What do you think?
Rate this book
Child of the Kaites
Desert fantasy retelling of the story of Moses, with magic swords, homicidal storms, and griffins.
The kaites are spiritual beings who can dwell in rocks, plants, and water.
They saved baby Rai from the watery death faced by her people. They raised her in the blessed region. They told her she would be the Leader of a Revolt.
She was going to free her people from slavery.
At least, that's what Rai used to believe. Then she grew up.
Living as an exile under an assumed identity, Rai can't lead a conversation, let alone a slave revolt. Her role in life is to be an historian. She will lead her people by reminding them of who they are, nothing more.
Yet the Izyphorn empire's evils continue. Her people are still enslaved. Babies are dying every day.
Someone needs to do something.
Reunions with childhood friends and encounters with an enigmatic stranger force Rai to reexamine what her purpose is. Is she called to be a humble historian or a mighty warrior...
Or are those the same thing?
A story of doubt, faith, fear, and courage.
*****
Read it now.
ebook
First published July 28, 2018
3 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
About the author
Beth Wangler
15 books50 followersBeth Wangler has loved stories since before she could read.
Growing up, she had a voracious appetite for books and loved nothing better than losing herself in a story. On one particular day around third grade, Beth paused in reading to realize that she could add books to the world, too. She’s been writing ever since.
Beth predominantly writes speculative fiction, though she occasionally branches out into poetry or historical fiction. She writes to entertain, inspire wonder, share hope, and explore truth. When not writing, she teaches History and English, reads, and crochets.
Growing up, she had a voracious appetite for books and loved nothing better than losing herself in a story. On one particular day around third grade, Beth paused in reading to realize that she could add books to the world, too. She’s been writing ever since.
Beth predominantly writes speculative fiction, though she occasionally branches out into poetry or historical fiction. She writes to entertain, inspire wonder, share hope, and explore truth. When not writing, she teaches History and English, reads, and crochets.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 25, 2018
4.5*
How do you know a book has years of work and passion put into it? Such dedication is evidenced by a depth of world-building in culture and language and subtext, by characters who hold up a mirror to the reader's own heart, and by story-telling that isn't afraid to dig deeper than the surface.
This is the excellence indie authors should work towards.
Child of the Kaites has its flaws, as does any other book by any other author, and though I normally pick apart what didn't work for me in a story (we each review in our own ways), I honestly don't feel the need for such scrutiny now. I'm so impressed by Beth Wangler's talent and thoroughness that I can't be bothered.
I can't wait for my Wangler collection to grow.
In the meantime, I suppose...keep calm and hug Pipit.
How do you know a book has years of work and passion put into it? Such dedication is evidenced by a depth of world-building in culture and language and subtext, by characters who hold up a mirror to the reader's own heart, and by story-telling that isn't afraid to dig deeper than the surface.
This is the excellence indie authors should work towards.
Child of the Kaites has its flaws, as does any other book by any other author, and though I normally pick apart what didn't work for me in a story (we each review in our own ways), I honestly don't feel the need for such scrutiny now. I'm so impressed by Beth Wangler's talent and thoroughness that I can't be bothered.
I can't wait for my Wangler collection to grow.
In the meantime, I suppose...keep calm and hug Pipit.
September 16, 2019
3.5 stars.
I'd been super excited to read this story since January, and two weeks ago I was finally able to finish it. It took me longer to read than I'd hoped (about two months), mostly because I was reading it on kindle rather than paperback, so some of the details from the first quarter or so are a bit fuzzy, but here are my basic thoughts on it.
I went into this book expecting a grand adventure set in a really vivid desert fantasy world, but I quickly realized this is a much more character-driven story and the first quarter was all about establishing those characters and fleshing out their relationships, which I found myself pretty okay with. I was rooting for the characters, I wanted to see them resolve the initial relational conflict, and that was really cool. The character dynamics were really compelling in that first quarter, and while I didn't especially connect with most of the characters, that's pretty normal for me, and I was still able to like them, so it didn't really bother me.
