Book 1 of Legends of the Guardian King which follows the life of Abramm Kalladorne in his turbulent search for truth and self--a search that will transform him from a sickly, head-in-the-clouds youth to a legendary hero of strength and courage. Set in a world of swords and cloaks, of glittering palaces and mystical temples, of galley ships and ancient, mist-bound cities, his journey illustrates how God pursues and how He uses suffering to mold His children into something greater than was ever thought possible. Written by Karen Hancock, the acclaimed author of Arena.
The Light Of Eidon (Legends of the Guardian-King Book #1)
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Browse our Bookshelf Favorites store for big savings on popular fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and more. |
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
*Starred Review* Hancock's intriguing Arena [BKL Ap 15 02] drew a great deal of praise for the originality and starkness of its alternative universe. In The Light of Eidon, she begins a fantasy series called Legends of the Guardian King that is more clearly a Christian allegory but is so crisscrossed with subplots and deceit that exactly where the light of Eidon shines may baffle the reader. It certainly baffles young Abramm Kalladorne, Hancock's hero. He is the little-valued fifth son of the king of Kiriath, a vivid kingdom that seems a bit like medieval England, with a bit of ancient Rome. Abramm is drawn to the religious life, but after eight years as a novitiate, he discovers that his spiritual leader is a fraud and that the true path to Eidon's light lies elsewhere. But upon leaving the monastery, he finds himself in the middle of court intrigues, and his brothers sell him into slavery in a faraway, barbarous land. For a while, Hancock's novel seems like a gladitorial epic, but then Eidon, or Jesus, makes his truths known. A great battle ensues, but victory is not complete and many questions remain. Readers will certainly return for the second installment. John Mort
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Review
"...an exciting allegorical fantasy ...Hancock's writing, often eerie and suspenseful, is rich in sights, smells and sounds." -- Christian Retailing
"...the future should be bright for this promising novelist." -- Publisher's Weekly
"TOP PICK-Four and a half stars." -- Romantic Times
"...the future should be bright for this promising novelist." -- Publisher's Weekly
"TOP PICK-Four and a half stars." -- Romantic Times
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
100 of 115 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Karen Hancock is the real deal. I haven't been this excited about a relatively new author in a long time. Her debut novel, Arena, was fantastic, a stunning merger of science fiction and Christian fiction. Now, with her second book, she begins a fantasy series dubbed Legends of the Guardian-King, a storyline pitting good against evil in an otherworldly mediaeval setting. There is an element of sword and sorcery here, and I could not help but wonder just how effectively the author of Arena would deal with the grim realities of battle and bloodshed and mine the depths of evil in the hearts of men. Well, Hancock nails it - it's as simple as that. The Light of Eidon is just exquisitely rendered fantasy that keeps you turning the pages deep into the night. It's dark, grim, sometimes bloody, but ultimately imbued with an essential spirituality that places it on a far different plane than run-of-the-mill fantasy.
Hancock is a master of characterization, really taking us inside the hearts and souls of the novel's central characters and surrounding them with fascinating individuals who manage to surprise us no matter how well we think we know them. Good and evil exist on two planes, the external and the internal, and that gives this story great depth. On the face of it, this might look like one in a long line of fantasy plots - the young prince who repudiates his birthright, finds himself betrayed and sold into slavery, then fights to gain his freedom and inspire his people in the process. The framework is familiar, but the story Hancock tells goes far beyond the familiar and mundane.
For eight years, Abramm Kalladorne, the fifth son of the king of Kiriath, has dedicated himself to the service of his god Eidon. Just as he is preparing to finally take the solemn vows of his order, however, his life is turned upside down. The years of seclusion leave him unprepared to deal with the excitement that greets his appearance in the capital - or the fact that the suspicious deaths of his father and several brothers have left him a heartbeat away from the throne. Having yet to feel the touch of the flames of Eidon, he is worried enough about being found unworthy during the upcoming ceremony, but he is soon torn apart by complications of political intrigue. His own brother the king is a Terstan, having adopted a religion that is anathema to Abramm; the Terstans believe that their god is accessible to all, which goes against everything Abramm has been taught. Soon, though, he begins to question everything he knows, everything he spent eight years learning, as he hears speculation that his holy mentor is only using him to attain secular power over Kiriath itself. Emotional turmoil envelops Abramm's soul, and even he can no longer set aside his doubts after he is betrayed and sold as a slave to the men of the southern lands.
