This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Lew and his family spent six years in Asia as missionaries, returning to pastor a small church in MN. He has four adult children, a growing number of grandchildren, and has been happily married to one amazing woman for the past forty years.
He writes for Christian kids wanting action-based stories that still follow a Biblical worldview, even in a fantasy realm. Good versus Evil, faith and perseverance, trust and friendship, self-sacrifice and doing what is right regardless the cost, are some of the leading themes.
"All my stories have a Biblical worldview without being ‘preachy.’ My goal is to help Christian kids realize they play an important role regardless of age or lack of ability, but rather to act with faith, trust, and courageous perseverance."
If you and your kids loved Narnia and now want that same immersive reading experience, only with more danger and suspense, these books are for you.
Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite
Horse Boy by Lew Anderson is the first book in The Lorian Chronicles. Young Red knew the danger of entering the forbidden grasses. He could even hear his mother's warnings but he couldn't leave the girl to be bait for the giant eagle flying overhead. He couldn't leave her to suffer the same fate that had befallen his father. Red has been an outcast since birth, having been born under the moon that represented the god known for conjuring tricks. In two days would be the pallendore, but they would never let him fight for fear of letting him win the heart of one of the village daughters. Yet he couldn't shake the memory of the girl Chia he rescued whose smile captured his heart. Red is driven out of his home with his only companions being Chia and his horse Faster whom he had rescued as a colt from the Token River and had the peculiar gift of understanding speech. Rescuing Chia was never meant to toss him into the thick of war or to pit him against a journey filled with monsters.
The high fantasy world Lew Anderson has created is a stunning and vivid reality that provides a consistent backdrop with dangers including monsters and pirates. The world comes to life through the language, environment, and culture woven throughout the story in words such as the “ka ye’ or half-moon, the shouting boolas, prowlers, and drog’s filth. The beauty found in the details is a clear example of the solid writing style such as twilight’s last glow, the ship slowly melding into the horizon, the cavern of nightmares, and the morning buzzing with life and song. Anderson features subtle but strong themes throughout Red's journey. The first is the struggle against evil which is apparent throughout the various war elements and the evil Red fights against. Another repetitive theme is mercy. Anderson succeeds in creating poignant moments such as Red using a name he shouldn't, only to be told that words have power and to use them with care. These small interludes speak volumes as they resonate while you continue to read and make Horse Boy a truly special story. A fast-paced adventure that explores a beautiful and dangerous world and delivers a hero's journey that will be hard to forget.
