Greetings! Perhaps the fact that I’m posting twice in a day can make up for the months of inactivity! 🙂

Summary:

Spy. Fighter. Zorian. Can one girl and her comrades bring about the salvation of two kingdoms?

Tanner, the youngest spy on the magical island of Zora, receives orders from the Zorian king to gather information on Viggo, the King of the Outlands—England. However, her team’s espionage plans are violently disrupted by Gordon—a man sworn to kill all Zorians. His determination to avenge his daughter’s death knows no bounds as he rallies Outlanders to his cause and searches the seas for Zora.

Along with Marcel, a stablehand who hints to be more than he claims, and Lagon, leader of the Arander warriors who has a vengeance of his own, Tanner leads a stand against the evil encompassing the land. With armies descending upon the throne of England and a dangerous man sailing toward Zora, time has seemingly run out for Tanner and her friends.

Follow Tanner, Marcel, and their comrades as they journey across lands, charge into battles, uncover shocking news, and find new love in their quest to save England and Zora from the hands of evil in this epic, YA Christian fantasy novel.

Personal Review:

First off, I had the immense honor of beta reading this book, and watching it grow and develop has been such a fun experience! I loved what she added from my initial reading of it. The little changes made the story so powerful, and it was a joy rereading it.

You’ll see me talk a lot about the characters in Saving Zora, and they’re what made this book for me!

The first time I read this book, there were a couple of moments that made me tear up (the author knows exactly what she did and when!), and I wondered if the second time reading the story would affect me as much. And it did! I love how raw and genuine the emotions are in this book! It’s part of what made me fall in love with this novel!

Every character in the crew is unique and well-written. Their strengths and flaws are highlighted so well, and I love their development throughout the book. Which leads me to my next point about this lovely story…the relationships! Although romance plays a part in this story, the friendships are what truly shine. Each character has a specific relationship with the other, and even in friend groups, the dyamics are unique and realistic. I brushed over the romance aspect, so let me return and emphasize how adorable it was! It’s so pure and heartwarming, yet it doesn’t take over the story but flows with the rest of the plot.

Admittedly, there were a few lines that I struggled to find believable because of how movie-like they seemed, but on the whole the dialogue was well-crafted.

Another part I appreciated is how all of the timelines/perspectives tie together so well and converge beautifully.

I love how the setting incorporates medieval England with the prospect of a magical island! It’s such a unique concept, and I can’t wait to find out more about the world!

Christianity is woven into this book so well, and it’s a credit to Christian fiction! The struggles of the characters’ walks with Christ are real and genuine. However, I love how, at the end of the day, their faith shapes them, their decisions, and even their grief.

This is her debut novel, so I can’t wait to see what her future works look like!

Content Review:

Language – Darn, blazes, stars, etc., but that’s it!

Sexual – Some kissing, but nothing too passionately described

Violence – This book’s mostly about war, so there’s a fair amount of death, war, etc. Although there are many battle scenes, though, there isn’t really any gore.

Spiritual – Tanner and her crew are Christians, and it’s so cool to see how their faith is woven into the story.

Other:

– A brief trigger warning: There are some mentions/descriptions of abuse.

– Older characters occasionally drink.

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I received a free eARC of Saving Zora in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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That’s all for now! I’ll be back soon with more reviews!