Abramm had never shown any skill with a weapon in his childhood, and he had devoted the last eight years of his life to a pursuit of perfect peace, but he has to overcome his weaknesses and abandon his religious oaths when he is made a gladiator by his new master. He must either fight or die, and he refuses to give in and die. In time, the story of the White Pretender and his companion the Infidel spread far and wide, as this White Pretender continues defeating the surrogates of the evil Beltha'adi in one gladiatorial contest after another. The vanquished Dorsaddi people look upon the White Pretender as the savior prophesied to reawaken the Heart of their people and exact revenge upon their enemies. An air of rebellion sweeps the land, as all eyes look toward the inevitable battle between the White Pretender and Beltha'adi himself.
The Light of Eidon is full of action, much of it brutal and bloody, but the real conflict here comes in the form of Abramm's fight to find something to believe in. Abramm breaks all of his vows and turns away from the god he once wanted nothing more than to serve, but that does not mean that Eidon has turned away from Abramm. In the midst of his troubles, Abramm refuses to believe his Terstan friend who insists that all of their suffering is actually for the good, a necessary part of Eidon's plans. Resolution does not come until Abramm is forced to confront his religious doubts, at which point he finally knows what he must do.
It's easy to draw comparisons between Abramm's struggle and that of our own, searching for religious truth in a world of evil deeds and great confusion. This spiritual depth of The Light of Eidon makes it a truly inspirational and thought-provoking read, as the novel's obvious allusions to Christian suffering give the story a resonance you won't find in other works of fantasy. Read it as Christian allegory or simply as a gripping tale of fantasy or both - Karen Hancock's writing works and impresses on all levels.
Hancock is a master of characterization, really taking us inside the hearts and souls of the novel's central characters and surrounding them with fascinating individuals who manage to surprise us no matter how well we think we know them. Good and evil exist on two planes, the external and the internal, and that gives this story great depth. On the face of it, this might look like one in a long line of fantasy plots - the young prince who repudiates his birthright, finds himself betrayed and sold into slavery, then fights to gain his freedom and inspire his people in the process. The framework is familiar, but the story Hancock tells goes far beyond the familiar and mundane.
For eight years, Abramm Kalladorne, the fifth son of the king of Kiriath, has dedicated himself to the service of his god Eidon. Just as he is preparing to finally take the solemn vows of his order, however, his life is turned upside down. The years of seclusion leave him unprepared to deal with the excitement that greets his appearance in the capital - or the fact that the suspicious deaths of his father and several brothers have left him a heartbeat away from the throne. Having yet to feel the touch of the flames of Eidon, he is worried enough about being found unworthy during the upcoming ceremony, but he is soon torn apart by complications of political intrigue. His own brother the king is a Terstan, having adopted a religion that is anathema to Abramm; the Terstans believe that their god is accessible to all, which goes against everything Abramm has been taught. Soon, though, he begins to question everything he knows, everything he spent eight years learning, as he hears speculation that his holy mentor is only using him to attain secular power over Kiriath itself. Emotional turmoil envelops Abramm's soul, and even he can no longer set aside his doubts after he is betrayed and sold as a slave to the men of the southern lands.
Abramm had never shown any skill with a weapon in his childhood, and he had devoted the last eight years of his life to a pursuit of perfect peace, but he has to overcome his weaknesses and abandon his religious oaths when he is made a gladiator by his new master. He must either fight or die, and he refuses to give in and die. In time, the story of the White Pretender and his companion the Infidel spread far and wide, as this White Pretender continues defeating the surrogates of the evil Beltha'adi in one gladiatorial contest after another. The vanquished Dorsaddi people look upon the White Pretender as the savior prophesied to reawaken the Heart of their people and exact revenge upon their enemies. An air of rebellion sweeps the land, as all eyes look toward the inevitable battle between the White Pretender and Beltha'adi himself.
The Light of Eidon is full of action, much of it brutal and bloody, but the real conflict here comes in the form of Abramm's fight to find something to believe in. Abramm breaks all of his vows and turns away from the god he once wanted nothing more than to serve, but that does not mean that Eidon has turned away from Abramm. In the midst of his troubles, Abramm refuses to believe his Terstan friend who insists that all of their suffering is actually for the good, a necessary part of Eidon's plans. Resolution does not come until Abramm is forced to confront his religious doubts, at which point he finally knows what he must do.