Interestingly enough, it was when the adventure I was expecting set in that I started to connect with the book less and less. Part of this was my own high expectations. I was looking forward to incredibly immersive worldbuilding, and this book just wasn't quite there, for me. I think if I hadn't had the expectations I did, I would have enjoyed the world just fine, because the worldbuilding is definitely strong, it just didn't pull me in as much as I was hoping it would. The aivenkaites were especially interesting, and the battles between them and the main characters and the kaites were cool to read. And the axex! I loved the axex.
I was also anticipating more action surrounding the plagues and other Moses-based events, and those aren't really dwelt on very much. The plagues, especially, felt kind of rushed to me, and I would have liked to be able to see the effects of the plagues on the land and the Izyphorns rather than just hearing their reactions?
When the main plot set in, there was also less time to focus on the characters, and additional characters were introduced who I feel like didn't get enough attention as they maybe could have or weren't used to their full potential. When we meet the bandits, for instance, a lot of page space is spent reminding the reader of each character's ethnicity instead of showing the details of their ethnicity or letting the character speak for themselves, and I wasn't able to really connect each character with the details that came with them because I was too busy trying to keep their nationalities straight.
In the writing, I was a little put-off by the inconsistencies in the language and wording of things. Sometimes it seemed very old-fashioned and fantastical, but then there would be lines or phrases thrown in that felt very modern, and it was a little awkward. But I loved the conlang Wangler created for the world, and it was super cool to see that woven in throughout the book!
Characters:
Forziel. I was slightly frustrated I couldn't get a firm grip on how old Forziel was (I got the impression from Rai's calling him a "young boy" that he was closer to 10 or 11, but most of the writing seemed to indicate he was more of a teenager?), but overall I really enjoyed his character. He was fun, he was loyal, and his relationship with his axex was fun to read. I did feel like his backstory was kind of shoehorned in and more told than shown, and I would have liked to see that played out more and be more nuanced, but that was a short section of the book and was just a minor disappointment.
Rai. As with most characters, I didn't have any strong feelings toward Rai, either good or bad. There were a couple points where I felt like she was overly remorseless, but I do understand where she was coming from and why she would have thought that way, and they were really brief. I loved her relationship with Savi, and it was really cool to see a couple tackling a mission together and supporting each other the whole way, and I really enjoyed that aspect of the book.
Speaking of Savi... He's another character I really enjoyed. He was sweet and supportive and diplomatic, and it was really cool to see how he and Rai balanced each other and used their skills to complement each other through their mission. And I appreciated that he was firm in his faith, but also had doubts, especially when it came to difficult life events.
Nhardah was an awesome character. I found him especially interesting in the first quarter, when he was still a bit of a mystery and a little bit of a cryptic mentor sort, but I still enjoyed following and reading about him in the rest of the book and enjoyed his mentor-student relationship with the rest of the group.
Overall, I was able to enjoy this book even though it wasn't what I expected, and I'm curious what I would think of it if I reread it now that I know what to expect. I'd recommend it to anyone who's a fan of character-driven Christian fantasy and strong relationship dynamics.
I'd been super excited to read this story since January, and two weeks ago I was finally able to finish it. It took me longer to read than I'd hoped (about two months), mostly because I was reading it on kindle rather than paperback, so some of the details from the first quarter or so are a bit fuzzy, but here are my basic thoughts on it.
I went into this book expecting a grand adventure set in a really vivid desert fantasy world, but I quickly realized this is a much more character-driven story and the first quarter was all about establishing those characters and fleshing out their relationships, which I found myself pretty okay with. I was rooting for the characters, I wanted to see them resolve the initial relational conflict, and that was really cool. The character dynamics were really compelling in that first quarter, and while I didn't especially connect with most of the characters, that's pretty normal for me, and I was still able to like them, so it didn't really bother me.
Interestingly enough, it was when the adventure I was expecting set in that I started to connect with the book less and less. Part of this was my own high expectations. I was looking forward to incredibly immersive worldbuilding, and this book just wasn't quite there, for me. I think if I hadn't had the expectations I did, I would have enjoyed the world just fine, because the worldbuilding is definitely strong, it just didn't pull me in as much as I was hoping it would. The aivenkaites were especially interesting, and the battles between them and the main characters and the kaites were cool to read. And the axex! I loved the axex.
I was also anticipating more action surrounding the plagues and other Moses-based events, and those aren't really dwelt on very much. The plagues, especially, felt kind of rushed to me, and I would have liked to be able to see the effects of the plagues on the land and the Izyphorns rather than just hearing their reactions?
