Category: Realm Makers

4 Mini Reviews of Enchanting Christian Fantasy Books (YA & Middle Grade)

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Guest post by David Justiss

I’m a fantasy writer and hope to soon publish my first middle grade fantasy story! My brand of fantasy is not high fantasy, nor urban fantasy – I take more influence from fairy tales and mythology. Here are 4 mini reviews of enchanting fantasy tales (by Christian authors) which have inspired me.

  1. Book Review: An Echo of the Fae by Jenelle Leanne Schmidt
  2. Book Review: The Story Peddler by Lindsay A. Franklin
  3. Book Review: Heart of the Curiosity by H.L. Burke
  4. Book Review: Eternal, Everywhere, With You by Sherry Rossman

Book Review: An Echo of the Fae by Jenelle Leanne Schmidt

Rating: 5 stars!

I love the style and voice of this story. It reminds me of fairy tales or fantasy stories I read and loved as a kid. It feels like it was written a long time ago, which is perfect for a fairy tale. The other book I could compare it to is The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald, as both have the feeling of a fairy story.

One time, I did a survey meant for authors asking what was the most important parts of the story, with the multiple choices of (a) plot, (b) characters, or (c) other. I answered with (c) – that the most important part of a story is the tone and feelings it conveys to the reader. I’m bringing this up now because this story conveys so well the kind of adventurous wonder that a fairy tale is supposed to give a reader.

The only little criticism I think of is that Echo really seemed younger that thirteen years old, but that’s hardly a problem when the story is otherwise so good.

Book Review: The Story Peddler by Lindsay A. Franklin

Rating: 5 stars!

I loved it, and can’t wait to read book two!

Looking forward to finding out why Gareth was the way he was. I loved Braith. She was in such a precarious situation, and I was struck by her boldness in every scene she’s in. The other characters are pretty cool too.

I love the theme too. It’s kind of a similar theme as Fahrenheit 451, but I like this kind of story way better than futuristic dystopian stuff. The feel of the story is very different. I’ll go for a hopeful story over a depressing or disturbing one any day.

Book Review: Heart of the Curiosity by H.L. Burke

Rating: 5 stars!

I beta-read this and loved it, so I had to get the finished version.

There comes a point in a lot of good books, usually somewhere around half or 2/3 of the way through, where the book becomes very hard to put down. Unfortunately, this point came after 1am both times I read this book, so I was up late…

I like the theater. Pretty much any setting with a maze-like system of hallways and secret passages can make for a fun story setting. And of course, I love the snail circus (I recently read and watched Coraline which I suspect is where the inspiration for the snail circus came from. loved that story too.)

Yes, I cried (both times) going through those tough parts to read. Leo is easy to relate to with her feeling unlovable and wondering what she’s good for.

Book Review: Eternal, Everywhere, With You by Sherry Rossman

Rating: 5 stars!

Something good about independently published books is that you get stylistic elements which don’t pass with a major publisher. (It’s a bit of a shame that you very rarely find books with this kind of unique style from major publishers.) Sherry Rossman has a poetic writing style which has a habit of leaving out details which are (usually) easily filled in by the reader’s brain. Sometimes it takes a minute to figure out what’s going on. This isn’t always a bad thing, and in this story, I don’t think it’s a bad thing at all. You do have to trust the next page to tell you just enough to get the story and the feelings, but it works well here.

There’s some weird timey wimey stuff that reminded me both of N. D. Wilson’s Outlaws of Time trilogy, and of Madeline L’Engle’s stories. I loved it.

About David Justiss

Find more reviews of books by Realm Makers authors on David Justiss’ Goodreads page.

Or find old posts on his blog: https://lightingliramor.wordpress.com/

Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.

I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!

Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…

3 Mini Reviews of Christian Sci-Fi and Urban Fantasy Books

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Guest Post by Ted Atchley

Hi, I’m Ted Atchely, a geek who loves Jesus, and a professional computer programmer. Whether it’s crafting code or weaving tales, I’m always writing. I’ve been influenced by science fiction and fantasy written by fellow Christian authors, and am excited to share 3 mini reviews of my favorites!

  1. Book Review: Mercury on Guard by Steve Rzasa
  2. Book Review: Rogue Pursuit by B.L. Dean
  3. Book Review: Steal Fire From the Gods by Clint Hall
  4. Ted Atchley’s Debut Sci-Fi Novel: The Key to Reality

Book Review: Mercury on Guard by Steve Rzasa

Rating: 5/5 stars!

If you enjoy urban fantasy stories with snarky heroes slaying otherworldly beasts, then I give you my strongest recommendation to check out Mercury On Guard. This story has a lighter feel than The Dresden Files with less death and destruction, but similar stark and a bunch of monster fighting.

I’m normally a slow reader, but the pages simply melted away. The description pulls you into the action and the setting. Sometimes it feels like Mercury’s narration even breaks the fourth wall.

The characters are each distinct and feel like real people. They have their issues, but you are rooting for them the whole way. The twists catch you off guard in all the best ways, always cranking up the stakes. The story has a satisfying ending, but also leaves room for further adventures.