It's easy to draw comparisons between Abramm's struggle and that of our own, searching for religious truth in a world of evil deeds and great confusion. This spiritual depth of The Light of Eidon makes it a truly inspirational and thought-provoking read, as the novel's obvious allusions to Christian suffering give the story a resonance you won't find in other works of fantasy. Read it as Christian allegory or simply as a gripping tale of fantasy or both - Karen Hancock's writing works and impresses on all levels.
34 of 42 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Fantasy and allegory are compatible shelf-mates in the world of fiction. Yet, for some reason, the Christian market has generally ignored them since the days of Tolkien and Lewis. Karen Hancock, Randall Ingermanson, and Michael Warden are leading the way to see that this changes.
Hancock's first novel, "Arena," was a wonderfully rendered allegory, full of interesting characters, landscapes, and inner struggles. "The Light of Eidon" is more fantasy than allegory, but spiritual truths abound. Again, Hancock introduces us to characters with deep doubts and allows us to witness their transformations. In this case, a religious student by the name of Abramm comes face to face with betrayal, loss of faith, and rebirth in the flames of violent struggle. He finds himself a slave, a gladiator, a pretender...But ultimately, Abramm must discover his true purpose.
Although the book has some fantastic sections and ends with a heart-pounding climax, I found myself plodding through a number of scenes. At times, I yearned for more of the colorful landscape and less of the political dealings. I'm glad I pressed on, though, because the overall result is worth it. Spiritual light is brought to bear on the ugliness of religious pretense, and Abramm's final decisions are moving and believable.
It's great to see fantasy writers rising up in the Christian market. Without Hancock's books, we would be deprived of some of the best new stuff available.
24 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I understand that some non-Christians have a problem with this book because of the allegorical nature. I can understand that, although I think it's interesting that some people have problems because they think it's anti-Muslim and some because they think it's anti-Catholic.
My problems with it are much different. I got this book (the Kindle version) specifically because it is supposed to be Christian fantasy. My son loves fantasy, we love Christ, so I read the book to see if it would be interesting and appropriate for him. Boy, am I glad I didn't just hand it to him!
The first section that put me off was when the main character Eldrin prays to God (called Eidon in the book's world), "Please. Touch me with your goodness." In my Bible God says that when we seek him we will find him. This is what happens in this book:
"Gooseflesh prickled the back of his neck, and he squirmed, feeling suddenly, horribly like a fly in a spider's web, about to be cocooned in silk. Coldness seeped into his skin. He gritted his teeth as the ethereal embrace tightened. Rising fear and revulsion banged his heart against his chest, rapid-fire beats that powered the blood into throat and temples. His breath quickened; his hands clenched the railing.
"Then he flinched, crying out as a cold tongue of inhuman awareness slid into his soul, and terrified aversion erupted like molten rock.
"The tendril withdrew as swiftly as it had entered and the cold pressure on his skin vanished with it, leaving him sick and shuddering. Head swimming, he sagged forward, bracing his brow against the rail as he gasped back his breath and fought the rising gorge in his throat.
"Gradually his pulse slowed and the nausea in his gut subsided."
SERIOUSLY?? I found this part quite disturbing and not at all in line with Christian beliefs. This guy dedicated his life to God, prayed and fasted, and got invaded by this evil THING? We later find that the church that was believed to worship Eidon was actually corrupt, but Eldrin was praying to Eidon! Enough said.
The next part that offended me (again as a Christian reading a *supposedly* Christian book) is when Eldrin sleeps with another man's sex slave and it's described with terms like "The doors on that secret place in his soul blew off, and all his desire and need and love came roaring out..." and "It was all blasted away by the wild winds of his passion," and "For a few hours that was all that mattered." I would have fully expected this type of thing from a secular book, but I don't expect a Christian book to glorify sex outside of marriage, which God says is sin.
The books goes on: "Last night had been...glorious. Never had he known such delight, such intense physical pleasure, such deep contentment and satisfaction. It had faded with the dawn, of course, but it had left behind the sense that somehow his soul had been expanded. It had changed everything. And nothing." Again, appalling for a supposedly Christian book from a Christian author and Christian publisher.
