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The Kingdom: Here Be Dragons, Here Be Dreams
Lost on a crooked path, Joanna couldn't see the wood for the trees. Denied her dreams, she'd got caught up with Silver-tongue, an evil manipulative liar. Seeking a way out of the maze, she encountered the King, who she'd been estranged from. She turned to him for counsel after discovering he was Abba, her Father.
Leading Joanna to a narrow road, he told her to set up signposts and build landmarks. She was to set her heart on the highway leading to his Kingdom and a forgotten inheritance.
But here be dragons, and Silver-tongue. She had to battle her way out of bewilderment in order to break free.
Learning the King's will from the book he inspired, Joanna found that you can't live by bread alone.
“Call to me, and I will show you great and wonderful things” the King promised.
His word came alive. She dreamed dreams and followed signs.
Given a shepherd’s staff in the Valley of Shadow, Joanna was led along the Path of Righteousness. Picking up her lamp, she followed him towards the sunrise. His word was like a light shining in a dark place.
As Joanna struggled through the Valley of Trouble she learned that you have to go through many trials to enter the Kingdom of God.
In the desert Joanna had to make a choice between Ishmael, and Isaac … the son of the promise.
Faith in the King came by hearing, and hearing by the word. Listening to the King Joanna discovered that when he spoke ONE thing, TWO things could be heard. Paying attention, she listened to the word called 'Logos' for learning and the word called 'Rhema' for revelation. In marking the road home by the Rhema word, she uncovered her part in a story that had begun generations ago.
Leading Joanna to a narrow road, he told her to set up signposts and build landmarks. She was to set her heart on the highway leading to his Kingdom and a forgotten inheritance.
But here be dragons, and Silver-tongue. She had to battle her way out of bewilderment in order to break free.
Learning the King's will from the book he inspired, Joanna found that you can't live by bread alone.
“Call to me, and I will show you great and wonderful things” the King promised.
His word came alive. She dreamed dreams and followed signs.
Given a shepherd’s staff in the Valley of Shadow, Joanna was led along the Path of Righteousness. Picking up her lamp, she followed him towards the sunrise. His word was like a light shining in a dark place.
As Joanna struggled through the Valley of Trouble she learned that you have to go through many trials to enter the Kingdom of God.
In the desert Joanna had to make a choice between Ishmael, and Isaac … the son of the promise.
Faith in the King came by hearing, and hearing by the word. Listening to the King Joanna discovered that when he spoke ONE thing, TWO things could be heard. Paying attention, she listened to the word called 'Logos' for learning and the word called 'Rhema' for revelation. In marking the road home by the Rhema word, she uncovered her part in a story that had begun generations ago.
311 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 6, 2015
1 person is currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Joanne Rolston
2 books9 followersJoanne is a fourth generation New Zealander of mixed Scots, English and German descent. Her childhood was spent on a dairy farm near Napier and a sheep farm near Wanganui.
A computer technician and business owner, Jo's professional interests are in Information Technology and Small Business.
She has a Diploma of Business as well as IT qualifications gained in NZ, Australia and the U.S.
She is a mother of two grown children, and has a passion for writing.
Joanne likes travel, reading, day tramps in National parks, and playing games of 500 with the local community on Wednesday nights.
A computer technician and business owner, Jo's professional interests are in Information Technology and Small Business.
She has a Diploma of Business as well as IT qualifications gained in NZ, Australia and the U.S.
She is a mother of two grown children, and has a passion for writing.
Joanne likes travel, reading, day tramps in National parks, and playing games of 500 with the local community on Wednesday nights.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 2, 2019
Ms. Rolston has written a unique memoir populated with fantasy elements. It was inspiring to read how she was able to rise above a childhood filled with mental abuse followed other abusive and manipulative relationships as an adult. Though the tale is initially sad and depressing, the redemptive hope offered by her story within a story as she came to accept God, and the way he spoke into her life, brings hope in a dry land. She wasn’t unworthy in his eyes, no, she was his daughter and a princess. Examples of his wonderful provision abound as the story progresses and she matures in her faith, no longer just accepting God, but eventually giving him complete lordship over her life.
I greatly appreciate Ms. Rolston’s willingness to open her life to scrutiny. It takes courage to disclose deep personal feelings and hardships in order to spread this story of hope in Jesus. But she creatively distanced us from each situation as she moved into her story within the story and her growing relationship with the lord. Well done. If you are looking for an inspirational read that is real and not candy-coated, this story is for you. I know I will be thinking about the lessons from this real story for a long time to come.
I greatly appreciate Ms. Rolston’s willingness to open her life to scrutiny. It takes courage to disclose deep personal feelings and hardships in order to spread this story of hope in Jesus. But she creatively distanced us from each situation as she moved into her story within the story and her growing relationship with the lord. Well done. If you are looking for an inspirational read that is real and not candy-coated, this story is for you. I know I will be thinking about the lessons from this real story for a long time to come.
October 7, 2018
Joanne Rolston has written a fascinating autobiography, “The Kingdom – Here Be Dragons, Here Be Dreams.” Her account stretches back several generations and highlights her ascent from brokenness, not knowing her own value, nor the potential within her—slowly unearthed, with direct assistance from the Lord. I was drawn into the story, which made me reflect on my own choices, actions, and personality. There were what I’d call nuggets of wisdom contained within. The book also had moments of laugh-out-loud levity—especially Rolston’s interactions with the Lord. And lastly, I loved the author’s blunt honesty regarding her own faults, her own deep desires, and her lifelong dream of finding her promised-from-the-Lord husband.
I recommend this book to anyone who’s wanted to come up out of brokenness or misshaped identity as the journey will be one you will identify with and enjoy. Or if you love a good story or romantic story (the latter of which isn’t the full story but a good part of it), you’ll love this book. The only weakness I observed is that the book would benefit from a thorough edit. I’ve addressed this with the author and I’m sure she’ll take onboard my recommendations and make the necessary adjustments to improve the book.
MY PERSONAL RATINGS (w/Key in parenthesis): Note: This being an autobiography, the ratings will differ somewhat from previous fiction reviews.
Story Originality (How creative was the book’s concept?): 5/5
Descriptive Power of Characters (How lifelike and three-dimensional were the story’s characters and interactions with the author?): 5/5 (The book's characters, and their interactions with Rolston, are this story’s main strength.)
Descriptive Power (How well did the author control description, dialogue, etc?): 5/5 (The author described when needed while not allowing such to overpower the narrative. She described her world in such a way that I could adequately see what she was seeing. The dialogue was honest to real life/authentic.)
