The Land of Darkness (The Gates of Heaven Series) by C. S. LakinISBN: 978-0899578910
Paperback, 272 pages
Publisher: Living Ink Books
Retail: $14.99
What is the book about:
“It is not the land that is dangerous, Callen. The danger lies in your heart. Others have lost their lives searching for the bridge. Are you certain you are prepared to pay that price?”
Jadiel is twelve and things couldn’t get much worse—or could they? Not long after her mother is killed in a tragic accident, her father, Ka’rel, marries a vile and abusive woman named Huldah, but Jadiel sees how he simmers under Huldah’s intoxicating enchantment. Jadiel’s wicked stepmother means to get rid of Jadiel, and sends her off with a threat and an impossible task: bring back the leaves from the Eternal Tree by the next full moon or her father will die. Heartsick and hopeless, Jadiel sets out alone and afraid.
Callen, a woodworking apprentice for Jadiel’s uncle in Wolcreek Vale, discovers some weathered drawings of an exquisitely detailed bridge made entirely of wood and embellished with mysterious symbols that appear to be ancient script. Obsessed with finding this bridge, he sets off seeking clues to its possible existence, unknowingly beginning a perilous and mystifying undertaking. On his journey, he rescues Jadiel from brigands and learns their quests are linked—as the elusive bridge Callen seeks is crafted from the rare tree Jadiel must find. The trail of clues leads them to the forbidden Land of Darkness, where they must face the greatest dangers of all—what lies in their hearts. (from amazon.com)
Jadiel is twelve and things couldn’t get much worse—or could they? Not long after her mother is killed in a tragic accident, her father, Ka’rel, marries a vile and abusive woman named Huldah, but Jadiel sees how he simmers under Huldah’s intoxicating enchantment. Jadiel’s wicked stepmother means to get rid of Jadiel, and sends her off with a threat and an impossible task: bring back the leaves from the Eternal Tree by the next full moon or her father will die. Heartsick and hopeless, Jadiel sets out alone and afraid.
Callen, a woodworking apprentice for Jadiel’s uncle in Wolcreek Vale, discovers some weathered drawings of an exquisitely detailed bridge made entirely of wood and embellished with mysterious symbols that appear to be ancient script. Obsessed with finding this bridge, he sets off seeking clues to its possible existence, unknowingly beginning a perilous and mystifying undertaking. On his journey, he rescues Jadiel from brigands and learns their quests are linked—as the elusive bridge Callen seeks is crafted from the rare tree Jadiel must find. The trail of clues leads them to the forbidden Land of Darkness, where they must face the greatest dangers of all—what lies in their hearts. (from amazon.com)
It sounds like an intriguing book and the cover is beautiful- pearlescent. But I just couldn't really get into this one. It is the 3rd or 4th book in the series and so I may have missed quite a bit from the first few (I really don't know- it felt like it was a stand alone with just a hint here and there that there might have been 'more to the story').
It is labeled as a Christian book but has so much magic in it that I just felt annoyed. Yes, annoyed. There is a difference, to me, between God's wonderful creations and the 'magic' that He holds as compared to potions, spells and magic mirrors. To try to incorporate one into the other, or make the first visible through use of the second just taints peoples view of the power that God holds (as if His power is comparable to anything else!). Just my opinion- of course.
Also, there are five deaths (albeit, not terribly violent or gruesome- except perhaps for the when ‘she lifted her shoe and saw bits of hoptoad sticking to her boot.’) and one of the characters is down-right vicious. Huldah beats Jadiel on a regular basis and abuses her emotionally. Just not a swell thing. But of course life isn’t all roses and sunshine. My kids (ages almost 13 and 15) both seem to think the book is just fine- they are enjoying reading it. My ds (almost 13) is about halfway through and says he likes it.
I give the book only 2 stars because it says "it was okay" and that is exactly what I thought when I finished it. The books starts in the Prologue with flowery language but drops it often throughout the book. Some scenes revert to the elevated vocabulary then the next is much more simple. I felt like it was inconsistent and just difficult to get into.
EDITED: 3/6/12
I have thought more about this book since writing this review (actually quite a bit). Although I *still* do not like the magic in it- the magic mirror, the spells and potions that Huldah uses to perpetuate her evil- I have changed my view of the book. Some. I started reading the Bible book of Isaiah after posting my review and was surprised to find that many of the visions presented in Isaiah are found in Lakin’s book. The wording is different than I’d encountered when I’d read some of Isaiah before but since then I’ve been using a study Bible and the I understand a little more of what is going on in Lakin’s book.
I just wanted to point out that if you are well versed in the books of prophesy in the Bible, or even just better versed than I, you may understand and appreciate Lakin’s book more than I did when I first read it.
I still don’t like the magic.
***Disclaimer: I received this book free from Christian Bookworm Reviews in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. See Disclosure/Policies.***
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