Between Two Kingdoms

Between Two Kingdoms

Joe Boyd

Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone

Release Date: March 2010

Publisher: Standard Publishing

Pages: 176

Author Site: http://betweentwokingdoms.wordpress.com/about-the-author/

My Rating: 2/5

Source: Received from FSB Associates for review

Synopsis [from goodreads.com]:

In this work of allegorical fantasy, author Joe Boyd takes us on a pilgrimage to a land of two kingdoms, but only one true King. An ancient land, where children never grow old. A living land, where foundations grow in trees and rivers sing and breathe. But also a dying land, where the darkness of a false prince threatens to swallow everything in its shadow.

Enter the adventure with Tommy, a child of the Great King, as he and his friends accept the challenge to live as grown men and women in the Lower Kingdom—where hope is hidden, vision is clouded, and pride twists truth into a beautiful yet deadly deception.

Review:

I didn't hate this book but I can't say I really liked it either. BETWEEN TWO KINGDOMS is one big allegorical tale that was both challenging and easy to get through. Not being very religious myself I found it a bit redundant and sometimes annoying to read and re-read the religious references spread throughout the unique tale. Now most of that annoyance is directed towards myself for not realizing what exactly this book was about. When I was asked to review BETWEEN TWO KINGDOMS I simply skimmed the synopsis provided and said "Definitely!!" It sounded like an enjoyable action tale geared towards the younger crowd. I really had no idea what I was getting into when I accepted the review.

But I don't want anyone to think the book was terrible, because it wasn't. It simply wasn't my cup o'tea. I enjoyed the story enough to want to finish it and after setting aside my differences with the novel itself I was able to enjoy the plot as a whole rather than concentrate on the religious symbols in the book. There was also some points in the book that quite frankly had me stumped. The children of the Great King are a eternally seven-years-old. Why that age? Why children at all? While in the Upper Kingdom, the children eat a cookie and ice-cream filled diet that seems to hold some significance in the end but still leaves me scratching my head...

Overall, the story was entirely unique to my personal tastes. And to add a random comment into my review: I really like the cover! The picture above is pretty true to what you get when you hold the novel and I just loved looking at it. I believe there are many people, young and older alike, that will enjoy BETWEEN TWO KINGDOMS. I recommend you borrow it from a library or read more about it before making a decision.