True to Scripture (Were all elements true to Scripture’s worldview?): 5/5 (The story rings true to Scripture and the way the Lord often interacts with His people. I loved the use of Scripture throughout the story and how it helped the author to go past difficult spots in her journey—oftentimes despite her hardened/stubborn will--something we can all surely identify with!)
Immersive Power (How much was I immersed into the story—wanting to read page after page?): 5/5
Proofreading (How well was the book proofread (typos, etc): 3/5 (I'm sure this will be rectified quickly by the author to make the book the best it can be!)
Overall Satisfaction (What was my overall feeling/enjoyment level after reading story? Did I want it to end?): 5/5 (It was one of the few books that actually drew me in so I wanted to read it on my way home from work. Not all books do that to me. I also like the way the Lord was pointing at things in me that I should change as I read Rolston’s journey. It spoke to me and highlighted areas the Lord wanted me to look at further for my own journey. I’m grateful I was able to read this book.)
I highly recommend Joanne Rolston's “The Kingdom-Here Be Dragons, Here Be Dreams.”
I recommend this book to anyone who’s wanted to come up out of brokenness or misshaped identity as the journey will be one you will identify with and enjoy. Or if you love a good story or romantic story (the latter of which isn’t the full story but a good part of it), you’ll love this book. The only weakness I observed is that the book would benefit from a thorough edit. I’ve addressed this with the author and I’m sure she’ll take onboard my recommendations and make the necessary adjustments to improve the book.
MY PERSONAL RATINGS (w/Key in parenthesis): Note: This being an autobiography, the ratings will differ somewhat from previous fiction reviews.
Story Originality (How creative was the book’s concept?): 5/5
Descriptive Power of Characters (How lifelike and three-dimensional were the story’s characters and interactions with the author?): 5/5 (The book's characters, and their interactions with Rolston, are this story’s main strength.)
Descriptive Power (How well did the author control description, dialogue, etc?): 5/5 (The author described when needed while not allowing such to overpower the narrative. She described her world in such a way that I could adequately see what she was seeing. The dialogue was honest to real life/authentic.)
True to Scripture (Were all elements true to Scripture’s worldview?): 5/5 (The story rings true to Scripture and the way the Lord often interacts with His people. I loved the use of Scripture throughout the story and how it helped the author to go past difficult spots in her journey—oftentimes despite her hardened/stubborn will--something we can all surely identify with!)
Immersive Power (How much was I immersed into the story—wanting to read page after page?): 5/5
Proofreading (How well was the book proofread (typos, etc): 3/5 (I'm sure this will be rectified quickly by the author to make the book the best it can be!)
Overall Satisfaction (What was my overall feeling/enjoyment level after reading story? Did I want it to end?): 5/5 (It was one of the few books that actually drew me in so I wanted to read it on my way home from work. Not all books do that to me. I also like the way the Lord was pointing at things in me that I should change as I read Rolston’s journey. It spoke to me and highlighted areas the Lord wanted me to look at further for my own journey. I’m grateful I was able to read this book.)
I highly recommend Joanne Rolston's “The Kingdom-Here Be Dragons, Here Be Dreams.”
April 3, 2019
This is a unique and fascinating book, which cuts across genre boundaries and can't be neatly slotted into any one category. I have it listed under both "Non-fiction" and "Fantasy"—which is certainly a first for me!
This is basically Rolston's autobiography, which moves freely between the outer world and her own inner world—especially "the Kingdom", which is the beautiful place God brings her to for teaching, "sword practice", and spiritual refreshment. In a charming way she turns her story into a fantasy tale by using fairy-story names for many of the players. She of course becomes the Princess, as daughter of the King; and the King himself takes part in the story—we hear his thoughts, reactions and intentions in many scenes, and the two have refreshingly spontaneous conversations together.* Other players are referred to with names like 'Silver-tongue', 'Prince Charming', 'the Riddler', 'the Minstrel', 'Prince Mentor', etc., weaving the fairy-tale atmosphere into the more mundane real-world events of her story.
*(Highlight: In response her request for the perfect man, the King cocks an eyebrow at her and says, "Am I the Fairy Godmother?")
The many spiritual lessons Joanna learns through her life are clearly backed with scripture throughout, and I found many of them a blessing personally—though I have to say that her experiences would most likely speak more to women than to those of the male persuasion, like myself. The way the King leads his princess through a variety of relationships, good and bad, until she at last finds the one he has prepared for her is moving and very real, and I'm sure will be deeply appreciated by women who have had similar experiences. In the end she has to choose between "Ishmael" and "Isaac", and "Isaac" is definitely the less promising prospect!
The one thing I found difficult about this story—which paradoxically is also one of its strengths—was the extreme brevity with which she describes some of the events. Her quick, unadorned style—moving rapidly from one event to the next and skipping over substantial periods of her life—certainly covers the ground efficiently and enables her to fit her whole life story, and that of several ancestors, into a single book. However, there were a number of places where her brevity lost me: either there were too many gaps in the background story, or the few words she used left me confused. This was a shame, because it pulled me out of the story each time and had me searching back for missed clues, or feeling the plot had somehow slipped a cog.
That aside, this is an inspiring story of God's grace in the life of someone who definitely did not grow up in "a good Christian home", but whom he brought through many trials into the relationship and the ministry he had prepared for her. Casting that story into the format of a real-life fairy tale only adds to the charm and the desire to 'read one more page'. I would recommend it especially for women dealing with difficult relationships; but anyone can enjoy and learn from it.
A great story full of valuable lessons on how to walk with the King through thick and thin.
This is basically Rolston's autobiography, which moves freely between the outer world and her own inner world—especially "the Kingdom", which is the beautiful place God brings her to for teaching, "sword practice", and spiritual refreshment. In a charming way she turns her story into a fantasy tale by using fairy-story names for many of the players. She of course becomes the Princess, as daughter of the King; and the King himself takes part in the story—we hear his thoughts, reactions and intentions in many scenes, and the two have refreshingly spontaneous conversations together.* Other players are referred to with names like 'Silver-tongue', 'Prince Charming', 'the Riddler', 'the Minstrel', 'Prince Mentor', etc., weaving the fairy-tale atmosphere into the more mundane real-world events of her story.
*(Highlight: In response her request for the perfect man, the King cocks an eyebrow at her and says, "Am I the Fairy Godmother?")
The many spiritual lessons Joanna learns through her life are clearly backed with scripture throughout, and I found many of them a blessing personally—though I have to say that her experiences would most likely speak more to women than to those of the male persuasion, like myself. The way the King leads his princess through a variety of relationships, good and bad, until she at last finds the one he has prepared for her is moving and very real, and I'm sure will be deeply appreciated by women who have had similar experiences. In the end she has to choose between "Ishmael" and "Isaac", and "Isaac" is definitely the less promising prospect!
