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Month: June 2020

Three Last Things: New Fiction from Corinna Turner

Published by CAstfalk on 06/29/2020

About the Book:

“Love doesn’t exist. And Fr. Jacob is right about one thing. 

Without it, life is utterly meaningless.”

NO LOVE. NO NOTHING.

Carl Jarrold, a convicted assassin, believes that all human relationships turn on what one human being wants from another: that there is no such thing as love and thus no meaning to life. Prison chaplain Fr. Jacob, the closest thing he has to a friend, has struggled for three long years to convince Carl how wrong he is—to no avail. But the day of execution has finally arrived, and nothing goes quite as Carl expects. Soon it’s shaping up to be the strangest day he has ever had. But will it prove the worst day of his life…or the best?

This tense, “psychologically-compelling,” spiritual thriller is a standalone novella from the Carnegie Medal Nominated author of the award-winning I AM MARGARET series. Described as “beautiful,” “fantastically good,” and “one of the most moving stories I have ever read,” this is a race against time for the highest possible stakes.

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“My Captain” by F.P. Astfalk

Published by CAstfalk on 06/26/2020

What good is a blog if I can’t publish my own children’s work? My twelve-year-old daughter recently received an honorable mention for this short work,”My Captain,” in The Hershey Story History Contest for Young Writers.

Next week, a short award-winning piece by her older brother.

Boom!

I struggled to keep my balance. Captain would kill me if I dropped this bag.

Boom!

This was worse than the thunder.

Boom!

I scrambled up the steps.

“Where’s the powder monkey?” Master Gunner called.

I raced to the gunners, handing them the fine powder.

This is the most thrilling job I’ve ever had. The only drawback is that I’m on one of the most wanted vessels in Spain.

Boom!

I tripped on the steps. Getting up, I grabbed another bag of gunpowder.

“Boy! Hurry up!” Master Gunner called, yet again.

I repeated the same motions over and over. To the orlop, down the steps, grab the powder, up the steps, deliver, repeat. If I weren’t in the middle of a heated battle, I’d drop dead of boredom. This wasn’t the first time I’d done this though. Many a time I had delivered the powder over and over again. So many times I wondered if we were breaking the law. All this raiding would pay off eventually and probably be quite profitable. If it didn’t, I’d rip my hair out. After all, I’d have to show Mama something. She thinks I work for a whaler.

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Give a Book for Sacrament Celebrations

Published by CAstfalk on 06/22/2020

What follows are recommendations for books – fiction and nonfiction – to give as gifts in celebration of the sacraments. From picture books to spiritual reflection to novels, it’s covered.

If I’ve reviewed a book listed, I included a sentence or two from my review. The remainder I’ve either read but not reviewed or received as a recommendation. (Thanks to Deacon Tom Lang and members of the Catholic Writers Guild for their recommendations for Holy Orders and Anointing of the Sick.)

Now, Anointing of the Sick isn’t really a celebratory sacrament. What I’ve listed are recommendations on illness and/or suffering that may be appropriate for someone facing the threat of death.

Finally, I received so many recommendations from the author-readers at the Catholic Writers Guild, that I listed some additional books for your consideration at the end.

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Relevant Fiction Reviews: Fantasy Fiction

Published by CAstfalk on 06/15/2020
Relevant Fiction Reviews
Elfling (U.S. Edition)Elfling by Corinna Turner

Elfling is a highly imaginative fantasy novel about a young girl’s quest to find and save her father. Serapia, accompanied by her dragonet pet, goes from a smart, toughened street urchin to a beloved daughter.

Revelations about her parents’ split and the nature of her father’s past sin took me by surprise, propelling the story in a direction I hadn’t anticipated. Serapia’s subsequent (relentless) quest to obtain healing for her father at the hands of an unwilling he-elf examines the nature of evil, sin and its consequences, suffering, forgiveness, and immortality from a Christian perspective.

Although Serapia’s persistent efforts to compel the he-elf include many flashbacks as she regains her memory, I found that segment of the story a bit long, making it somewhat repetitive. Even so, fans of fantasy will enjoy the detailed world and rich story Corinna Turner has created.
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Moonchild Rising Blog Tour

Published by CAstfalk on 06/11/2020

Shadows of the Sun #1

About the Book:

Mara the Huntress resides in the sunny little town of Archangel, California, the location of the Gate of the Underworld—a fact unknown to the general populace. Most people don’t even know that vampires exist. As Huntress, Mara does know, and it is her job to kill those that dare venture forth to the Upperworld to prey on the humans living there. She is well-suited to this purpose, gifted with skills and talents far surpassing those of ordinary mortals. Though some vampires manage to evade her, she has so far managed to prevent the unleashing of a full-scale infestation. She has been at this job for a good portion of her not-quite twenty years, and it seems she has everything in hand. Then one day she gets a chill of foreboding, a feeling that things are about to change . . .

For she stands in the way of the master vampire’s plan for world domination, and, he fears, may be a key player in the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy foretelling his destruction. One dark night he sends the mighty Prince (his second in command) to put an end to this Huntress, this bane of vampires, once and for all. Mara confidently goes out to face him, but finds she has met her match at last. Just as all hope seems lost, this powerful vampire turns from the “dark side” to become Mara’s ally in the battle against his own kind.

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