FantasyThyme: February 2012

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

The Relams Thereunder

The Ancient Earth Trilogy - Book One by Ross Lawhead

Blog Tour - Day 3

Portals, Yfelopes, and a Langtoor, oh my!

(click image for Amazon link or click link below) The Realms Thereunder - available from:

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Realms-Thereunder-Ancient-Earth/dp/1595549099/
CBD - http://www.christianbook.com/the-realms-thereunder-ancient-earth-trilogy/ross-lawhead/9781595549099/pd/549099?product_redirect=1&Ntt=549099&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP
CBD (Audio CD) - http://www.christianbook.com/the-realms-thereunder-unabridged-audiobook-on/ross-lawhead/9781598599862/pd/599862?event=AAI

Author's Web site - http://www.rosslawhead.com/blog/

I received a review copy from Thomas Nelson of The Realms Thereunder
in conjunction with the February CSFF Blog Tour

Wayne Shepard interview of Ross Lawhead on The Realms Thereunder:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMBpp1tHzkk&feature=player_detailpage

After fighting their way through chilly rapids and underground caves, Daniel climbs the rung to above and first sights Langtoor. A huge tree, elaborately carved from stone, it serves as both a barricade to enemies and a beacon of hope to friends. When I first read about Langtoor, the Tree of Life leaped to mind. It holds great promise of protection but also a warning to those who would shun the pro-offered peace.

Ecgbryt describes Yfelopes as twisted humans who have given into their foul ways. Humankind is like this, having turned from what is right and good in the Garden of Eden, they gave into their baser instincts until forcing the removal of everyone but Noah and his family by way of the Flood. When one of the evil ones is loosed in Oxford, Daniel feels obligated to remove it as soon as possible before it can take more humans down with it. Yfelopes also seemed to reflect the influence of sin on a person. The stronger the hold of Evil, the darker the creatures' spirit.

On day two of the blog tour, I mentioned the difference in response to the Realm between Daniel and Freya. I thought this might reflect our own responses to the gift of Salvation. Do we freely accept Christ's and follow as Daniel in the story, or do we take Freya's path of withdrawal and denial? Freya tries to return to her old life, but the Realm keeps calling for her and reminding her of what happened. Daniel didn't want to go back to his old life. He had a new life; a new beginning.

Nioergeard struck me as the promised land built on and of the rock. It it stable and study, a real 'rock of ages'. The city isn't a collection of buildings and monuments, but a growing living community that holds back the darknesses. Made of stone, like the Langtoor, Nioergeard seemed to build upon the work begun with the stone tree. As the city grew, so did it's connection with Langtoor.

Swiogar and Ecgbryt are part of the mighty warrior army held in readiness for the great battle between light and dark. No one is sure when this will occur but they await the time of their need. Christians are advised to be diligent and ready for we know not when our Lord will return. Ealdstan has watched over his people through history. The first chapter with the smith shoeing the horse with golden horseshoes comes to mind as part of long-term preparations. Daniel and Freya are told that Ealdstan has had many names through history as he guided and directed many peoples. Ealdstan takes a long-term approach to life too. He keeps his eye on the prize and doesn't let inconsequential things make him lose site of the goal.

That was something a got out of The Realms Thereunder. We should fight for what is right, and remember what our true allegiances lie and what goal we should strive for. I really enjoyed this book. It was a little confusing at first, but once I saw how the time lines would rejoin the various stories it made for a thoughtful and fun read.

*Participants’ links:

Gillian Adams
Red Bissell
Keanan Brand
Beckie Burnham
Melissa Carswell
Jeff Chapman
CSFF Blog Tour
Theresa Dunlap
Emmalyn Edwards
April Erwin
Victor Gentile
Tori Greene
Nikole Hahn
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Timothy Hicks
Christopher Hopper
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Rebekah Loper
Marzabeth
Shannon McDermott
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirriam Neal
Eve Nielsen
Nissa
John W. Otte
Donita K. Paul
Joan Nienhuis
Crista Richey
Sarah Sawyer
Chawna Schroeder
Kathleen Smith
Donna Swanson
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Shane Werlinger
Nicole White
Rachel Wyant

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

The Relams Thereunder

The Ancient Earth Trilogy - Book One by Ross Lawhead
Blog Tour - Day 2
A thousand years? Is that too long to sleep?

(click image for Amazon link or click link below) The Realms Thereunder - available from:

I received a review copy from Thomas Nelson of The Realms Thereunder
in conjunction with the February CSFF Blog Tour

Wayne Shepard interview of Ross Lawhead on The Realms Thereunder:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMBpp1tHzkk&feature=player_detailpage

The story begins a half-millieum in the past with the tale of blacksmith who meets a strange man one night who requires his services. After shoeing a horse in a hidden cave with golden shoes, the blacksmith is taken to another cave for payment. When the blacksmith returns to the hillside, the cave opening his re-hidden and the old man is nowhere in sight. The Realms Thereunder cuts to modern day where two teenagers are missing for over two months. The two missing teens are Freya Reynolds and Daniel Tully.