The one thing I found difficult about this story—which paradoxically is also one of its strengths—was the extreme brevity with which she describes some of the events. Her quick, unadorned style—moving rapidly from one event to the next and skipping over substantial periods of her life—certainly covers the ground efficiently and enables her to fit her whole life story, and that of several ancestors, into a single book. However, there were a number of places where her brevity lost me: either there were too many gaps in the background story, or the few words she used left me confused. This was a shame, because it pulled me out of the story each time and had me searching back for missed clues, or feeling the plot had somehow slipped a cog.
That aside, this is an inspiring story of God's grace in the life of someone who definitely did not grow up in "a good Christian home", but whom he brought through many trials into the relationship and the ministry he had prepared for her. Casting that story into the format of a real-life fairy tale only adds to the charm and the desire to 'read one more page'. I would recommend it especially for women dealing with difficult relationships; but anyone can enjoy and learn from it.
A great story full of valuable lessons on how to walk with the King through thick and thin.
July 3, 2019
What Joanne Rolston has done here has compiled a memoir of her own spiritual journey, as well as that of her ancestors in her native New Zealand, and packaged it in a fantasy vision of the kingdom of God which includes the Almighty as the King, Satan as the Dragon, and myriad pitfalls and challenges that would go with such a universe. It's a bit confusing and off-putting at first, as one tries to jump from one reality to the other. At the same time, the conversations that happen between Joanne and the King are personal, honest and are raw spiritual fodder that make the book well worth reading.
In addition, the book gets better and better the further you go. I got the impression that, as a memoir, much of what was written was composed as it happened. That's great for keeping it fresh. But the downside of that is having perspective once you get to the end. What might have seemed significant early on might not be later. The writing seems more polished later in the book as well.
I consider this book a "diamond in the rough." I say that because the ebook version I had was subject to myriad formatting issues (which I have been assured will be fixed soon) and could have stood for an objective editor to tighten up the prose. But the spectacular spiritual message still shines forth, nevertheless, and I recommend it if you are looking for either a Christian memoir or just something different to help you on your spiritual journey.
In addition, the book gets better and better the further you go. I got the impression that, as a memoir, much of what was written was composed as it happened. That's great for keeping it fresh. But the downside of that is having perspective once you get to the end. What might have seemed significant early on might not be later. The writing seems more polished later in the book as well.
I consider this book a "diamond in the rough." I say that because the ebook version I had was subject to myriad formatting issues (which I have been assured will be fixed soon) and could have stood for an objective editor to tighten up the prose. But the spectacular spiritual message still shines forth, nevertheless, and I recommend it if you are looking for either a Christian memoir or just something different to help you on your spiritual journey.
October 28, 2018
Not exactly what I expected
The Kingdom - Here be Dragons, Here be Dreams, by Joanne Rolston captivated me in a very timely way. Recently I have come upon preaching that focuses on generational blessings and legecy that convicts me about passing my faith to my children and granddaughter. I hesitate to put this in the fantasy genre because it clearly is autobiographical. I admire the architecture in which Rolston has built her story. A great way to change the names to protect the not so innocent, characters have names that reveal their true inner self. Rolston has told her testimony as a journey in and out of the Kingdom of God as she goes through her life following and straying the one true King. Her story parallels my own story in many ways, and gave me hope to meet my own prince mentor when our Father's time is right.
I will say for someone looking to get lost in a fantasy world with knights in shining armor and a world built of castles, dungeons and choreographed battle scenes, this is not that book. Since I enjoy many genres of literature , this didn't bother me, it just wasn't what I expected. Her characters were unfortunately very familiar to me and one toxic relationship went on way too long, but it was autobiographical, therefore, I get it - been there, done that, I have several T-shirts (heart breaks) to prove it. Utimately, I appreciate the lessons learned as reading Rolston's story, gave insight to how God has worked in my own life and in my own heart.
I would recommend this book to women especially, although if a man wants to understand where a woman may be coming from , this is a book that really allows a peek inside one woman's head. I would highly recommend to young women or women in abusive relationships as an education for the type of man a avoid and the type of man to wait for. Thank you, Joanne for your honesty and courage to lay it all out there. Your story has revived my hope in the promises our King has made me, and strengthen me to endure what you call the desert, I have named the wilderness as I deem myself freed from Egypt.
The Kingdom - Here be Dragons, Here be Dreams, by Joanne Rolston captivated me in a very timely way. Recently I have come upon preaching that focuses on generational blessings and legecy that convicts me about passing my faith to my children and granddaughter. I hesitate to put this in the fantasy genre because it clearly is autobiographical. I admire the architecture in which Rolston has built her story. A great way to change the names to protect the not so innocent, characters have names that reveal their true inner self. Rolston has told her testimony as a journey in and out of the Kingdom of God as she goes through her life following and straying the one true King. Her story parallels my own story in many ways, and gave me hope to meet my own prince mentor when our Father's time is right.
I will say for someone looking to get lost in a fantasy world with knights in shining armor and a world built of castles, dungeons and choreographed battle scenes, this is not that book. Since I enjoy many genres of literature , this didn't bother me, it just wasn't what I expected. Her characters were unfortunately very familiar to me and one toxic relationship went on way too long, but it was autobiographical, therefore, I get it - been there, done that, I have several T-shirts (heart breaks) to prove it. Utimately, I appreciate the lessons learned as reading Rolston's story, gave insight to how God has worked in my own life and in my own heart.
I would recommend this book to women especially, although if a man wants to understand where a woman may be coming from , this is a book that really allows a peek inside one woman's head. I would highly recommend to young women or women in abusive relationships as an education for the type of man a avoid and the type of man to wait for. Thank you, Joanne for your honesty and courage to lay it all out there. Your story has revived my hope in the promises our King has made me, and strengthen me to endure what you call the desert, I have named the wilderness as I deem myself freed from Egypt.
September 28, 2016
There was so much in this story that pulled me in and held my attention. Away from the religious aspect of this book, my emotions were pulled in various directions, particularly with regard to the aspect of abuse. The main character in this story is treated badly by so many people, including family members and 'loved ones'. So, religious references aside, I loved that this was strongly a story of finding identity and a place in the world. It is a story of finding strength to go on and keep searching for peace in oneself and one's life. And I loved that it isn't all serious either. In a few places it was demonstrated that 'the King' has a sense of humour, and that made me smile somewhat while reading what could have just been written as one long story of utter seriousness. All in all, although books with such strong religious references would not usually be something I would read, there is so much more to this story that I would recommend it to anyone.