If this were a movie, it would probably be PG-13. There’s no adult language that I remember. No adult “situations.” There is plenty of violence, but it was never gratuitous, gory or stomach turning. A minor character consumes alcohol.

I look forward to delving into the rest of the Mercury series and Mr. Rzasa’s other works.

Book Review: Rogue Pursuit by B.L. Dean

Rating: 5/5 stars!

If you like Space Opera, you should definitely check this one out. It has great characters, creative worldbuilding, and plenty of conflict and tension on every page.

I loved how the author used color theory in the dynamics of how the wormholes work in this world. Each planet we visit is unique, with a fresh spin on familiar themes. It feels new, yet familiar.

Tai and Perrin are both well written with varying and conflicting goals and objectives. Their dynamic plus a great balance of micro and macro stakes makes for a rich and enjoyable story. I’m looking forward to seeing more of them in future books by Dean. Even the side characters are memorable and I would love to see them starring in their own spinoffs in the future.

This was a fast read, and one of my favorite reads of the year so far. I’ve already purchased the next book in the series.

Book Review: Steal Fire From the Gods by Clint Hall

Rating: 4/5 Stars

I enjoyed the story and it kept me engaged to the end. It was a fun and creative adventure. The characters are fully dimensional and relatable. This is a great science fantasy book–a blending of science fiction and fantasy that goes together like chocolate and peanut butter.

This book kept me on my toes. The story never went in the direction I thought it was going to go. The “curse your sudden, yet inevitable betrayal” moment, I never saw coming.

The book did leave me with some questions, both about the magic system, but also about the main character. There seems to be a conflict introduced in the opening chapter that I felt could have had a clearer resolution. But these questions never detracted from the enjoyment of the story.

I’m a little bummed this was a standalone. While I look forward to future works from Mr. Hall, I do hope at some point, he will decide to revisit this world and these characters.

Ted Atchley’s Debut Sci-Fi Novel: The Key to Reality

If these books sound interesting, I invite you to try my debut sci-fi novel, The Key to Reality. It tells the story of a “white hat” hacker who attempts to strike a work / life balance and fails so cataclysmically it breaks the fabric of space-time.

Or get the short story prequel, “Finding the Key,” for free when you subscribe to my newsletter. Fourteen-year-old Brandon has bounced from foster home to foster home since losing his mother. All he wants to do is reclaim a part of his old life and return to the apartment he shared with her. But the old neighborhood has changed much since Brandon last lived there, and a nasty gang runs the streets. His search won’t just be for a place to call home, but for his very survival.

About Ted Atchley

Ted lives in beautiful Charleston, SC with his wife, children, and two cats.

When he’s not writing or reading, he enjoys schooling his kids at Smash Bros, and Mario Kart, as every geeky dad should.

Check out his work at https://tedatchley.com/.

Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.

I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!

Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…

12 Best Publishers of Christian Speculative Fiction (Sci-Fi, Fantasy, & MORE)

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J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis are hardly the only two Christian authors who loved and crafted fantastical tales. However, for decades, there has been a hard split between the secular or general fiction market, which reaches fans of sci-fi, fantasy, and other popular genres, and the Christian fiction market, which mainly features modern-day romance.

Finally, supply is catching up to demand as small publishers begin to seek speculative fiction by Christian authors or with Christian themes. There’s no easy definition for this genre, but it can include some or all of the following features:

  • Books by Christian authors whose worldview informs their writing
  • Books that emphasize Christian themes such as faith, redemption, forgiveness, self-sacrifice, and more
  • Books that feature Christianity and Christian characters
  • “Clean” books that exclude profanity, sexual content, and gratuitous violence (PG-13 rating or less)
  • The press is owned or run by Christians, so they are inviting to others of their worldview, but do not necessarily require any of the above elements.

More and more readers are seeking this type of content, but these publishing houses also serve as a beacon for authors who may hesitate to publish with a secular company that disagrees with their beliefs, but have difficulty finding interest for their manuscript within traditional Christian publishing circles.

If you’re a nerdy Christian writer, there’s hope! Check out some of the great publishers below!

Best Overall

Enclave Publishing

Publishes: sci-fi, fantasy, dystopian, military sci-fi, space opera, steampunk, supernatural, and YA

Audience: YA and adult

Do you need an agent? NO

Submission Guidelines

Standout Works:

Best Large Publisher

TNZ Fiction

(Imprint of Thomas Nelson and Zondervan, now under the umbrella Harper Collins Christian Publishing)

Publishes: mainly romance and contemporary fiction, but they have published most of Steven Lawhead’s work, plus a growing collection of clean YA fantasy.

Audience: YA and adult

They do NOT accept unsolicited manuscripts.

Submission Guidelines

Standout Works:

Best Mid-Size Publisher

Bethany House (Imprint of Baker Publishing Group)

Publishes: both fiction and nonfiction, mostly Amish and romance fiction. But they have also published about 45 fantasy, supernatural, and sci-fi titles – more than some smaller presses on this list.

