SHINE A LIGHT TODAY. AKA: SALT
The Christian & Faith-Based go-to media review series that spotlights faith-driven books, films, and podcasts worth your time.
Bryce and the Lost Pearl (Lightglider Origin Story)
Bryce and the Lost Pearl is a tie-in novel to the Christian virtual world Lightgliders. Focusing on the origin of Bryce, a character and Lightglider from the video game ecosystem, this story goes through his first foray into the realm of Glideon, a fantastical land threatened by corruption and held together by hope. After taking a forbidden ride to a mysterious island, Bryce loses his horse and is forced to go searching through untamed wilderness. Soon he finds himself taken out of his old world and thrown into a new one filled with monsters, heroes, long-lost technology, and strange new friends.
Brand of Light
Brand of Light is the first book of Ronie Kendig’s Christian space opera epic series The Droseran Saga. On a low-tech planet, a prophecy is formed that will shape the fate of the space-faring civilizations around it. Kidnapping, regicide, forbidden technology, corruption in the military, conspiracies in the nobility, ancient prophecies, and illegal human experimentation are all wrapped up in this first foray into Kendig’s richly woven tetrology. With a subtle, well-placed thread of Christianity running through the story, Kendig throws the reader into a world of treachery, danger, and romance without coming across as preachy.
Potter Knows Best
Potter Knows Best is a children’s picture book by award winning screenplay writer and author Cheryl McKay Price. In it, the newly made Little Bowl seeks answers about why she was created and what her purposes is. In a charming journey of discovery and understanding the Potter’s heart, the Little Bowl finds her place in the world.
A Crane Among Wolves
A Crane Among Wolves is a historical fiction-romance set during a particularly tumultuous time in Korea’s Joseon Period. Written by Korean-Canadian author June Hur, this story follows Iseul, a teenager who was orphaned years ago as she strives to save her sister from the clutches of an evil tyrant. To do this, she must band together with the king’s half-brother, Prince Daehyun to mount a rescue and save her sister as well as the kingdom, from King Yeonsan.
Paintball with Dragons
Paintball with Dragons is a heartfelt, semi-fantastical MG novel by novelist Hope Bolinger. The story features Xander who’s first day of school involves him seeing dragons everywhere — and he seems to be the only one who can see them. From there, well-meaning shenanigans ensue as Xander tries to figure out why he can see dragons and what he’s supposed to do with this knowledge. There’s a medieval history club that needs members, weirdoes that need to be befriended, and faith that needs a little rekindling.
A Story on Purpose
A Story on Purpose is Payton Minzenmayer’s hybrid self-help book/novel. Following the story of Ethan, a young man lost and burdened by feelings of failure and anxiety, the book takes the reader on a journey of mental health through positive habits, advice on managing emotions, and discipline.
At Home in Mitford
At Home in Mitford is the first of Jan Karon’s New York Times Bestseller series, The Mitford Years. This beloved book introduces Father Tim, an Episcopalian rector as he navigates life in the small and not-quite-so-idyllic Mitford, North Carolina.
Growing a Peaceful Heart
Growing a Peaceful Heart by Karen Whiting and a Sara DuBose is a collection of faith-filled stories taken from historical figures, Biblical accounts, and the personal experiences of both the authors and their friends and family. Read either in one sitting or as a thirty-week devotional, these stories are collected with the common thread of finding God’s peace through all circumstances.
Wild Thing (Winnie the Horse Gentler, Book 1)
Wild Thing is the first book of the Winnie the Horse Gentler preteen series by Dandi Daley Mackall. In it, horse “gentler” Winnie Willis must grapple with not just an unruly Arabian, but also the pain of losing her mother and moving to a new city.
The High Crusade
The High Crusade is a tongue-in-cheek chivalric space opera by renown science fiction writer Poul Anderson. In this book, the conquering Wersgorix aliens arrive in fourteenth century England with the intention of scaring the locals into submission. Unable to anticipate the ferocity of the local English baron, Sir Roger de Tourneville and the fervent faith of the Englishmen under his leadership, the aliens are overpowered. With the captured alien ship, Sir Roger packs up the entire town of Ansby with the intention of assisting King Edward III in the Hundred Years’ War, not knowing that journey will take a detour of a few hundred lightyears.
The Book of Saints and Heroes (Voyage Comics Print)
The Book of Saints & Heroes by Voyage Classics is a reprint of the 1912 book by Andrew and Lenora Lang. This book is a collection of stories from Christian and Catholic saints and heroes throughout history, written to be read aloud and shared, with illustrations for each story.
Tears of a Dragon (Dragons in Our Midst #4)
Tears of a Dragon is the fourth and final book of Bryan Davis’ Dragons in Our Midst series. In it, Billy Bannister and company must face off against the evil Watchers, armed only with prophecy, Excalibur, and a few dragon allies. This is a story of bravery, including with great care stories of honor, love, and, most importantly, salvation.
Circles of Seven (Dragons in Our Midst #3)
Dragons in Our Midst: Circles of Seven is the third book of Bryan Davis’ Christian epic fantasy series. Featuring all the beloved (and less beloved) characters from the first two books, plus some new allies and foes, the adventure descends into an even deeper level of myth and symbolism as the heroes navigate the seven circles of the underworld.
The Restorer
The Restorer: The Power of Deception by Ted Jordan is a supernatural political spy thriller as the intelligence agency VECTOR 5 races against a terrorist organization known as The Apparatus, which is seeking to codify Sharia law into the U.S. judicial system.
The Candlestone (Dragons in Our Midst #2)
The Candlestone is the second book of Bryan Davis’ Dragons in Our Midst series. Picking up shortly after the events of the previous book (Raising Dragons), this series takes the main characters on a whirlwind journey to Montana to rescue Bonnie Silver and fulfill the prophecies that have been laid out before them in Merlin’s ancient journal.
Raising Dragons (Dragons in Our Midst #1)
Raising Dragons is the first of Bryan Davis’s Dragons in Our Midst series. This modern Arthurian tale of good and evil, dragons and knights, and the collision of the mundane and the fantastical is a riveting and action-packed book with a heart of gold.
Take That, Hurricane!
Take That, Hurricane! is a kids’ illustrated book by Rebekah Hair featuring Super Tess and her Sidekick Nick as they work to clean up their town after a devastating hurricane.
Buzzle Billy
Buzzle Billy is a picture book written by Michael P. Waite and illustrated by Jill Colbert Trousdale. In it, kids are introduced to a message about sharing in the delightful world of the Buzzles.
That Hideous Strength
The final entry into C.S. Lewis’ The Space Trilogy is an author-described “fairytale for adults”. That Hideous Strength is part Arthurian legend, part dystopic nightmare, part study on the intricacies or both human nature and spiritual warfare, pulling no punches on any of these topics.
Perelandra
The sequel to C.S. Lewis’ Out of the Silent Planet and second installment of his space trilogy, Perelandra, is a blunt, breathtaking, and intricately crafted allegory on the temptation of sin and retelling of the Biblical story of Eden.