October 5, 2016
I was offered a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I have to say that when I started reading it I thought the religious aspect was laid on a bit thick. However, I was wrong. As the story drew me in and I found myself becoming more engrossed in the protagonist's tale I understood what the author was doing.
And, how clever she is!
I really loved reading this well-written story; it was so enchanting.
The characters are genuine and some of them I felt I had known for years.
I am happy to recommend this book highly, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
I have to say that when I started reading it I thought the religious aspect was laid on a bit thick. However, I was wrong. As the story drew me in and I found myself becoming more engrossed in the protagonist's tale I understood what the author was doing.
And, how clever she is!
I really loved reading this well-written story; it was so enchanting.
The characters are genuine and some of them I felt I had known for years.
I am happy to recommend this book highly, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
March 4, 2019
This book took awhile for me to get into, but once I was inside the story, I greatly enjoyed it. I think part of the reason this book was initially difficult for me to read was because I thought that this book was a Christian Fantasy (mainly based on the title). Once I understood this was more of a Christian memoir/autobiography, I was able to enjoy it more.
There are two big things I liked about this book:
1. Joanne's character growth
2. Integration of Scripture and spiritual revelation
I really enjoyed reading Joanne's spiritual journey. Her struggles are so honest and real, it makes it easy to relate to her. I felt her pain even though I have not dealt with the problems that she had in her lifetime. This is not to say there weren't instances where I felt frustrated with her, but I understood her. I empathized with her, and she taught me humility and trust in God.
Scripture is everywhere in this book. For every challenge Joanne goes through, there is a Scripture that speaks to it. What amazes me is how seamlessly the Scriptures are incorporated into the story. Even though Joanne has a personal, Holy-Spirit revelation throughout the story, it is supported by Scripture as well. The Scripture isn't all from the same translation, either, so it is interesting to see different versions of the Bible used.
The only complaint I have is that I would've liked the romance between Joanne and Isaac to be developed more. There was a tremendous amount of build-up to the relationship between Joanne and Isaac, so it was a deflating when their relationship came to be. Perhaps this is because it was for privacy? Either way, I would've appreciated at least one date narrated in the story.
A great read for Christians who want to be encouraged in their walk.
There are two big things I liked about this book:
1. Joanne's character growth
2. Integration of Scripture and spiritual revelation
I really enjoyed reading Joanne's spiritual journey. Her struggles are so honest and real, it makes it easy to relate to her. I felt her pain even though I have not dealt with the problems that she had in her lifetime. This is not to say there weren't instances where I felt frustrated with her, but I understood her. I empathized with her, and she taught me humility and trust in God.
Scripture is everywhere in this book. For every challenge Joanne goes through, there is a Scripture that speaks to it. What amazes me is how seamlessly the Scriptures are incorporated into the story. Even though Joanne has a personal, Holy-Spirit revelation throughout the story, it is supported by Scripture as well. The Scripture isn't all from the same translation, either, so it is interesting to see different versions of the Bible used.
The only complaint I have is that I would've liked the romance between Joanne and Isaac to be developed more. There was a tremendous amount of build-up to the relationship between Joanne and Isaac, so it was a deflating when their relationship came to be. Perhaps this is because it was for privacy? Either way, I would've appreciated at least one date narrated in the story.
A great read for Christians who want to be encouraged in their walk.
November 11, 2018
Although this story begins with Anna Dassler in the 1800's, It's mainly about Anna's great-great-grand-daughter, Joanna. Joanna had a terrible childhood filled with mental illness, beatings, and neglect. Her parents didn't teach her about God, but she was curious about him. As time went on, she developed a relationship with him and was born again. Her life continued to be hard in school, then in her work life. Even at her first job she was belittled and bullied.
She began to doubt the King’s love for her. When she left home at the age of 18, life was still hard after she married without consulting the Lord. She was sad, lonely and tried to keep up with appearances during her marriage. The story goes on to tell about her family problems, hardship, choices she made, bad experience with a man who manipulated her, and her faith in the Lord. Joanna would talk to God and ask him for guidance and support just like her great-great-grandmother Anna did so long ago.
I enjoy reading this book. One of the things I liked reading the most was the kind words her father said to her before he died.
Throughout Joanna's life, her father seemed so selfish and cruel. The talk they had seem to give Joanna some peace and encouragement. Better late than never.
She began to doubt the King’s love for her. When she left home at the age of 18, life was still hard after she married without consulting the Lord. She was sad, lonely and tried to keep up with appearances during her marriage. The story goes on to tell about her family problems, hardship, choices she made, bad experience with a man who manipulated her, and her faith in the Lord. Joanna would talk to God and ask him for guidance and support just like her great-great-grandmother Anna did so long ago.
I enjoy reading this book. One of the things I liked reading the most was the kind words her father said to her before he died.
Throughout Joanna's life, her father seemed so selfish and cruel. The talk they had seem to give Joanna some peace and encouragement. Better late than never.
January 24, 2016
When Rolston first approached me for a review she described her book as somewhere between a devotional memoir and a fantasy novel. That really got my imagination going because I’d never heard of anything like that before. I went into the book having no idea what I was getting myself into, part of me was very excited while another part was cautious. As a fellow Christian I really wanted to see the good in this book because I wanted to support a sister in Christ, especially one who has been blessed and burdened with the talent to write in such a categorized genre. Being a Christian author is hard enough but being the author of a fantasy memoir is pretty much out of this world.
That being said, Rolston’s book is pretty darn good. After sitting down and giving this a good, thorough read, I think a cross between a memoir and a fantasy novel isn’t quite the right way to describe exactly what this book is. It’s actually an Epic Journal. Rolston may have just started her own genre with this one because that’s how unique it is—as a Christian novel and a ‘general’ read.
Whether you’re a Believer or not, you have to acknowledge the work and imagination poured into this piece. It was so skillfully intertwined with snippets of the author’s faith; I easily fell into the motion of the book. One thing I found interesting was that God actually played an important role in the book. You might say, duh, it’s a Christian book. But what I mean is that God Almighty was an active character. Many Christian books, whether fantasy or romance or contemporary, will simply ‘feature’ God.
Characters will pray to Him and He will eventually answer in one way or another, but in Rolston’s novel God actually replies and converses with characters. At some points we even see the story from His perspective which I thought was really cool. It isn’t that the book is suddenly narrated by the Almighty but that readers are able to feel what He feels and have a sense of ‘third-party’ perspective on things. That alone got me very interested in the book as this style of writing was clear from the very beginning in an introductory scene with the character, Anna.
Lucifer also makes an appearance in this book and his parts are funny. I don’t know if its ok for me to say that but I found myself smiling at his inclusion in the novel. He was portrayed as ‘the devil’ but in a way that gave him character and body. In most books I’ve read featuring Satan, he is more of an evil presence than anything but here we actually see him scoff, hear him laugh, and read his dialogue. It’s all very interesting and well put together.