When the main plot set in, there was also less time to focus on the characters, and additional characters were introduced who I feel like didn't get enough attention as they maybe could have or weren't used to their full potential. When we meet the bandits, for instance, a lot of page space is spent reminding the reader of each character's ethnicity instead of showing the details of their ethnicity or letting the character speak for themselves, and I wasn't able to really connect each character with the details that came with them because I was too busy trying to keep their nationalities straight.
In the writing, I was a little put-off by the inconsistencies in the language and wording of things. Sometimes it seemed very old-fashioned and fantastical, but then there would be lines or phrases thrown in that felt very modern, and it was a little awkward. But I loved the conlang Wangler created for the world, and it was super cool to see that woven in throughout the book!
Characters:
Forziel. I was slightly frustrated I couldn't get a firm grip on how old Forziel was (I got the impression from Rai's calling him a "young boy" that he was closer to 10 or 11, but most of the writing seemed to indicate he was more of a teenager?), but overall I really enjoyed his character. He was fun, he was loyal, and his relationship with his axex was fun to read. I did feel like his backstory was kind of shoehorned in and more told than shown, and I would have liked to see that played out more and be more nuanced, but that was a short section of the book and was just a minor disappointment.
Rai. As with most characters, I didn't have any strong feelings toward Rai, either good or bad. There were a couple points where I felt like she was overly remorseless, but I do understand where she was coming from and why she would have thought that way, and they were really brief. I loved her relationship with Savi, and it was really cool to see a couple tackling a mission together and supporting each other the whole way, and I really enjoyed that aspect of the book.
Speaking of Savi... He's another character I really enjoyed. He was sweet and supportive and diplomatic, and it was really cool to see how he and Rai balanced each other and used their skills to complement each other through their mission. And I appreciated that he was firm in his faith, but also had doubts, especially when it came to difficult life events.
Nhardah was an awesome character. I found him especially interesting in the first quarter, when he was still a bit of a mystery and a little bit of a cryptic mentor sort, but I still enjoyed following and reading about him in the rest of the book and enjoyed his mentor-student relationship with the rest of the group.
Overall, I was able to enjoy this book even though it wasn't what I expected, and I'm curious what I would think of it if I reread it now that I know what to expect. I'd recommend it to anyone who's a fan of character-driven Christian fantasy and strong relationship dynamics.
December 24, 2019
I’ve been hearing so much about Child of the Kaites from the online community and even my wife, I must confess I was worried it couldn’t live up to the hype. I am happy to report my fears were groundless.
Billed as a re-telling of the Moses story, this book could nevertheless stand completely on its own among readers unfamiliar with the Bible. Beth Wangler weaves a masterful tale of betrayal, struggle, failure, and epic supernatural war. The worldbuilding is seamless and deep, and I loved the importance of the Maraian stories and how the author worked them into the rest of the plot. The tension builds naturally and does not peak too soon, and the final resolution is satisfying and well-telegraphed but not at first obvious (at least not to me).
I found no major issues with the writing, either; told in present tense, I don’t recall any slips into past tense—certainly not enough to jolt me out of the story. The characters are well-made, believable, and consistent, and MASSIVE kudos to Wangler for not rushing them through emotions at a time most authors like to try to skip through or get hopelessly bogged down in. Their reactions were appropriate without delaying the plot any further than necessary. This is incredibly hard to pull off, and I feel the author balanced it perfectly.
There was a minor plot hole toward the end, during a scene that also reflected eerily a similar event from the past of characters feeling abandoned. It almost read as though the author wanted to create tension in the closing scenes, but rather than coming up with something new, simply fleshed out and made immediate a sense of abandonment only alluded to in the opening scenes. Some readers may also take issue with the theme of vengeance—where, for many who finally sought mercy, it was “too late.” While the author stayed true to that element of the original Moses story, I did appreciate the weaving in of the “new covenant” of Christianity and I think it balanced well in the story.
All told, a very solid fantasy that I would definitely recommend to others. I didn’t give it the full five stars because of the issues I noted above, and because it just didn’t have the pop that makes a story shine, in my eyes. All the elements are in place, however, for it to be your favorite book—so get it and read it! You will not regret it.
