New!
Author resources • Lorehaven Guild
Podcast sponsors • Subscribe for free
Crew manifest Faith statement FAQs
All author resources Lorehaven Guild Subscribe for free

Into the Darkness
Reviews, Feb 3, 2023

The Chosen Succeeds Where ‘Woke’ Stories Fail
Jenneth Dyck in Articles, Feb 2, 2023

Rose Petals and Snowflakes
Book Quests, Feb 1, 2023

Library

Find fantastical Christian novels

fantasy · sci-fi · and beyond
middle grade · young adult · grown-ups
All novels Search Add a novel
Silver Bounty, Victoria McCombs
A Sword for the Immerland King, F. W. Faller
Calor, J. J. Fisher
Once Upon A Ren Faire, A. C. Castillo
The Genesis 6 Project, Michael Ferguson
Exile, Loren G. Warnemuende
Aberration, Cathy McCrumb
The Truth Beyond the Lies, Kathleen Bird
Frost, Winter's Lonely Guardian, E. E. Rawls
Dream of Kings, Sharon Hinck
The Change, Bradley Caffee
Quest of Fire: Desperation, Brett Armstrong
Wishtress, Nadine Brandes
Flight, Kristen Young
Podcast

Get the Fantastical Truth podcast

Podcast sponsors | Subscribe links
Archives Feedback

147. Why Can Christians Celebrate Stories about Merlin and King Arthur? | with Robert Treskillard
Fantastical Truth, Jan 31, 2023

146. How Did Animators Adapt The Wingfeather Saga For Streaming TV? | with Keith Lango
Fantastical Truth, Jan 24, 2023

145. How Did Edmund Spenser’s ‘The Faerie Queene’ Shape Christian Fantasy? | with Rebecca K. Reynolds
Fantastical Truth, Jan 17, 2023

144. Which Top Six Fantasy Franchises Gave Fans Grief in 2022?
Fantastical Truth, Jan 10, 2023

143. Which Top Ten Lorehaven Stories Proved Most Popular in 2022?
Fantastical Truth, Jan 6, 2023

142. What Christmas Gift ‘Tools, Not Toys’ Helped You Grow As a Person?
Fantastical Truth, Dec 20, 2022

Quests

Join our monthly digital book quests.

Lorehaven Guild Faith statement FAQs

Rose Petals and Snowflakes
Book Quests, February 2023

Prince Caspian
Book Quests, January 2023

Dream of Kings
Book Quests, December 2022

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness
Book Quests, November 2022

Reviews

Find fantastical Christian reviews

All reviews Request review

Into the Darkness
“Charles Hack’s Into the Darkness summons a close-range science fiction story, focusing on the personal challenges of space warfare among alien cultures with a steady pace and serious tone.”
—Lorehaven on Feb 3, 2023

A Crown of Chains
“A Crown of Chains creatively retells a biblical tale to explore themes of providence, racism, faith, and fidelity.”
—Lorehaven on Jan 27, 2023

Lander’s Legacy
“Lander’s Legacy stacks modern thrills and complex characters on a foundation of biblical what-ifs.”
—Lorehaven on Jan 20, 2023

Prince Caspian
“Pacing starts slow but creature lore grows in C. S. Lewis’s sequel, introducing practical tyrants and talking-beast politics into a Narnian resistance.”
—Lorehaven on Jan 13, 2023

Gifts

Find new gifts for Christian fans

Archives

The original SpecFaith: est. 2006

Speculative Faith | archives

Lorehaven issues (2018–2020)

Order back issues online!
New
Library
Podcast
Quests
Reviews
Gifts
Archives
Lorehaven helps Christian fans explore fantastical stories for Christ’s glory: fantasy, science fiction, and beyond. Articles, the library, reviews, podcasts, gifts, and the Lorehaven Guild community help fans discern and enjoy the best Christian-made fantastical stories, applying their meanings to the real world Jesus Christ calls us to serve. Subscribe free to get any updates you choose and to access the Lorehaven Guild.
Subscribe free to Lorehaven
/ SpecFaith /

The Restorer’s Journey – A Review

Recently I mentioned The Restorer’s Journey, book three in Sharon Hinck’s Sword of Lyric series (NavPress), but I need to give a more complete review. This is a book and a series fans of Christian fantasy shouldn’t miss. The Story. […]
Rebecca LuElla Miller on Sep 8, 2008
No comments

Recently I mentioned The Restorer’s Journey, book three in Sharon Hinck’s Sword of Lyric series (NavPress), but I need to give a more complete review. This is a book and a series fans of Christian fantasy shouldn’t miss.

