The Sword {Chiveis Trilogy #1} by Bryan M. Litfin
My Personal Review ~ 4 stars
The Sword is the first book in a long time that gripped me from the very first page! I’d been wanting to give Bryan M. Litfin’s work a try, and am I ever glad I did! This book is a fascinating dystopian novel set in a medieval-type world. The modern world has been destroyed and left behind in history. Filled with swords, knights, fair maidens, and old-fashioned kingdoms, Book One in the CHIVEIS TRILOGY explores Christianity anew as the character forsake their foul gods to riskily seek the One True God of the Ancients. I don’t think I’ve ever read something quite like it!
The author’s writing style is drawing. I was kept hungrily turning pages. Anastasia, a Chiveisian farm girl, and Teofil, a guardsman and scholar, are great characters to follow, and I enjoyed meeting many secondary characters and being drawn into their journeys as well. There was an abundance of actions, and many twists and turns. A fair amount of violence and battles, though I didn’t find it over the top. (I would recommend to adults or at least older teens because of that and some other mature themes). From bear hunting, to tournaments, to exploring the Ancient’s temples, to secret religious meetings, The Sword takes us on a wild, exhilarating, dangerous ride.
Toward the end, there were a couple things that I’m not sure I appreciate. An unmarried couple sharing a bed (non-sexually). A woman being very vulnerable and close with a man that she knows to be making bad choices and has not chosen to follow her God. And some things having to do with the faith theme and how the characters respond to persecution and such. I’m interested to see how the second book, The Gift addresses these situations.
But overall, such a unique, adventurous, poignant tale! I love how deeply Bryan M. Litfin explores faith issues and following God in this dystopian story! Just the kind of book I like to immerse myself in. I can hardly wait to delve into Book Two!
Lady Grace ~ a quiet & gentle spirit 