All of the scriptures used are placed in the right spots. I wasn’t left scratching my head trying to figure out how the passages were related to the situation at hand. I also appreciated that Rolston quoted her scriptures and even included which biblical translation it came from. I will always love the King James Version but it was refreshing to see the New International Version of the Holy Bible included in Christian writing.
I don’t feel like I have the right to pass judgment on the characters because this is, in part, a memoir so they’re based on actual people. That being said, I did think they were very realistically portrayed and easy to relate to. I liked the link between Anna and Joanna, spiritually and physically. As the story unfolded everything began to take its place in the puzzle Rolston laid out before us. This was a roller coaster book but the ride was smooth and very enjoyable. This kind of writing is unique in and out of the Christian realm but I do hope to see more of it soon.
I would recommend this book to fans of memoirs, non-fiction, and biographical pieces. Those who enjoy Christian fantasy will take a liking to the unique story but if anyone loves a good old ‘good versus evil’ story then this book is for you. It is inspirational and uplifting, but most of all this book is entertaining—for all ages.
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
That being said, Rolston’s book is pretty darn good. After sitting down and giving this a good, thorough read, I think a cross between a memoir and a fantasy novel isn’t quite the right way to describe exactly what this book is. It’s actually an Epic Journal. Rolston may have just started her own genre with this one because that’s how unique it is—as a Christian novel and a ‘general’ read.
Whether you’re a Believer or not, you have to acknowledge the work and imagination poured into this piece. It was so skillfully intertwined with snippets of the author’s faith; I easily fell into the motion of the book. One thing I found interesting was that God actually played an important role in the book. You might say, duh, it’s a Christian book. But what I mean is that God Almighty was an active character. Many Christian books, whether fantasy or romance or contemporary, will simply ‘feature’ God.
Characters will pray to Him and He will eventually answer in one way or another, but in Rolston’s novel God actually replies and converses with characters. At some points we even see the story from His perspective which I thought was really cool. It isn’t that the book is suddenly narrated by the Almighty but that readers are able to feel what He feels and have a sense of ‘third-party’ perspective on things. That alone got me very interested in the book as this style of writing was clear from the very beginning in an introductory scene with the character, Anna.
Lucifer also makes an appearance in this book and his parts are funny. I don’t know if its ok for me to say that but I found myself smiling at his inclusion in the novel. He was portrayed as ‘the devil’ but in a way that gave him character and body. In most books I’ve read featuring Satan, he is more of an evil presence than anything but here we actually see him scoff, hear him laugh, and read his dialogue. It’s all very interesting and well put together.
All of the scriptures used are placed in the right spots. I wasn’t left scratching my head trying to figure out how the passages were related to the situation at hand. I also appreciated that Rolston quoted her scriptures and even included which biblical translation it came from. I will always love the King James Version but it was refreshing to see the New International Version of the Holy Bible included in Christian writing.
I don’t feel like I have the right to pass judgment on the characters because this is, in part, a memoir so they’re based on actual people. That being said, I did think they were very realistically portrayed and easy to relate to. I liked the link between Anna and Joanna, spiritually and physically. As the story unfolded everything began to take its place in the puzzle Rolston laid out before us. This was a roller coaster book but the ride was smooth and very enjoyable. This kind of writing is unique in and out of the Christian realm but I do hope to see more of it soon.
I would recommend this book to fans of memoirs, non-fiction, and biographical pieces. Those who enjoy Christian fantasy will take a liking to the unique story but if anyone loves a good old ‘good versus evil’ story then this book is for you. It is inspirational and uplifting, but most of all this book is entertaining—for all ages.
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
March 11, 2016
This one's hard to categorize. I called it an urban fantasy at Reality Calling, but it's a unique look at a gritty reality. Joanne says it's in the same genre as Pilgrim's Progress—but not really. It's hard to tell, as I have never actually met the author, but it seems at least semi-auto-biographic. But none of this genre speculation gets to the heart of the story.
A fun read? No, a blessing
It's a compelling tale of a woman living through many bad choices, severe emotional abuse, and massive rejection into a close, blessed relationship with our King. It's gritty, yet clean—dark, yet hopeful—frustrating, yet satisfying. I recommend this book.
Spiritually, this is 5-star work, spirit-filled
Yet, it is so realistic it almost hurts in places. This is not Camelot, but reality for many. In many ways, it is like being given the opportunity to read the private journal of the main character as she finds her way through the mess she was born into, which was further screwed up by her choices. She uses allegorical writing in the story to enable herself to grasp what the Lord is doing in her life. She is so hurt that parts are painful to read. But the Lord's love and mercy never fail.
The King is good and gets her through to the transformation which results in healing and wholeness. If you like romances, this will be a joy to read—yet it is anything but fluff and predictability. You should read this one.
I was given a free copy to read with no limitations on my review.
A fun read? No, a blessing
It's a compelling tale of a woman living through many bad choices, severe emotional abuse, and massive rejection into a close, blessed relationship with our King. It's gritty, yet clean—dark, yet hopeful—frustrating, yet satisfying. I recommend this book.
Spiritually, this is 5-star work, spirit-filled
Yet, it is so realistic it almost hurts in places. This is not Camelot, but reality for many. In many ways, it is like being given the opportunity to read the private journal of the main character as she finds her way through the mess she was born into, which was further screwed up by her choices. She uses allegorical writing in the story to enable herself to grasp what the Lord is doing in her life. She is so hurt that parts are painful to read. But the Lord's love and mercy never fail.
The King is good and gets her through to the transformation which results in healing and wholeness. If you like romances, this will be a joy to read—yet it is anything but fluff and predictability. You should read this one.
I was given a free copy to read with no limitations on my review.
February 20, 2017
I enjoy reading independent works by authors who are beginning their writing journey. The combination of autobiography and fantasy (my favorite genre) intrigued me. I thought I would give Rolston’s book a chance and I was delighted. The book is well-written and immediately drew me in. Once I started I could not put it down. I rated it a four out of five stars meaning I enjoyed it enough to read again and again.
Why did I like it so much? It has been difficult to put it into words. On reflection I think I was intrigued that I was reading about real-life events that happened to a real person. On the other hand, it was written in the third person and so gave an analytical and objective perspective that I appreciated. It was filled with many remarkable occurrences that Materialists would ascribe to improbable coincidence and Christ-followers to providence. Mirroring the objective description of what was happening in the “seen world” was the insightful interaction with the King in the unseen world. The interweaving of the two was a delight and very thought-provoking for me.
