Hello, Friday Fiction Fans! I love all kinds of books, but fantasy, especially medieval fantasy, holds a special place in my heart. When I took my first writing class twenty years ago, the instructor asked what I would love to write if I could just write anything. I told her an allegorical medieval fantasy novel, then thought, where did that come from? The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings, of course.
A dream was born in my heart that day for my latest novel, Journey of Grace: Realm of Ekklesia. But my novels, Jessie’s Hope and Smoking Flax, would come first, and I really didn’t know if anyone would want my fantasy novel. So much so that when I pitched it to Elk Lake Publishing back in the winter, I had little hope of them picking it up.
But they did! I just turned in the manuscript and am now awaiting edits and a release date. And they not only decided to publish book one, but also books two and three. I can’t begin to explain how much that means to me.
In the months to come, you’ll hear more about my novel, but for today I want to share five great fantasy novels I believe you’ll enjoy reading. Two are classics that greatly inspired my writing today. Three are more recent books that have the same heart that I do towards fantasy.
Drum roll, please…
1. The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis. What more can I say that hasn’t been said about Lewis’s masterpiece series? Three young people living between the real world and a medieval world rich with biblical parallels. C.S. Lewis definitely shaped my writing world.
2. Hinds’ Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard. A classic Christian allegory. This book helped me as a young Christian dealing with fear. Her main character, Much Afraid, mirrored my own early walk with Christ.
3. Follower of the Word series by Morgan L. Busse. I love all of her works, but this series really spoke to my heart. A fantasy novel series extraordinaire.
4. The Wretched of Muirwood by Jeff Wheeler. I love this first book of the series because it has a young female protagonist who is embarking on a journey she never imagined. I so enjoy these coming-of-age stories.
5. The Weston Chronicles by K.D. Hendrix. Another coming-of-age fantasy. Amazon says for YA and Adult readers who crave rich, character-driven, intense psychological stakes, and a complex hero fighting internal battles. I mean, what more could you ask for?
This is my list. You can click on the links and find out about each one on their Amazon page. I hope you’ll enjoy them as much as I have.
And stay tuned for more about my novel, Journey of Grace: Realm of Ekklesia. Here’s a teaser blurb:
Grace must unleash her courage and embrace her destiny in a world where betrayal lurks, and powerful gifts awaken. Will Grace rise to save Fair Haven, or will her fears hold her back?
Grace of Fair Haven is approaching the Year of the Revealing. She wants to live life unafraid and realize her destiny, but a childhood encounter with an Echthroite warrior and later betrayal by the young man she loves challenge her courage. Grace joins the King’s Special Forces and discovers that within her are unusual and powerful gifts that help and hinder as she strives to master the elite training. Just when she thinks it’s all too much to handle, disaster strikes, and Grace is moved into active duty, where everything she learned is tested. Will she be able to move past her fears and help save Fair Haven and its people?