The Story.
In the previous book, The Restorer’s Son, antagonists from the parallel world follow the Mitchells to their home. After acquiring technology, including handguns, they force Mark to set up the portal stones in order to return to their own world. As they leave, they kidnap Susan. Mark and son Jake determine to follow to bring her back, but only Jake, who is exhibiting the signs of a Restorer, makes it through. And so the adventures begin—to rescue Susan and to stop the antagonists.

Strengths.
Hinck delivers a fast-paced, exciting story, with a healthy number of surprises. Her writing is tight, her scenes are vivid, her characters believable. In short, this is an entertaining book, well worth investing a few hours. Once again Hinck does a masterful job juggling two different first person points of view. Most of the book, I found myself trying to guess how and when the two main threads would intersect.

Above all, Hinck delivers spiritual truth that does not call attention to itself. Faith and doubt are integral themes, arising from the needs of the characters and without any finger-pointing authorial conclusions. The characters grow, learn, change in a natural way because of what they experience and the decisions they make. And along the way, the reader hopes for them, fears for them, and cheers for them at every turn.

Weaknesses.
My biggest concern was that the plot became rushed towards the end. A significant event takes place and if it were paced as the rest of the story, it should have had twice as much coverage, in my opinion. This quick, in-and-out event was critical and I think needed to be developed more to really be credible. Instead it had an add-on feel.

I also had a question about antagonist Cameron being able to do what he did to turn the people of the Verses his way in such a short period of time. In book one of the series he had been so discredited, and even in book two did not have the position that would seem necessary to pull off what he did in this short span.

Recommendation.
The Sword of Lyric is an outstanding Christian fantasy series. All three stand-alone stories, while connected with a thread, are adventures in which the reader can submerge himself and come out satisfied because of the entertaining story and edified because of the God-honoring themes. The Restorer’s Journey is a must read for Christian fantasy fans.

If you would like to win a copy of The Restorer’s Journey, leave a comment between now and next Monday. I will announce the winner during the CSFF Blog Tour for Marcher Lord Press. —–

Rebecca LuElla Miller
Best known for her aspirations as an epic fantasy author, Becky is the sole remaining founding member of Speculative Faith. Besides contributing weekly articles here, she blogs Monday through Friday at A Christian Worldview of Fiction. She works as a freelance writer and editor and posts writing tips as well as information about her editing services at Rewrite, Reword, Rework.
Website ·

What do you think? Cancel reply

  • Guest Blog: C. S. Lakin, Part 2Guest Blog: C. S. Lakin, Part 2
  • Who's The Current Go-To Fantasy Writer?Who's The Current Go-To Fantasy Writer?
  • Science Fiction And Fantasy?Science Fiction And Fantasy?
  • Will The Real Master Stand Up?Will The Real Master Stand Up?
Lorehaven magazine, spring 2020

Wear the wonder:
Get exclusive shirts and beyond

Listen to Lorehaven’s podcast

Authors and publishers:
Reach new fans with Lorehaven

Lorehaven helps Christian fans explore fantastical stories for Christ’s glory: fantasy, science fiction, and beyond. Articles, the library, reviews, podcasts, gifts, and the Lorehaven Guild community help fans discern and enjoy the best Christian-made fantastical stories, applying their meanings to the real world Jesus Christ calls us to serve. Subscribe free to get any updates you choose and to access the Lorehaven Guild.
Website · Facebook · Instagram · Twitter