Okay, I heard from a few people how much they enjoyed the NIV translation of the bible; it was enough to make me curious. So I chose the NIV bible for teen girls by Zondervan. I wasn’t sure what to expect.

 As I said before I really was not sure what to expect from this translation, but others who had reviewed this particular Bible seemed to really enjoy it and liked the devotionals inside. I did too, and not just for teens, woman, but some I recommended that parents should read to their children, boy or girl, it will be really helpful.

The NIV Teen girls Bible introduces each book kinda like a few study bible I have seen before, telling about what time the book took place, listing who is in the book, and what verses you might recognize, along with explaining what it is about. This is really helpful to teens that wonder what’s the point in reading this part of the bible, giving just a small explanation to encourage them to go on.

Now here is where I have a little trouble with this Bible. While comparing some verses to see how it sounded against my NLT version I found that a few verses sounded really off, making them confusing to the reader. Such as Mark 3:24-27. I will give you an example of what I mean be putting the NIV and the NLT versions of this verse on here

“A kingdom divided by civil war will collapse. Similarly, a family splintered by feuding will fall apart. And if Satan is divided and fights against himself, how can he stand? He would never survive. Let me illustrate this further. Who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.” Mark 3:24-27 NLT

“If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house.” Mark 3:24-27 NIV

Maybe I am being a little too nit picky, but this was one of the verses that just really bugged me when I was reading it. And there were others verses in this version that made it sound like if you repented of your sins and was baptized then you were saved, which we all know isn’t right. This happened a few times throughout this Bible. It’s like pieces of a puzzle were obviously missing, and when you’re a teen you need a clearer picture of what the Bible is trying to teach you.

I am not saying this translation is all bad, but it is not a version I would go for to read on a daily bases. In the end it is up to you, but when getting a Bible for your child or a teenager in your life read it for yourself before you buy it.

I guess that is it for now folks, Kaitlyn W. signing out.

Until next time folks I hope you have a blessed day

I received this Bible in exchange for an honest review, which I have given