Review of Dare (The Blades of Acktar, #1) - WV Team Post - Madisyn Carlin

Hey Visionaries, every once in a while I'll be reposting a review from Maidsyn Carlin, a member of the WV community and our Newsletter Director! I know things have been a little slow, and honestly, I'm trying...lol...my last brain cells are hanging on over here and it seems the longer my break is from this sort of stuff the more lazy I get so onward I shall strive to go!

I hope you guys enjoy this! And as always, if anyone has an idea for content or if you want to guest post, feel free to reach out!

Bless!

Kaytlin (Kayti) Phillips

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Whew. What a story! This was an influencer for my own writing, and looking back, I'm so grateful God led me to this series. Reading Christian fiction provides an escape, but it also can remind us of the important things we oft forget. Like not taking your family for granted. Being grateful for every breath you are given. And the necessity of thanking God we still live in a country where we are free to worship openly.

Dare is the book that propelled me into the world of Christian indie authors. Coming back to it a few years after I last read it, I don't know why I hadn't thought to pick it up again earlier. This book is so good, especially for a debut (and Mingerink's writing has only gotten better, which means the rest of the books in this series are just as good if not better).

Renna and Brandi are great. Renna's a worrywart and Brandi is this extroverted tornado of a kid with boundless energy. I think she and my sister would get along well. I really liked how Renna matured, both in faith and overall, throughout this story. Granted, this is a series, so she still has a ways to go, but her character development was done well.

The supporting characters add depth and side-plots. Can't say I liked all of the ones on a certain side (because apathy and I just don't get along) but I don't think they were necessarily written to be liked. I definitely did not like everyone on the other side, except for a few, and that is because I know what happens in later books.

King Respen. Don't get me started on that vile man.

Leith Torren is the best character in this book. Yes, I'm a sucker for characters who have to struggle their way to the right side. He's so well written, and that ending. Oof. Not a cliffhanger, but definitely a portend of upcoming storms.

The pacing was perfect, the plot was superb, and the redemption and faith elements were so beautifully woven in. Stories that follow these themes can get dark, and that's why it is so important for Christian authors to include faith. Mingerink does so flawlessly.

If you haven't read Dare yet, you need to. If you have, you need to read it again.