The Best of Christian Science Fiction From A Small Publisher that Selects 4-8 Stories a Year

update: Bought in 2014, and still publishing speculative fiction with a Christian Worldview, Enclave Publishing.

Have you heard about Marcher Lord Press (since October 2008)?  I’m glad I heard about it and have been following their progress.  They had a sale on one of their ebooks, By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson, so I bought it.  I couldn’t believe how quickly I reached the 500th page and wanted to read more.  The 2 sequels are To Darkness Fled and From Darkness Won. The trilogy is available for a low pice!

By Darkness Hid is told from two points of view, Achan Cham and Vrell Sparrow.  Achan Cham, a lowly servant and a stray, aspires to become a Kingsguard Knight.  Sir Gavan, a Kingsguard Knight, decides to train Achan, as Sir Gavan used to be a stray himself.  Achan is even more unusual because a stray usually has knowledge of one of his parents, but Achan doesn’t know who either of his parents are.

Vrell Sparrow flees and dresses as a stray boy to avoid an arranged marriage.  Vrell’s mother is in agreement and tells Vrell she can come home as soon as Prince Gidon chooses another woman.  Vrell knows how to bloodvoice, so she plans to keep in touch with her mother that way.

Bloodvoicing is a communicating with thoughts.  One of the Kingsguard Knights that is escorting Vrell uses bloodvoicing as well.  Jax, the Kingsguard that uses bloodvoicing, tells Vrell that bloodvoicing is a great power when used for good.  He also tells her to thank Arman for the gift of bloodvoicing.  Vrell knows that Arman is the only true God.  Vrell and Achan communicate by bloodvoicing before they meet. I’m going to stop the review now, so I won’t reveal too much of the plot.

I enjoyed the well-written story.  Jill Williamson created an interesting world in this book, and I’m looking forward to continuing the series.  If you read the book, please leave a comment to share your favorite part of the story.