Audience: YA and adult

They do NOT accept unsolicited manuscripts.

Submission Guidelines

Standout Works:

NOTE: according to this recent article, Baker Publishing Group is seeking less SFF due to low sales, but their head of acquisitions hopes that will change in the future.

Best Small Presses

Expanse Books (Imprint of Scrivenings Press)

Publishes: fantasy, sci-fi, fairy tales, dystopian, magical realism, urban fantasy

Audience: young adult, adult
(for middle grade, check out their imprint ScrivKids)

Do you need an agent? NO

Submission Guidelines

Standout Works:

Brimstone Fiction

Publishes: fantasy, sci-fi, video game, magical realism

Audience: young adult, adult

Submission Guidelines: website currently under maintenance as they restructure their company to include Brimstone Books and Media and Brimstone Fire.

Standout Works:

Quill & Flame Publishers – Obsidian Imprint

Publishes: spine-tingling science fiction, horror, and fantasy that redeems the dark – they have recently expanded with Obsidian, an imprint that does not require romance!

Audience: young adult, adult

Do you need an agent? NO – next open submissions window July 2025

Submission Guidelines

Standout Works:

Best Middle Grade and Young Adult

Monster Ivy Publishing

Publishes: fantasy, dystopian, thriller, horror, sci-fi, romance, paranormal

Audience: middle grade, YA

Do you need an agent? NO

Open for submissions ONLY during the month of June each year

Submission Guidelines

Standout Works:

Mountain Brook Fire (Imprint of Mountain Brook Ink)

Publishes: fantasy, fairy tales, futuristic, superhero, supernatural

Audience: middle grade, YA, adult

Do you need an agent? NO

Submission Guidelines

Standout Works:

Best Short Fiction

Mysterion Magazine (Enigmatic Mirror Press)

Publishes: sci-fi, fantasy, and horror short stories under 9000 words (preferably under 5K words)

Biannual submissions windows: July and January

Submission Guidelines

Go Havok (Havok Publishing)

Publishes: mystery, science fiction, comedy, thriller, and fantasy between 300 – 1,000 words

Submit ONLY if your story fits their daily genres and seasonal themes. Check their site for seasonal deadlines.

Submission Guidelines

Honorable Mentions

These presses are smaller and have only published a few authors each, but they look promising and are absolutely worth keeping an eye on in the future!

Descendant Publishing

Story-weaver Publishing

Bear Publications

Sky Turtle Press

Blade of Truth Publishing

The Rebel Christian Publishing

All logos and cover art are the exclusive intellectual property of their respective publishing houses.

*DISCLAIMER* Some other Christian publishing houses do publish speculative fiction under their “general fiction” category. This article highlights publishers whose MAIN focus is speculative fiction, who have an imprint dedicated to SFF, or whose fiction category includes a large collection of successful SFF.

Also, everyone has a different definition of what constitutes Christianity. We make no effort to define any individual’s faith or any company’s stance. Carefully research any company statements and look up the owners and managing editors if their faith is important to you.

Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.

I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!

Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…

A man kneels at the cross, silhouetted by a cloudy sunset. He palms are open, his head bowed, and a stack of books rests at the foot of the cross.

A Writer’s Prayer

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Guest Post By Wayne Thomas Batson

Oh, Lord, you know
I have ideas all the time.
But I often wonder,
Which are yours and which are mine?

I toil in silence with thoughts and words,
While minutes spin and hours fly,
Wondering if it’s all worth it,
Or will be when I die.

Could I have better spent my days
With family and with friends,
Or in the mission field,
Where means justify the ends?

Could I have done something more
Than crafting stories in so many pages?
More than making up lives of fiction
That might not live on through the ages?

How can my feeble language
Capture your grace, your hope, your love?
How can the plans of a broken man
Ever be enough?

What if no one ever reads my work?
Or just to be polite, a few?
Can all these images and words
Be written just for You?

Maybe I could sow or reap,
But stories make my heart sing.
So I present to You these pages
As a private offering.

The Lord’s reply came swiftly
Over many years, hard learned.
He said, have you ever seen me waste a tear
Or from a faithful gesture turn?

Those minutes, hours, years you spend
Have already been redeemed.
Not one word written on my behalf
Will be as fruitless as it seemed.

For I do not judge by reviews or likes
Or by bestseller lists.
Your name in lights could never match
Your humble willingness.

Let me have your every word
Every sentence, every story.
I will take that meager bread
And multiply it for my glory.

Take the gift I gave you
Brook no fear nor regret.
Your good and faithful service
Will touch the world as I intend.

About Wayne Thomas Batson

A middle aged man with blue eyes and a peppered beard stands in front of a dark wood bookshelf.

Wayne Thomas Batson is the bestselling author of The Door Within Trilogy, The Myridian Constellation, and a host of other sprawling tales. A middle school English teacher of 33 years, Batson and his lovely wife Mary Lu live in a woodland home called Timbervale in the secluded hills of New Market, Maryland.

Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.

I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!

Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…