God Uses Us in Our Weaknesses

The Pilgrim is about Helena's pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Towards the beginning of the book you know that God gave her a vision and as the book continues you learn more about what it was. Also, you get to see how it is fulfilled.

At the beginning you have some knowledge of who the characters, but as the story progresses Bunn gives you their background and how they got to where they are today. He could have filled out the characters a bit more. Considering the overall length of the book though he did a good job. 

Most of Davis Bunn's books keep you on the edge of your seat, but the book just did not keep me spell bound. This could partly be because I did not know the historical background behind the story before I read the book and if I did I might have enjoyed the book more. For those who love Helena's time period and know some of the historical background, this would probably be the perfect book for them.

My favorite aspect of The Pilgrim was how Davis Bunn shows that Helena is not perfect. If we heard that someone received a vision from God, in the back of our minds we would think that they have a special connection with God and have no flaws. In the story you see that other characters seem to think of Helena in the same way we would. However, when it's necessary she admits her flaws. Even though this is hard for her, she does it anyway. This made her more relate able and you respect her for admitting her weaknesses. Also, Helena's character shows that you do not have to be perfect to be used by God. He uses people even when they are weak.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Franciscan Media in exchange for my honest review.

The Mission of an Emissary

Emissary is about a young man named Hyam, who has recently lost his mother. He is still feeling the keen loss. In order to fulfill his mother's final wish he must go to a Long Hall, a place he utterly dreads, to tell his father of her passing. When he arrives, he receives news that his father actually died years ago. Hyam feels the loneliness of being an orphan, but the mistress of the hall informs him that he has been an orphan for years. His parents took him in when they found him on their door step and his past training at the Hall has put into question who he truly is. He can speak a tongue that only one of that race can speak and better than any professor ever could. This puts into question his origin and leads them to believe that he is part of a race that is feared and sentenced to death. This race is spread far and wide to hide. These people had no qualms in destroying an entire race. This news is a shock to Hyam and leaves him wondering who he truly is.

It is said that when one of this race turns twenty-one they come into a power of their own. Hyam does not know what this means and must wait until all is revealed. When the power he did not know he had comes to the surface, he flees and goes into hiding, searching for answers that lead him on a quest that he would have never foreseen. He meets a people who had long been forgotten; becomes an emissary to a people who have not needed one in over a century; sees magic that has long been forbidden. He wields magic in a way that has not been seen for a thousand years. He does so in order to protect all those he loves and the world he holds dear from one who seeks to destroy all. This is a tale you will not want to miss.

Thomas Locke has done a great job with his tale. You are on the edge of your seat the whole way wondering what will happen. The pages fly by as you take a seat and read, not realizing how long you have been engrossed in his story. This book is one you will not want to put down. In some stories you know what is happening before the characters do, but in this story you are in just as much wonderment as the characters themselves. In order to discover what is happening you must continue to read on. There is really no specific character that I can think of that represents God, but like Lord of the Rings this is a great example of the fight between good and evil. If you love fantasies, magic and stories with the feel of Lord of the Rings, then take a ride with Thomas Locke's book, Emissary.

I thoroughly enjoyed Emissary and look forward to the release of second book in the series!

The publisher, Revell, gave me no monetary payment for this review. I received a complimentary copy of Thomas Locke's book, Emissary, so I could share my honest opinion of his work.