In summary I would highly recommend this book whether you have an interest in the spiritual or not. It provides a profound and exciting view of one person’s life, both trauma and triumphs. It provides insight into the role the unseen plays in some people’s lives. I recommend it without reservation.
Why did I like it so much? It has been difficult to put it into words. On reflection I think I was intrigued that I was reading about real-life events that happened to a real person. On the other hand, it was written in the third person and so gave an analytical and objective perspective that I appreciated. It was filled with many remarkable occurrences that Materialists would ascribe to improbable coincidence and Christ-followers to providence. Mirroring the objective description of what was happening in the “seen world” was the insightful interaction with the King in the unseen world. The interweaving of the two was a delight and very thought-provoking for me.
In summary I would highly recommend this book whether you have an interest in the spiritual or not. It provides a profound and exciting view of one person’s life, both trauma and triumphs. It provides insight into the role the unseen plays in some people’s lives. I recommend it without reservation.
February 11, 2016
The Kingdom: Here be dragon, here be dreams is an interesting read and a very touching one too, first going by the life of Wilhelm and Anna and the later passing away of Wilhelm, leaving Anna with their eight children to look after, in the course of the story Anna was able to hold on to her faith till the very end.
In the main chapters of this book is the journey and life of Joanna at a very young age ,she develop the desire to know Christ and the encountered she finally had in the pasture, the passion to know who Christ really is, which eventually brought a lot of bullying to her especially from her father. As i continue to read through the life and journey of Joanna and her sugar-tongue husband who finally left her stranded in limbo, frustrated, hurt and disappointed, and even after leaving her first husband in Sydney things were still not all rosary for her thereby leaving her to quote the song of solomon 1:6.
But what i was able to deduce behind the story of this book is that at the end Joanna was able to know and understand the purpose of her calling. A great book to read.
In the main chapters of this book is the journey and life of Joanna at a very young age ,she develop the desire to know Christ and the encountered she finally had in the pasture, the passion to know who Christ really is, which eventually brought a lot of bullying to her especially from her father. As i continue to read through the life and journey of Joanna and her sugar-tongue husband who finally left her stranded in limbo, frustrated, hurt and disappointed, and even after leaving her first husband in Sydney things were still not all rosary for her thereby leaving her to quote the song of solomon 1:6.
But what i was able to deduce behind the story of this book is that at the end Joanna was able to know and understand the purpose of her calling. A great book to read.
November 30, 2017
A Moving Journey Reminiscent of The Book of Job…
This is the story of Joanne, a woman we deeply sympathize with, as her life has not been easy. It calls to mind the Old Testament tale of Job, a wealthy man who lives in Uz with his large family and extensive flocks. Satan challenges God that, if given permission to punish the man, Job will turn and curse God. God allows Satan to torment Job to test this bold claim, and in the course of one day, Job loses his livestock, servants, and ten children due to marauding invaders and natural catastrophes. Next, Job is afflicted with horrible skin sores. His wife encourages him to curse God and to give up and die, but Job refuses, struggling to accept his circumstances. After an encounter with God, Job acknowledges His unlimited power and God returns Job’s health, providing him with twice as much property as before, new children, and an extremely long life.
Unlike Job’s story, however, Joanna’s life has always been hard and it is not a matter of having plenty, only to have it taken away and then restored. Her tale begins in 1971, when she is 11 and already burdened. Six children have been born to her parents within a span of six years, and her mother suffers from bipolar disorder, leading the offspring to be both emotionally and physically abused. The Lord longs to restore Joanna’s soul and reveals Himself to her as the Shepherd. His is a different voice from the biting voice of her father, who belittles women. Her father’s bitterness and disapproval make her wish she had been born a boy or not been born at all. This voice reassures her and makes her feel good about growing into a woman.
She leaves home at the age of eighteen and chooses her future husband without consulting the Lord. Thomas, the man she marries, is not a believer, and by the ‘80s, her relationship is Thomas is on shaky ground, her parents have divorced, and her mentally ill brother Gareth (despite finding the Lord with Joanna’s help) commits suicide. Eight months later, Joanna starts a new life in Sydney, where Joanna’s mother and her second husband Barry verbally attack her, run her down to others, and borrow money they have no intention of repaying.
After her first child is born in 1989, Joanna’s husband begins working overseas and she is left on her own with her baby son for months at a time. Eighteen months later, she has a daughter. A narcissist she calls “Silver-Tongue” sees all the hallmarks of low-self esteem and victimization in Joanna, and he turns on the charm, getting her to fall for him before he removes his mask and shows his true self-serving nature, using her and putting her through emotional hell. In the throes of misery, Joanna begins to speak to God through His Word. They discuss “Silver-Tongue” and she is instructed to leave him, but she cannot without God’s help.
Joanna’s father passes away in 1994 and she goes back to college part-time, studying computer science. She and “Silver-Tongue” see a counselor together, but everything is expertly twisted to make her appear either wrong or crazy. By reading, remembering, and reciting the Lord’s work, Joanne grows stronger, showing Silver-Tongue glimpses of a self-confident women who does not need his approval, but he is still very much in her life, moving in with her in 1996. She has already met The Minstrel, a double-minded man who is not her type, cut from much the same cloth as “Silver-Tongue.” But the Lord has promised Joanna He will find the right partner for her.
Joanna is alone by the time she meets Liang, but theirs is a transitional relationship. She has the conviction that the man God has chosen for her is from the States, and, more specifically, Florida. She befriends Ishmael at work, a moderate Moslem who is both friendly and charming, and she finds herself fighting a fire that he has lit. Like the men before him, he is not the right partner for Joanna, and to make matters worse, “Silver-Tongue” is stalking her again, angered by the narcissistic injury she caused by ultimately rejecting him.
At work with a seemingly cold man she has crossed paths with before, dubbed Prince Mentor, she suspects that he might be Isaac, the man God has chosen for her. To tell more is to ruin the story, but suffice it to say, God ultimately rewards Joanna for faring so well on an arduous life journey that has tested her faith repeatedly.
It is no mistake that the Book of Job is one of the most celebrated pieces of biblical literature, not only because it explores some of the most profound questions humans ask about their lives but because, in my opinion, it gives hope to those who feel they are mired in hopeless circumstances. And, like the Book of Job, “The Kingdom: Here Be Dragons, Here Be Dreams” is a story of faith rewarded, reminding us all that there is light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how lost and disheartened we may, at times, become.
