My Review of the Halflings Trilogy

About the Series

Book 1: "In the first book of the Halflings Trilogy, Nikki Youngblood discovers she’s the central force of a madman’s plan, and turns to three half-angel boys for protection. With the Halflings, she’s completely safe. Everything except her heart. And Mace’s soul. Falling for him could ensure his eternal ruin."

Book 2: "In book two of the Halflings Trilogy by author Heather Burch, Nikki Youngblood discovers there might be more to her gifts than simply Seeing—making her a central part of Damon Vessler’s plans. Mace and Raven are forced to work together to keep Nikki safe, but will their love and protection be enough to keep Nikki from the future set before her?"

Book 3: "In the third book of the Halflings series from author Heather Burch, Nikki must finally make a decision—not only which Halfling boy she will give her heart to, but where she stands in the supernatural war her godfather has unleashed. Though first she must ward off a demonic Seeker that is intent on ending her life."

[Book descriptions from the Blink YA Books website.]

My Review

The "Halflings" trilogy caused divided reactions in me: half enthralled, half frustrated. I admit that one of my biggest difficulties in approaching the stories was reconciling the presented theology with the awareness that the series is more fantasy than a presentation of angelology and the like. When it comes to novels with angels (or in this case, half angels) as the main characters, some sort of theology is going to be involved, whether the author wishes to highlight it as a valid interpretation of Scripture or not. I occasionally got hung up on things that were probably not intended to be huge statements, but bothered me, nonetheless. It was a bit of a jerky ride - being swept along through some of the action and romance scenes, but then getting snagged by attitudes and beliefs that didn't resonate (as well as some dialogue and actions that confused or annoyed me). That being said, it was still an enjoyable ride, overall, and one that certainly culminated in an exciting conclusion!

Haflings sets the stage by introducing some interesting characters and creating a good bit of intrigue about who Nikki is and what all the hoopla is about (i.e.: why everyone is either chasing her or determined to protect her from the ones chasing her). Guardian continues the romantic drama created in the first book by adding some rather fantastical plot twists (including a yacht ride to Europe vs. flying there) and keeping the Nikki pendulum swinging between her two admirers. Avenger adds a bit more depth by raising the stakes, giving the characters some maturity, and forcing the characters to face what needs to be faced (no matter how painful the revelations are) and decide what they're willing to fight for - and sacrifice for.

Through the books - especially in Guardian - it felt a bit like the Halflings were some sort of "Avengers" or "Justice League" group. It was like they were super heroes with special powers called upon to save the world - or at least their assigned problem in the world. I think this impression was supported by the faith aspect, especially the take on prayer that bothered me in Guardian. There's one scene where Will - the guardian of Vine, Mace, and Raven (the Halflings initially assigned to Nikki) - told Nikki to pray, pointing out the supernatural realm where angels were fighting to keep death from entering the scene and taking certain lives. When Nikki prayed, it came across (to me) as a matter of course vs. a genuine communication with an omnipotent God. She even asks something after saying a prayer to the effect of, "Did I do it?" as if she was the one who was responsible for any change in the situation. That attitude seemed to permeate a lot of the series - a focus on the deeds of the angels and Halflings rather than the source of their strength in the One they were supposed to be serving. The references to "the Throne," while in keeping with the feeling of a group of soldiers getting orders from the General, kept the faith element from really feeling personal or authentic to me.

Like I noted before, it's sometimes hard to keep in mind that this is mainly fantasy, especially when Scripture
is noted in defense of why certain things are the way they are in the story. When biblical references are used to support certain theories presented in the books, I can't help but wrestle with them. I know, I know - it's fiction, and the books certainly don't attempt to tell you otherwise! Yet, it was hard to mark the distinction between when the books were exploring interesting ideas for the sake of a good story, and when they were trying to convey certain beliefs beyond the fiction. I guess it just ended up being more confusing than inspiring or convicting in a theological sense.