Billed as a re-telling of the Moses story, this book could nevertheless stand completely on its own among readers unfamiliar with the Bible. Beth Wangler weaves a masterful tale of betrayal, struggle, failure, and epic supernatural war. The worldbuilding is seamless and deep, and I loved the importance of the Maraian stories and how the author worked them into the rest of the plot. The tension builds naturally and does not peak too soon, and the final resolution is satisfying and well-telegraphed but not at first obvious (at least not to me).
I found no major issues with the writing, either; told in present tense, I don’t recall any slips into past tense—certainly not enough to jolt me out of the story. The characters are well-made, believable, and consistent, and MASSIVE kudos to Wangler for not rushing them through emotions at a time most authors like to try to skip through or get hopelessly bogged down in. Their reactions were appropriate without delaying the plot any further than necessary. This is incredibly hard to pull off, and I feel the author balanced it perfectly.
There was a minor plot hole toward the end, during a scene that also reflected eerily a similar event from the past of characters feeling abandoned. It almost read as though the author wanted to create tension in the closing scenes, but rather than coming up with something new, simply fleshed out and made immediate a sense of abandonment only alluded to in the opening scenes. Some readers may also take issue with the theme of vengeance—where, for many who finally sought mercy, it was “too late.” While the author stayed true to that element of the original Moses story, I did appreciate the weaving in of the “new covenant” of Christianity and I think it balanced well in the story.
All told, a very solid fantasy that I would definitely recommend to others. I didn’t give it the full five stars because of the issues I noted above, and because it just didn’t have the pop that makes a story shine, in my eyes. All the elements are in place, however, for it to be your favorite book—so get it and read it! You will not regret it.
December 31, 2018
Child of the Kaites is Christian fantasy like I've never read before. It is beautifully written, incredibly creative, and thought-provoking in a way that is is both gentle and brave.
Rai is one of the most unique, compelling main characters I've read in a long time. Her constant wrestle with fear versus her desire to save her people is beautiful and inspiring. I loved how raw her relationship with Aia is. There were several times that Rai doubts Aia, and a few times where she is frustrated at the way Aia was allowing things to unfold. Wangler honestly explores concepts of faith and courage through Rai's character arc, resulting in a very special representation. I love it.
I also loved how realistic Wangler's world-building is. There are multiple depictions of religion and various colorful cultures and customs, all of which play into the plot and character development. It's clear that a lot of thought went into the world and its history.
One minor "issue" for this book was that it started out a little slow. However, as I got further into the story, I saw this as less of an issue and more of a strong point. Because the first bit of the story was more character-oriented than plot-oriented, it really allowed us to better understand the character arcs, and also helped set up important details necessary for later parts of the story. So don't let the initial slowness bother you. It's like the beautiful, leisurely part of a winding river just before you hit the rapids. Totally worth it.
This is one of those books that I enjoyed in so many different ways that I can't possibly mention all of them in a review, so I'll have to stop here and just briefly list my other favorite things:
1. The beautiful, clean writing style
2. The fact that it featured a married couple as the main characters. So unique and sweet.
3. The heartfelt depiction of alzheimer's. So many fantasy novels don't include disease or disability, so this was really special to me.
4. The honest looks at faith, courage, pain, and sacrifice.
5. The super cool magic.
6. Nhardah. He's the best.
This is one of the best Christians fantasy novels I have read in a long time. I cannot wait to read book 2!
Rai is one of the most unique, compelling main characters I've read in a long time. Her constant wrestle with fear versus her desire to save her people is beautiful and inspiring. I loved how raw her relationship with Aia is. There were several times that Rai doubts Aia, and a few times where she is frustrated at the way Aia was allowing things to unfold. Wangler honestly explores concepts of faith and courage through Rai's character arc, resulting in a very special representation. I love it.
I also loved how realistic Wangler's world-building is. There are multiple depictions of religion and various colorful cultures and customs, all of which play into the plot and character development. It's clear that a lot of thought went into the world and its history.
One minor "issue" for this book was that it started out a little slow. However, as I got further into the story, I saw this as less of an issue and more of a strong point. Because the first bit of the story was more character-oriented than plot-oriented, it really allowed us to better understand the character arcs, and also helped set up important details necessary for later parts of the story. So don't let the initial slowness bother you. It's like the beautiful, leisurely part of a winding river just before you hit the rapids. Totally worth it.
