Thursday, September 13, 2007

The Hand That Bears the Sword by George Bryan Polivka

Packer and Panna Throme are interrupted in the middle of their "honey month" by the king's urgent order that Packer must set sail on the Trophy Chase. Three lone ships that are left of the navy fleet go out to sea in an attempt to delay the attack on Nearing Vast from the kingdom of Drammun. Meanwhile, Panna is left behind in the hands of the lustful Prince Mather, who plots to steal her love. As Packer helps to fight the ferocious Drammun Armada, his faith is tested to the limit. He is forced to make the difficult decision to glorify himself or the one who gave him that glory in the first place. Back in Nearing Vast, Panna learns to lay everything down and trust God to show her a way to escape from the evil prince. Through it all, Packer and Panna's examples show others that true power comes from humbling yourself and trusting God to the end.

The Hand That Bears the Sword is the second book in the Trophy Chase Trilogy. It is filled from the first page to the last with action, adventure, and a beautiful portrait of God's perfect love. Some parts are a little bit gory, but other than that it is probobly a most valuable read for teens 12 and up. The plot was laid out very well, using third person, but switching points of view almost every chapter. I enjoyed that because you were able to get to know each character personally. I would highly recommend this book to all fantasy lovers.

Content: faith-based

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9

Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg, PA United States