As for the plot and the characters, there were some things that bugged me: Nikki's role, especially, as well as the repetitive back-and-forth interactions between her and her two guys. I could sympathize with her often enough to keep me reading, but her flip-flopping emotional extremes and her drastic personality shifts from warrior to wounded girl did annoy me. I admire that she was supposed to be a "tough" heroine, and I certainly understand why she had difficulty figuring out her affections when both boys did crazy things to her heart. But when Nikki noted in Halflings that she had taken six years of martial arts and was therefore basically able to take on any man, I scoffed. I realize that different types of martial arts can better prepare you for real-life combat than others, and different people can learn more quickly than others, but still...six years? That hardly makes anyone an expert in any field, especially considering Nikki is a teenager! (Yes, this is sort of a minor element I'm picking on, but the whole martial-arts thing didn't jive with me. Nikki ended up being open to learning more about fighting techniques, but I guess it was more that her character's personality and activities didn't always mesh for me, in general.)

Despite my complaints, I did find the books to be engaging. I devoured them pretty quickly, and I really appreciated being able to read them nearly one right after the other. The plot held my interest, and I think it and the character development came together the best in Avenger, which was my favorite of the three. (Although I imagine I enjoyed it that much more because I had been with the characters through two previous books and I could finally see them grow and find some resolution. I certainly recommend all of the books being read together and in order, if possible, for the most enjoyment.)

So, what's the verdict? I was personally frustrated by some of the faith elements (as they were presented) and some of the ideas behind the story and the characters. However, it's an intriguing and creative series that ultimately challenges and changes its characters, leaving an impact on the reader. Some parts feel ridiculous, and some end up working well when all is said and done - not to mention that it is a mostly fun reading experience, despite the little annoyances. The "Haflings" trilogy is one that can leave the reader rather torn, as I am...but I'm still glad to have met the characters and been given the opportunity to ponder some interesting topics because of them.

*With many thanks to Zondervan and DJC Communications for providing me with a copy of each book in the series in exchange for my honest opinion.*

My Review of Chasing Jupiter

Here's a description of the book from Zondervan:

"Scarlett Blaine’s life in 1960s Georgia isn’t always easy, especially given her parents’ financial struggles and the fights surrounding her sister Juli’s hippie lifestyle. Then there’s her brother, Cliff. While Scarlett loves him more than anything, there’s no denying his unique behavior leaves Cliff misunderstood and left out. So when he wishes for a rocket to Jupiter, Scarlett agrees to make it happen, no matter how crazy the idea might be. Raising the rocket money means baking pies, and the farmer’s son, Frank, agrees to provide the peaches if Scarlett will help him talk to Juli. The problem is, Scarlett really enjoys her time with Frank, and finds herself wondering if, someday, they could be more than friends. Just as she thinks everything might be going her way, Cliff suffers an accident that not only affects the rocket plans, but shakes Scarlett’s view of God. As the summer comes to an end, Scarlett must find a way to regain what she’s lost, but also fulfill a promise to launch her brother’s dream."

My Rating

Spring

My Review

With a heartfelt and heartbreaking look at family, Coker's sophomore novel impressed me even more than her debut release, Interrupted. The setting and plot are unique, the characters' quirks are engaging, and the true-to-life issues are shared in interesting, not-so-common ways.

Scarlett is a heroine whom I often felt I could relate to, with her heart for her family, her uncertainties regarding love, and her struggles with impatience and selfishness. Her story and her growth are enjoyable to watch unfold. Frank, on the other hand, shares a similar "puppy dog" quality with the hero of Interrupted, although I think I do like him better than Sam. His immaturity frustrates me, and his character doesn't really stand out in comparison to some of the other characters who are given more depth (like Grandpop Barley, whose character touched my heart and made it break). However, he is sweet, and his character allows for a bit of romance, which I always enjoy in a book!

I was a bit surprised by how the title of the book and Cliff's (Scarlett's brother's) birthday wish were brought together for the conclusion. Initially, it's hard to imagine how everything could work out... But somehow it does work (although I confess that I'm disappointed by some actions/attitudes that led to a certain horrible event). I am slightly bothered by the focus on the heroine that leaves other characters' stories feeling rather unresolved, but I understand that the reader is limited to Scarlett's perspective because this is supposed to be her story. I guess I just wanted a little more about the whole family in the "epilogue" (of sorts).

All in all, Chasing Jupiter is a story about understanding, sacrifice, tragedies, and hope. It's a story about family, with all of its related fears and fights, as well as its strong bond. A moving read!

*With thanks to DJC Communications and Zondervan for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.*