This is one of those books that I enjoyed in so many different ways that I can't possibly mention all of them in a review, so I'll have to stop here and just briefly list my other favorite things:
1. The beautiful, clean writing style
2. The fact that it featured a married couple as the main characters. So unique and sweet.
3. The heartfelt depiction of alzheimer's. So many fantasy novels don't include disease or disability, so this was really special to me.
4. The honest looks at faith, courage, pain, and sacrifice.
5. The super cool magic.
6. Nhardah. He's the best.
This is one of the best Christians fantasy novels I have read in a long time. I cannot wait to read book 2!
July 27, 2018
Where do I even begin with this book? Child of the Kaites is an exquisitely crafted story of struggle and courage. Wangler has taken a story that many are familiar with (the story of Moses) and completely reimagined it. One of my favorite authors, G.K. Chesterton talks about how when we become too familiar with a concept, it's easy to assume we understand it, while really missing the point. He talks about having to see things through the eyes of someone who has never seen them before. This is what Beth Wangler has done with this book. She has taken the story of Moses and set it in such a captivating, original context that you can't help but approach it with unmitigated wonder. And yet, she has remained remarkably and heart-wrenchingly true to the themes and events of the original story.
I was moved, uplifted, challenged, and encouraged on this journey. For that is truly what this book is. Wangler has that wonderful ability to draw you completely into her world so that you are a part of the journey. She has created a safe space for you to examine your own fears, hopes, and pains. And I think you will find the characters and scenes bleeding into your everyday life, like the ghosts of old friends.
Wildly entertaining, inspiring, and powerful this book will linger with me for a long time. A lot of entertainment these days is like a quick snack: it tastes good, but it fades away because it has little substance. This book is like a garden. It is wholesome, rich, and worth revisiting again and again! What are you waiting for? Go buy it!
I was moved, uplifted, challenged, and encouraged on this journey. For that is truly what this book is. Wangler has that wonderful ability to draw you completely into her world so that you are a part of the journey. She has created a safe space for you to examine your own fears, hopes, and pains. And I think you will find the characters and scenes bleeding into your everyday life, like the ghosts of old friends.
Wildly entertaining, inspiring, and powerful this book will linger with me for a long time. A lot of entertainment these days is like a quick snack: it tastes good, but it fades away because it has little substance. This book is like a garden. It is wholesome, rich, and worth revisiting again and again! What are you waiting for? Go buy it!
December 29, 2019
4.5/5 stars
With rich worldbuilding and an inspirational message of hope and bravery, Child of the Kaites takes readers on an unforgettable emotional journey, turning a familiar biblical story into something that is both more fantastical and more personal. The story follows Raiba, a runaway slave raised by benevolent spirits known as the kaites. Although it has been foretold that she will do great things and save her people from their oppression, when the story begins, young Raiba has all but given up on this destiny and seems content to live out a peaceful life in the home of her adoptive family. The arrival of some familiar faces from her past changes everything, and soon, Raiba finds herself on a journey that will challenge her physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually as she tries to find a way to free her people.
The story is based on the story of Moses in the Bible, so it's no surprise that there are some strong religious and spiritual overtones here. Some of it felt a bit heavy-handed at times, at least for me, but overall those elements were woven into the story very well and I didn't feel like I was being preached to. The worldbuilding is fantastic, and it's clear that the author spent a lot of time and put a lot of attention to detail into crafting the setting and the various cultures of the people who inhabit it. Even if you're familiar with the story of Moses from the Bible, there are some unique elements here that will keep you engaged and curious about how things will progress. I especially loved the conflict between good and bad spirits - the kaites and the aivenkaites - and how that conflict manifested in a more tangible way that had a direct impact on the characters.
The characters themselves are also well-written, with Raiba serving as a strong narrator who grows and changes as the story progresses. There's a lot at stake for her, not just in terms of physical harm and life-or-death dangers, but arguably even more so on an emotional and spiritual level. I love a story that pulls readers deep into a character's heart and throws things at that character that really challenge them on a personal or relational level, and that's exactly what we get in this book. There were so many times in this story where I really felt for Raiba and the other characters, when my heart ached for them and when I rejoiced with them. Wangler does a really good job with the emotion in this book, and it's because of that that I felt like I was really able to connect with these characters.