This is the story of Joanne, a woman we deeply sympathize with, as her life has not been easy. It calls to mind the Old Testament tale of Job, a wealthy man who lives in Uz with his large family and extensive flocks. Satan challenges God that, if given permission to punish the man, Job will turn and curse God. God allows Satan to torment Job to test this bold claim, and in the course of one day, Job loses his livestock, servants, and ten children due to marauding invaders and natural catastrophes. Next, Job is afflicted with horrible skin sores. His wife encourages him to curse God and to give up and die, but Job refuses, struggling to accept his circumstances. After an encounter with God, Job acknowledges His unlimited power and God returns Job’s health, providing him with twice as much property as before, new children, and an extremely long life.
Unlike Job’s story, however, Joanna’s life has always been hard and it is not a matter of having plenty, only to have it taken away and then restored. Her tale begins in 1971, when she is 11 and already burdened. Six children have been born to her parents within a span of six years, and her mother suffers from bipolar disorder, leading the offspring to be both emotionally and physically abused. The Lord longs to restore Joanna’s soul and reveals Himself to her as the Shepherd. His is a different voice from the biting voice of her father, who belittles women. Her father’s bitterness and disapproval make her wish she had been born a boy or not been born at all. This voice reassures her and makes her feel good about growing into a woman.
She leaves home at the age of eighteen and chooses her future husband without consulting the Lord. Thomas, the man she marries, is not a believer, and by the ‘80s, her relationship is Thomas is on shaky ground, her parents have divorced, and her mentally ill brother Gareth (despite finding the Lord with Joanna’s help) commits suicide. Eight months later, Joanna starts a new life in Sydney, where Joanna’s mother and her second husband Barry verbally attack her, run her down to others, and borrow money they have no intention of repaying.
After her first child is born in 1989, Joanna’s husband begins working overseas and she is left on her own with her baby son for months at a time. Eighteen months later, she has a daughter. A narcissist she calls “Silver-Tongue” sees all the hallmarks of low-self esteem and victimization in Joanna, and he turns on the charm, getting her to fall for him before he removes his mask and shows his true self-serving nature, using her and putting her through emotional hell. In the throes of misery, Joanna begins to speak to God through His Word. They discuss “Silver-Tongue” and she is instructed to leave him, but she cannot without God’s help.
Joanna’s father passes away in 1994 and she goes back to college part-time, studying computer science. She and “Silver-Tongue” see a counselor together, but everything is expertly twisted to make her appear either wrong or crazy. By reading, remembering, and reciting the Lord’s work, Joanne grows stronger, showing Silver-Tongue glimpses of a self-confident women who does not need his approval, but he is still very much in her life, moving in with her in 1996. She has already met The Minstrel, a double-minded man who is not her type, cut from much the same cloth as “Silver-Tongue.” But the Lord has promised Joanna He will find the right partner for her.
Joanna is alone by the time she meets Liang, but theirs is a transitional relationship. She has the conviction that the man God has chosen for her is from the States, and, more specifically, Florida. She befriends Ishmael at work, a moderate Moslem who is both friendly and charming, and she finds herself fighting a fire that he has lit. Like the men before him, he is not the right partner for Joanna, and to make matters worse, “Silver-Tongue” is stalking her again, angered by the narcissistic injury she caused by ultimately rejecting him.
At work with a seemingly cold man she has crossed paths with before, dubbed Prince Mentor, she suspects that he might be Isaac, the man God has chosen for her. To tell more is to ruin the story, but suffice it to say, God ultimately rewards Joanna for faring so well on an arduous life journey that has tested her faith repeatedly.
It is no mistake that the Book of Job is one of the most celebrated pieces of biblical literature, not only because it explores some of the most profound questions humans ask about their lives but because, in my opinion, it gives hope to those who feel they are mired in hopeless circumstances. And, like the Book of Job, “The Kingdom: Here Be Dragons, Here Be Dreams” is a story of faith rewarded, reminding us all that there is light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how lost and disheartened we may, at times, become.
March 21, 2017
This story begins in the year 1875 as Anna Dassler, an immigrant from Germany, arrives in New Zealand. Life is not easy for Anna or her husband Wilhelm, but time passes as they settle in a new country and raise a family. It is their great great granddaughter, Joanna, who is the main character in this book. She has a difficult childhood with a bi-polar mother and a selfish father. In her twenties, she has to deal with a family tragedy involving her brother, Gareth, who has schizophrenia.
This memoir follows Joanna's life, as she gets married, divorced, finds work as a computer programmer and then becomes involved with the charming but manipulative "Silver-Tongue". Will she ever be able to rid herself of him?
Throughout the book, Joanna turns to God for guidance and support who talks to her and provides constant support.
I felt that I never really got to know Joanna. She has two children and I would have liked to have known more about her relationship with them. They spend a month in the Isle of Wight but we are not told anything about the visit. Similarly, there is little detail about the visit to Florida when Joanna and her husband stay with his Grandmother. Joanna comes from a large family and it would have been interesting to know what happened to her other sisters.
This is a story of one person's search for answers and one which ends with a message of hope, proving that emotional abuse and rejection in early life can be overcome.
Original, thought provoking and well written.
This memoir follows Joanna's life, as she gets married, divorced, finds work as a computer programmer and then becomes involved with the charming but manipulative "Silver-Tongue". Will she ever be able to rid herself of him?
Throughout the book, Joanna turns to God for guidance and support who talks to her and provides constant support.
I felt that I never really got to know Joanna. She has two children and I would have liked to have known more about her relationship with them. They spend a month in the Isle of Wight but we are not told anything about the visit. Similarly, there is little detail about the visit to Florida when Joanna and her husband stay with his Grandmother. Joanna comes from a large family and it would have been interesting to know what happened to her other sisters.
This is a story of one person's search for answers and one which ends with a message of hope, proving that emotional abuse and rejection in early life can be overcome.
Original, thought provoking and well written.
July 21, 2017
My mother used to tell me that everything you want to know about life can be found within the pages of the Bible. This memoire is the perfect example of that. Joanna writes about her walk with God throughout a trying life and in the novel, she does truly walk beside him, and talk with him. Often when he speaks it's a familiar bible verse. "The world cannot receive him because it cannot see him or know him. But you know him, because he is with you and is in you."
It was interesting to read about how she grew as a person, like when she began holding the shield of the Lord against her bipolar mother who throughout her life was much like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Silver Tongue, the man who managed to trick her into staying with him for years though he was married. The King taught her to hold that shield and block the pain they throw at her, instead of becoming angry and acting according to that.
My favorite chapter was when Joanna learns about what a woman should mean to a man. "In marriage, it is for the man to lay down his life for the woman." It's true that people are turned off by some of how the Bible portrays women as subservient, or submissive, but you come to understand that with an honorable and wonderful man that would lay his life down for you, it is an honor to love him like your prince. "After this, she went to the King, her eyes shining and the garden appeared in a new light." Beautiful imagery.
