Hello again! Continuing until October 28th (culminating with a list of winners), I have the privilege of featuring all of the 2021 The Christy Award Finalists! Today I’m featuring Sharon Hinck and her speculative fiction Christy Award finalist book Forsaken Island! You can check out a list of all the finalists HERE.
FORSAKEN ISLAND
SERIES: The Dancing Realms #2
GENRE: Inspirational Fantasy
PUBLISHER: Enclave Publishing
RELEASE DATE: September 15, 2020
PAGES: 258
On an uncharted world, happiness is effortless and constant … but can true joy exist without sacrifice?
The people of Meriel have long believed their island world floats alone in the vast ocean universe, so they are astonished when another island drifts into view. With resources becoming scarce, Carya and Brantley quickly volunteer to search the new land for supplies.
After navigating a barrier of menacing trees, the pair encounter a culture of perpetually happy people who readily share their talents and their possessions. But all is not what it seems. At the core of the island is a horror that threatens everyone, including Brantley and Carya.
Freeing the villagers of the bondage they’ve chosen may cost Carya and Brantley more than they could have imagined. Even if the two succeed, they’ll have to find a way to return to Meriel quickly … or be cut off from their home forever.
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I asked the author…
What is something God taught you while writing Forsaken Island?
Each time I write a novel, my characters surprise me, take me on a journey, and challenge me to explore struggles in my own life.
In Forsaken Island, Carya and Brantley explore a new world and visit several different villages. Each one has built a society with a specific passion. One celebrates the arts, another athletic competition, another technology. As my characters interacted with each new village, I gained a new perspective about ways that even a good thing in my life can grow out of balance and become a harmful idol.
Carya faced dark secrets on the island, and a dangerous enemy. As she worked to help people in bondage, she struggled with spiritual questions about trust and sacrifice. A few of her thoughts especially spoke to me:
“You’d think I could face this trip bravely, but fear tiptoed into my heart and set up camp.”
“Was I listening for the Maker’s guidance or bounding ahead into folly?”
“The inaudible voice repeated a distant thrum: Forgotten, forgetting, forsaking.”
“Having a dire need that others didn’t even acknowledge was a sharply lonely sensation.”
“Give me a heart like Yours that gives without demanding anything in return.”
“I wasn’t the Creator of life nor the Overcomer of death. But there lived a Creator and an Overcomer.”
“The Maker’s love had opened doors in my soul that I’d never dreamed possible. But could I follow Him now, when nothing made sense?”
“Make me strong, but if You won’t make me strong, make me faithful.”
Sharon writes “stories for the hero in all of us” – uplifting and entertaining novels about ordinary people called to extraordinary challenges.
Her recent novel, Hidden Current, (Book 1 of the Dancing Realms Series), was honored with the Christy award for Visionary fiction. She also won several Carol awards for both contemporary Christian fiction and fantasy, and was a Christy finalist for The Restorer – a genre-blending adventure of a soccer-mom in an alternate world.
She holds an M.A. in communication, and worked for many years in arts ministry as a church worker, choreographer, organist, writer, editor, and adjunct professor. One day she’ll figure out what to be when she grows up, but meanwhile she loves learning how God’s grace pours into our lives in the midst of our weakness.
Sharon Hinck is offering a print copy of Forsaken Island to one of my readers! (US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.) This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.
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What about you? What makes you want to read the speculative fiction Christy Award finalist Forsaken Island by Sharon Hinck? Or, if you’ve read it already, what did you love about it?
Interesting- sounds like a story about socialism- it’s not as rosy as some think it is.
Captivating, intriguing and unique. A real treasure to enjoy.
This book sounds so interesting, I would love to read it.
I haven’t read much Christian fantasy but this sounds like it would be worth the read 🙂
Sharon’s Sword of Lyric books are some of my very favorite, but I haven’t yet been able to read this newer series. I’m sure it’s fantastic!
It sounds like an interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
Lately I’ve really been enjoying fantasy YA books and this one sounds really great!
Wonderful cover
Has me curious.
New author for me.
sounds so good.
I want to read this book because the plot is quite intriguing.