This is a great read for anyone who enjoys Christian fiction, but it's also good for anyone who just likes a good fantasy story with interesting characters and string worldbuilding.
With rich worldbuilding and an inspirational message of hope and bravery, Child of the Kaites takes readers on an unforgettable emotional journey, turning a familiar biblical story into something that is both more fantastical and more personal. The story follows Raiba, a runaway slave raised by benevolent spirits known as the kaites. Although it has been foretold that she will do great things and save her people from their oppression, when the story begins, young Raiba has all but given up on this destiny and seems content to live out a peaceful life in the home of her adoptive family. The arrival of some familiar faces from her past changes everything, and soon, Raiba finds herself on a journey that will challenge her physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually as she tries to find a way to free her people.
The story is based on the story of Moses in the Bible, so it's no surprise that there are some strong religious and spiritual overtones here. Some of it felt a bit heavy-handed at times, at least for me, but overall those elements were woven into the story very well and I didn't feel like I was being preached to. The worldbuilding is fantastic, and it's clear that the author spent a lot of time and put a lot of attention to detail into crafting the setting and the various cultures of the people who inhabit it. Even if you're familiar with the story of Moses from the Bible, there are some unique elements here that will keep you engaged and curious about how things will progress. I especially loved the conflict between good and bad spirits - the kaites and the aivenkaites - and how that conflict manifested in a more tangible way that had a direct impact on the characters.
The characters themselves are also well-written, with Raiba serving as a strong narrator who grows and changes as the story progresses. There's a lot at stake for her, not just in terms of physical harm and life-or-death dangers, but arguably even more so on an emotional and spiritual level. I love a story that pulls readers deep into a character's heart and throws things at that character that really challenge them on a personal or relational level, and that's exactly what we get in this book. There were so many times in this story where I really felt for Raiba and the other characters, when my heart ached for them and when I rejoiced with them. Wangler does a really good job with the emotion in this book, and it's because of that that I felt like I was really able to connect with these characters.
This is a great read for anyone who enjoys Christian fiction, but it's also good for anyone who just likes a good fantasy story with interesting characters and string worldbuilding.
December 19, 2021
This fantasy retelling of the story of Moses was gripping and imaginative! The kaites and aivenkaites were fascinating. Many of the characters were likeable, but I especially loved Rai, Savi, and their relationship! (I have to admit, their swords were pretty cool, too. 😏)
One thing that threw me off a little was the pacing. The first half of the story was slower, focusing more on character development. The second half moved a lot faster and almost felt rushed in comparison. I would have liked to see more of the struggle between the Maraians and Izyphorns before the climax.
Much of the story was resolved, but there's clearly more to come. I'm eager to delve deeper into the world of The Firstborn's Legacy!
One thing that threw me off a little was the pacing. The first half of the story was slower, focusing more on character development. The second half moved a lot faster and almost felt rushed in comparison. I would have liked to see more of the struggle between the Maraians and Izyphorns before the climax.
Much of the story was resolved, but there's clearly more to come. I'm eager to delve deeper into the world of The Firstborn's Legacy!
October 10, 2018
There is a lot to commend about this book. I've never read anything quite like it... retellings are often fairy-tales (Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, etc) but the author took a biblical story and re-imagined it. The characters were well written and unique in their own ways, and the grammar/sentence structure was technically perfect. Which, ironically, is one of the reasons why I don't think this was a 5 star for me. I didn't get much of a "voice" for Rai, the main character and the point of view the book was written from. Even though the technicality was really good, it came across a little dry. But don't let that stop you from getting this book.
I really enjoyed picking out the various themes that were familiar from the story of Moses, but the author also adds her own, too, making it less predictable. Especially if you're familiar with the Exodus story.
The kaites and aivenkaites were interesting, and toward the end became fairly predictable (another reason this is 4 not 5 stars) but the action was heart-pounding and pretty constant throughout the book. You barely get time to breathe before Rai and her merry band are on the run countless times from the aivenkaites. There were instances where I had to force myself to relax and take a deep breath :-)
All in all, this was a good read. I look forward to more in the series.