I gave this novel 5 stars because it was a unique and imaginative way to present a memoire.
Favorite Quotes: "She learned how great the value of every human life was to God, and with that knowledge came self-worth."
"He showed me the living water, and what to thirst for."
It was interesting to read about how she grew as a person, like when she began holding the shield of the Lord against her bipolar mother who throughout her life was much like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Silver Tongue, the man who managed to trick her into staying with him for years though he was married. The King taught her to hold that shield and block the pain they throw at her, instead of becoming angry and acting according to that.
My favorite chapter was when Joanna learns about what a woman should mean to a man. "In marriage, it is for the man to lay down his life for the woman." It's true that people are turned off by some of how the Bible portrays women as subservient, or submissive, but you come to understand that with an honorable and wonderful man that would lay his life down for you, it is an honor to love him like your prince. "After this, she went to the King, her eyes shining and the garden appeared in a new light." Beautiful imagery.
I gave this novel 5 stars because it was a unique and imaginative way to present a memoire.
Favorite Quotes: "She learned how great the value of every human life was to God, and with that knowledge came self-worth."
"He showed me the living water, and what to thirst for."
September 15, 2016
I was given a copy of this book in return of an honest review.
I must admit this wasn't quite what I was expecting, I obviously misread the info I was given which was my mistake. I didn't expect God to play such a huge role in the book or for there to be quite as many bible quotes, I am ashamed to admit if I had read the info sent to me better I wouldn't have read the book. That being said I am grateful if misread my info as I would have missed out on a truly original book. I'm not sure how best to describe the book it is part memoir, the authors own story, part fantasy and part something I have not quite pin pointed. I really liked that God was a real character in this story and I think he would be very happy at the way he was portrayed, we saw things from Joanna's view and also from God's. Lucifer was also portrayed, his voice at least. I liked the way that Lucifer was portrayed, not as his cloven, evil personal as he usually is, in fact I found him quite funny the way he heckles, scoff and laughs, all the while whispering in Joanna's ear how God doesn't love her, how she doesn't deserve his love. His role is to put doubt in people's minds, convince them they are not good enough, not liked etc... etc... I found him more believable than the fire and brimstone totally evil role he usually plays, in this I found him more real his turning people from God by deceit. God on the other hand is constantly assuring Joanna and others of his love for them, that he has always loved them and always will, and his sadness at those who turn their backs on him. I felt he was a very human God who had all of our good points amplified and more with none of our bad. Joanna's life is far from easy, her childhood is truly abysmal she is treated terribly by both parents especially her bi-polar mother, her father doesn't care for any but himself. With God's love she gets through this but her journey in the big world isn't the easiest by far.
I don't really want to give anything of the story away, it is well worth the read. I apologise for not giving this book a worthy review but I couldn't find the right words without saying too much.
I must admit this wasn't quite what I was expecting, I obviously misread the info I was given which was my mistake. I didn't expect God to play such a huge role in the book or for there to be quite as many bible quotes, I am ashamed to admit if I had read the info sent to me better I wouldn't have read the book. That being said I am grateful if misread my info as I would have missed out on a truly original book. I'm not sure how best to describe the book it is part memoir, the authors own story, part fantasy and part something I have not quite pin pointed. I really liked that God was a real character in this story and I think he would be very happy at the way he was portrayed, we saw things from Joanna's view and also from God's. Lucifer was also portrayed, his voice at least. I liked the way that Lucifer was portrayed, not as his cloven, evil personal as he usually is, in fact I found him quite funny the way he heckles, scoff and laughs, all the while whispering in Joanna's ear how God doesn't love her, how she doesn't deserve his love. His role is to put doubt in people's minds, convince them they are not good enough, not liked etc... etc... I found him more believable than the fire and brimstone totally evil role he usually plays, in this I found him more real his turning people from God by deceit. God on the other hand is constantly assuring Joanna and others of his love for them, that he has always loved them and always will, and his sadness at those who turn their backs on him. I felt he was a very human God who had all of our good points amplified and more with none of our bad. Joanna's life is far from easy, her childhood is truly abysmal she is treated terribly by both parents especially her bi-polar mother, her father doesn't care for any but himself. With God's love she gets through this but her journey in the big world isn't the easiest by far.
I don't really want to give anything of the story away, it is well worth the read. I apologise for not giving this book a worthy review but I couldn't find the right words without saying too much.
June 26, 2016
Some books, like this one here, are just beautiful. Joanna's journey through the Valley of Trouble wasn't less than a dream that you wish never ends. This is a fantasy novel at the core, which has so many themes that come through as you read it - faith, struggle, good/ evil, choices in life, spirituality - all dealt with such a good care. The tone of the book is a memoir sorts - as though you are hearing a story first hand - which was a very good device in getting the point across easily at a number of places.
All in all, the originality of this book stands out, among all other things worth highlighting - one example is the God's character - it was so naturally embedded with he whole story and was so integral to the book.
All in all, the originality of this book stands out, among all other things worth highlighting - one example is the God's character - it was so naturally embedded with he whole story and was so integral to the book.
March 14, 2016
I was given a copy of "The Kingdom: Here Be Dragons, Here Be Dreams" by the author, Joanne Rolston, in exchange for an honest review. Ok, let me start by saying I thought this was going to be fiction, but instead I received a new and very enjoyable testimony! It is written and reads like fiction, a modern day fairy tale actually. I loved it! Candid and very open about her life, questioning God, her struggles, and her mistakes, this is a great read for anyone who is struggling with their walk, or just wants to strengthen their walk with the King. I give it five stars! Mature content so teens and up, though I would say it is more geared for adults.
September 8, 2016
A woman battles against the consequences of a series of bad choices and manipulative partners.
This book covers some very dark topics (emotional abuse / rejection) and has God as a main character - acting as a guiding light / redemptive force. As the story (which I felt was based to some degree on real life experiences) progressed I found my emotions (even though I am not religious) swing from dismay to feeling uplifted.
Overall my rating would be 3.5 as I thought some of the sections contained a lot of wisdom and were thought provoking, but in some places the writing a bit too dense / disjointed for me.
I expect only people with very open minds will appreciate this book.
This book covers some very dark topics (emotional abuse / rejection) and has God as a main character - acting as a guiding light / redemptive force. As the story (which I felt was based to some degree on real life experiences) progressed I found my emotions (even though I am not religious) swing from dismay to feeling uplifted.
Overall my rating would be 3.5 as I thought some of the sections contained a lot of wisdom and were thought provoking, but in some places the writing a bit too dense / disjointed for me.
I expect only people with very open minds will appreciate this book.
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