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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Is Symbolic Fantasy the Best Way to Captivate Readers

by Challice Neipp · 4 Comments

The argument raged—symbolism or substance. Should we use allusions to familiar Biblical and theological truths, or should we be overt and forthright to avoid any chance that someone might miss an important lesson?

How do people learn best?

In my usual fence-sitting style, I agreed with both. I said, “I think it depends on who is reading. Some people don’t respond well to being preached at all the time. Others almost feel deceived when truths are disguised and left for us to dig out of the ore of our words.”

I often say that I don’t like preachiness in fiction. By that, I mean that I don’t enjoy sermonizing. Fantasy can be phenomenal about doing that—taking an entire sermon and dressing it in costume, putting it on the stage of the pages, and allowing it to act out truth without shouting it into your head.

It’s why I requested several fantasy books this year. When The Arrow Bringer came up and it, too was described as Narniaesque, I had to give it a shot. So, I requested a review copy. I just didn’t realize it would come due at approximately the same time as two others.

Links on this post may be affiliate links for which I receive compensation from the owner of the website.

Is Symbolic Fantasy the Best Way to Captivate Readers

The Arrow Bringer is classic in the sense of being symbolic fantasy. You easily see the parallels of people in the Bible, of events in Scripture, and even of themes and attitudes. In a world where reading the Bible itself tends to be seen as boring or confusing, showing the truths of Scripture through almost allegorical scenes helps clarify and enlighten—not to mention, entertain.

Written for a YA audience, the book unfolds, written in first-person/present-tense. My very least favorite style. I want to say that it didn’t bother me, but it did. In fact, the further into the book I got, the harder it became to ignore it.

Look, the story was absolutely awesome.

The characters were equally engaging and interesting. I loved every bit of those things. My favorite bits were when Evie spent time with the Arrow Bringer and Justus. Somehow the preachiness that I expected in those scenes didn’t show up. Instead, they were just enjoyable imaginings of what it would be like to walk physically with Jesus. Who wouldn’t love that?

However, there were things I did not enjoy. Aside from the aforementioned writing POV/tense, I found much of the story too “on the nose” for me. I’d really be enjoying things, and then something would be put there in glaring black and white—almost as if the author didn’t trust me as the reader to “get” what she meant. Add to that the occasional stilted conversation—also often too “on the nose”—and there were definitely problems.

There weren’t, however, serious editing/typo issues.

All in all, I’d considered this an “okay” book right up until this moment. But then I realized that I want to read the next one. I’m actually pretty eager to. So that tells me I liked it a whole lot more than I thought.

Recommended for lovers of fantasy, Narnia, and other books woven together with symbolism and spiritual truth.

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Comments

  1. Caryl Kane says

    April 2, 2019 at 6:16 pm

    I enjoy reading allegories! Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  2. Vicki Hancock says

    April 2, 2019 at 9:36 am

    I can not believe the amount of people that don’t like first prerson POV. I love it. Sounds like a good book.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      April 2, 2019 at 6:15 pm

      I mostly dislike it in present tense, but I am not a fan most of the time. But First person PRESENT tense makes my teeth itch.

      Reply
  3. Andrea Stoeckel says

    April 2, 2019 at 9:14 am

    Looks very interesting. I’ve run across the author in other trips ‘round the ‘Net. Good luck on the series Lisa

    Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 162: A Chat with Author, Nancy Naigle
byChautona Havig

Hey, we’re back after a couple of weeks of vacation, and boy did I need it. And, have I got a fabulous interview for you. Nancy Naigle and I talked about her books, her most recent release, What Remains True as well as her Christmas books and the one I’m most anxious to read, The Shell Collector. Listen in and learn about what Nancy says about this bet she has going on in What Remains True. Great stuff!

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

Need a Great Romantic Read to Wind Up Your Summer Reads?

As I said in the podcast, a while back, someone told me I’d LOVE The Shell Collector–one of those people who recommends books you HAVE to read if they say you do.  So I bought it and it’s been sitting on my shelf ever since. Well, now it’s on my GoodReads shelf, and I’m about to start it (and I optimistically thought I’d be done with it by the time this episode released. Oh, me of too much faith in myself and my time management!)

Author of over thirty books, not to mention a bestselling author who also has movies made of her novels (And The Shell Collector has been optioned! EEEP!), Nancy loves to write Christmas books and small-town stories. Seriously, as we talked, I felt like she was talking about me half the time. We’re so very alike in so many ways. It was fun.

Nancy also pointed out that her first books (if you go WAY back) are not Christian fiction and are a bit spicier than she prefers to write and definitely more than she writes today. So be warned there, but she did assure us that they are all closed-door books.

What Remains True by Nancy Naigle

One woman wants to win a bet. One man wants to become a rodeo champion. One little girl may give them both something even better—from USA Today bestselling author Nancy Naigle.

“A commitment-phobic rodeo star and a divorcée with secrets find love in this wholesome romance. . . . As uplifting as it is sweet.”—Publishers Weekly

Working at a little shop on Main Street in a small town is exactly the break that executive Merry Anna Foster needs following her divorce. She’s made a bet with her ex-husband that she can live on the amount of money she’s giving him in alimony. If she can do it, then Kevin will have to stop complaining and leave her alone. But after three months of this new life, will she even want to leave Antler Creek?

Adam Locklear, bull rider and owner of the local feedstore, is having the best year of his rodeo career. He’s also a bit distracted by the pretty new neighbor living in his old bunkhouse. But Adam has no time for matters of the heart. He’s got his future all mapped out, and that future doesn’t involve a woman just yet. It doesn’t involve parenting a little girl either. However, Carly Fowler still suddenly leaves five-year-old Zan—the daughter Adam didn’t know he had—in his care.

Is it possible that the future holds a life even better than what Merry Anna and Adam had each dreamed of? One that includes both tenderness and even love—not just for each other but for Zan too?

You can learn more about Nancy’s books and movies on her WEBSITE.

Oh, and PSST… I’m loving the audiobook of this one!

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Episode 162: A Chat with Author, Nancy Naigle
Episode 162: A Chat with Author, Nancy Naigle
August 9, 2022
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