My problems with it are much different. I got this book (the Kindle version) specifically because it is supposed to be Christian fantasy. My son loves fantasy, we love Christ, so I read the book to see if it would be interesting and appropriate for him. Boy, am I glad I didn't just hand it to him!
The first section that put me off was when the main character Eldrin prays to God (called Eidon in the book's world), "Please. Touch me with your goodness." In my Bible God says that when we seek him we will find him. This is what happens in this book:
"Gooseflesh prickled the back of his neck, and he squirmed, feeling suddenly, horribly like a fly in a spider's web, about to be cocooned in silk. Coldness seeped into his skin. He gritted his teeth as the ethereal embrace tightened. Rising fear and revulsion banged his heart against his chest, rapid-fire beats that powered the blood into throat and temples. His breath quickened; his hands clenched the railing.
"Then he flinched, crying out as a cold tongue of inhuman awareness slid into his soul, and terrified aversion erupted like molten rock.
"The tendril withdrew as swiftly as it had entered and the cold pressure on his skin vanished with it, leaving him sick and shuddering. Head swimming, he sagged forward, bracing his brow against the rail as he gasped back his breath and fought the rising gorge in his throat.
"Gradually his pulse slowed and the nausea in his gut subsided."
SERIOUSLY?? I found this part quite disturbing and not at all in line with Christian beliefs. This guy dedicated his life to God, prayed and fasted, and got invaded by this evil THING? We later find that the church that was believed to worship Eidon was actually corrupt, but Eldrin was praying to Eidon! Enough said.
The next part that offended me (again as a Christian reading a *supposedly* Christian book) is when Eldrin sleeps with another man's sex slave and it's described with terms like "The doors on that secret place in his soul blew off, and all his desire and need and love came roaring out..." and "It was all blasted away by the wild winds of his passion," and "For a few hours that was all that mattered." I would have fully expected this type of thing from a secular book, but I don't expect a Christian book to glorify sex outside of marriage, which God says is sin.
The books goes on: "Last night had been...glorious. Never had he known such delight, such intense physical pleasure, such deep contentment and satisfaction. It had faded with the dawn, of course, but it had left behind the sense that somehow his soul had been expanded. It had changed everything. And nothing." Again, appalling for a supposedly Christian book from a Christian author and Christian publisher.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book!
This book started slow in my understanding. But the ending is just amazing! I would recommend this book to everyone i know.
Published 8 hours ago by Jessica
4.0 out of 5 stars
A thought provoking book...
I liked this book because it not only appealed to my love of science fiction/fantasy, but also because the book made me examine my Christian beliefs and the ways I act upon those... Read more
Published 3 days ago by Michael
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great adventure
A struggle of strength, truth, and faith. The characters were believable, the plot moved well and I look forward to the rest of the series.
Published 5 days ago by Sherry Rossman
3.0 out of 5 stars
Anti-Catholic Pro-Evangelical Christian Fantasy
I am uncertain about what rating to give this Christian Fantasy novel. I like the basic plot and love the main characters but as a Catholic I find it offensive in so many ways. Read more
Published 26 days ago by Michael
4.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable Fantasy
I knew nothing of Karen Hancock before I read the Light of Eidon, but am glad I found her. This was a thoroughly enjoyable book, with some interesting twists. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Evelyn Puerto
5.0 out of 5 stars
Light of Eidon
This is the first review I have done. Having now read the Legends of the Guardian King series 3 times, I decided to review the entire series. Read more
Published 1 month ago by kindlefan
5.0 out of 5 stars
high adventure
I'm actually rereading this for the fourth or fifth time I think. It has a spirit of epic adventure, deep moral dilemmas, and overall a pure hearted way of dealing with them. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Philip Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great Read
I really loved this book. It took me a few chapters to really get into the plot of the story, but then I was hooked.
Published 1 month ago by E. Hone
5.0 out of 5 stars
I hate writing reviews. Just read the book yourself.
Good book. I enjoyed reading it. When I read it I enjoyed my self. I feel this is a good book. I hate writing reviews.
Published 2 months ago by Travis W. Reed Jr.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Loved this!
This is my second time reading the Guardian King series and I like it just as well the second time around as I did the first! Read more
Published 2 months ago by heavenoneday
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
|
|