Daniel comes from a broken home. He has little in the way of family, friends, or fun. Readers are introduced to Daniel as he hunts a strange man-like creature with needle-sharp teeth through downtown Oxford, England. Daniel becomes the hunted and is forced to kill the creature. Flash back eight years before and after a miserable birthday morning, Daniel and Freya accidently open a portal to the Realm Thereunder; a place in the far past. Daniel soon acclimates to life in the Realm, and feels like he's found his place at last. He has a purpose and others need him. He's no longer seen as an outcast but as a young warrior. Daniel found a new self confidence and courage during his journey.

Freya comes from a middle-class family and shares birthdays with Daniel. In current day Oxford Freya is an obcessive compulsive who feels she needs to pass through arches, doorways, and entrances multiple times. In her classes at Oxford she keeps to herself unless it is to argue with an instructor about existence of worlds and beings that are viewed as fable and myth. Freya knows better, she's experienced both and it terrifies her. Freya followed Daniel into the Realm and found she couldn't return by the path taken. Rather than the excitement and new life Daniel found, she instead found despair and worry of never returning home. Instead of embracing the adventure, she responded by withdrawing into herself. From the Realm Freya found fear and near-panic of the unknown.

Inside the bowels of the church, Daniel and Freya follwed step after step down a curving stairway that opened on a small room with two sleeping figures on stone tablets. The two warriors were dressed in armor and were covered by a light coating of dust. After waking, the two introduce themselves as Swiogar and Ecgbryt, two sword brothers placed in near-suspended animation awaiting the great battle. The pair find they have slept for a thousand years and were awakened by Daniel and Freya's accidental visit. Swiogar and Ecgbryt have fought evil together in the past, and question why they were awakened now. Perplexed at finding two children, the group leave the sleeping vault to journey to fabled Nioergeard for answers.

At the city carved from rock, the four travlers are introduced to Modwyn, Nioergeard's Lady. Regally dressed, she exudes a quiet power and grace before the weary four-some. Modwyn is introduced as the ward and protectress of Nioergeard. Standing on tradition , Modwyn asks Daniel and then Freya if each will accept her hospitality. It seeming a type of legal binding that all provided an assurance of good character and support. Once plegdes are accepted, Modwyn warms to the teens and sends them to their rooms to rest.

Finally, I wanted to mention Ealdstan, the ancient and very wise ruler of Nioergeard. After passing door after door and climbing stair after stair, Daniel and Freya meet Ealdstan in a distant part of the castle. He seemed half-senile at first, by the way he dropped off at the end of a discussion or in mid-sentence. But Modwyn explains that Ealdstan is thousands of years old, and spends much of his time contemplating matters of the kingdom. This explained to me that he had little use for speech, having spent so much time alone. It wasn't that he was some type of backroom Wizard of Oz trying to hide behind a curtain, rather it was the fact that his farsighted planning had saved the city much over the centuries.

Day 3 Blog: Portals, Yfelopes, and a Langtoor, oh my!

Day Three I'll discuss some possible symbology and thoughts while reading The Realms Thereunder.

*Participants’ links:

Monday, February 20, 2012

The Relams Thereunder

The Ancient Earth Trilogy - Book One by Ross Lawhead

Blog Tour - Day 1

A First Novel with a Great Story!

(click image for Amazon link or click link below) The Realms Thereunder - available from:

I received a review copy from Thomas Nelson of The Realms Thereunder
in conjunction with the February CSFF Blog Tour

Wayne Shepard interview of Ross Lawhead on The Realms Thereunder:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMBpp1tHzkk&feature=player_detailpage

The Realms Thereunder is the first full-length novel for Mr. Lawhead. He's worked with his father, author Stephen R. Lawhead, on a speculative fiction trilogy, created a graphic novel that he both wrote and illustrated, and even published a couple of poetry books in a series named "The Colour Papers." Well, I wondered, he definitely has the credentials but can he write? When I heard that this month's CSFF blog tour review was for a portal story set in England with some good ancient Celtic characters and a bit of fantasy, I immediately thought of Stephen Lawhead. He's one of the few Christian authors I've read who could pull all that off in a book or series.

Apparently Ross Lawhead has inherited the writing gene. He's created an original story in The Realms Thereunder that pulls the reader into a period existing only in time's misty past. Portal stories and time travel are too of my favorite genres. Lawhead has managed to unite the two in a compelling novel. Some reviews I've read about this book suggest the use of Gaelic and Old English only confuse the reader. But someone who thrives on Early Middle Age life and it's history, will appreciate the detailed research this story must have required. It's not like the Wayback Machine on The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show where every historical figure spoke 1960's English. If you were transported to the past how much would you actually understand of what's being said or not said? Sure the words sound funny to the modern ear, but that just allows the reader to puzzle out meanings at the same time as the two protagonists.

I enjoyed The Realms Thereunder. I wasn't too sure about the jumping back and forth between the past and the present, but there's a lot of back story to explain and it's all important to the storyline and how the trips to the under realms changed Freya and Daniel. Whether the change was for the best or worst depends on the viewpoint. We can't always make a big difference in life, but sometimes a chance meeting or action sets a much larger chain of events in motion. Ross Lawhead manages to stack each seemingly unrelated event like a house of cards. Each part depends upon every other part and in the end you just step back and wonder how we got there so quickly without seeing it coming.

Day 2 Blog: A thousand years? Is that too long to sleep?
Day Two I'll discuss some of the original characters created for the story and how the Realms changed them.

*Participants’ links:

FantasyThyme

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Monday, February 20, 2012

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