I really enjoyed picking out the various themes that were familiar from the story of Moses, but the author also adds her own, too, making it less predictable. Especially if you're familiar with the Exodus story.
The kaites and aivenkaites were interesting, and toward the end became fairly predictable (another reason this is 4 not 5 stars) but the action was heart-pounding and pretty constant throughout the book. You barely get time to breathe before Rai and her merry band are on the run countless times from the aivenkaites. There were instances where I had to force myself to relax and take a deep breath :-)
All in all, this was a good read. I look forward to more in the series.
August 19, 2019
Child of the Kaites is an indie Christian fantasy novel that takes an allegorical approach to the story of the Exodus and other elements of Christian belief, somewhat akin to the work of C.S. Lewis. It follows a young woman named Rai as she reconnects with a childhood love and finds her purpose as a sort of prophet/leader who will guide her people out of slavery.
While I think this book has a lot going for it, it wasn't quite the sort of fantasy I prefer. A large middle portion of the book involves a group of characters traveling with adventures along the way, and traveling band fantasies are always a difficult sell for me. I know a lot of readers love them, but I find them to be a little dull. I was most interested to see the retelling of the court politics and plagues, which we did get in the last 100 pages or so, but I would have preferred less of the traveling and an expanded approach to unpacking the politics of the court and responses to plagues sent by Aia (God in this world). On the other hand, there are a lot of action sequences including battles against evil spirits known as Aivenkaites (basically demons) and magical swords, which was cool.
I found the beginning of the story to be a little bit slow to start and wish it began with more action, but eventually I became invested in the characters comprising Rai's adoptive family. (Sadly they don't appear in much of the book! I think they will be around more in book 2 though.) I loved the dynamic between Rai and her childhood sweetheart. He is supportive and they have a very sweet relationship. However, their marriage near the beginning feels a bit rushed and I think more slowly building their relationship in a leadup to marriage later on would have added great tension to the plot and maybe allowed for more development in character growth arcs. We do see Rai grow in terms of believing in herself and trusting Aia to direct her, but we get less of that development for other characters.
You will also find a lot of stories here that mirror their Biblical counterparts in Genesis, as well as more didactic scenes on issues like grief and forgiveness, which are beautiful. This is very much a story about faith and trusting in the unseen, the heart of which comes through really clearly. While this book wasn't quite my cup of tea because of the fantasy tropes used and some of the pacing, I think it's a great project that will appeal to readers wanting a fantasy story with strong elements of Christian spirituality. I was sent a copy of this book for review by the author and very much appreciate the opportunity. All opinions are my own.
While I think this book has a lot going for it, it wasn't quite the sort of fantasy I prefer. A large middle portion of the book involves a group of characters traveling with adventures along the way, and traveling band fantasies are always a difficult sell for me. I know a lot of readers love them, but I find them to be a little dull. I was most interested to see the retelling of the court politics and plagues, which we did get in the last 100 pages or so, but I would have preferred less of the traveling and an expanded approach to unpacking the politics of the court and responses to plagues sent by Aia (God in this world). On the other hand, there are a lot of action sequences including battles against evil spirits known as Aivenkaites (basically demons) and magical swords, which was cool.
I found the beginning of the story to be a little bit slow to start and wish it began with more action, but eventually I became invested in the characters comprising Rai's adoptive family. (Sadly they don't appear in much of the book! I think they will be around more in book 2 though.) I loved the dynamic between Rai and her childhood sweetheart. He is supportive and they have a very sweet relationship. However, their marriage near the beginning feels a bit rushed and I think more slowly building their relationship in a leadup to marriage later on would have added great tension to the plot and maybe allowed for more development in character growth arcs. We do see Rai grow in terms of believing in herself and trusting Aia to direct her, but we get less of that development for other characters.
You will also find a lot of stories here that mirror their Biblical counterparts in Genesis, as well as more didactic scenes on issues like grief and forgiveness, which are beautiful. This is very much a story about faith and trusting in the unseen, the heart of which comes through really clearly. While this book wasn't quite my cup of tea because of the fantasy tropes used and some of the pacing, I think it's a great project that will appeal to readers wanting a fantasy story with strong elements of Christian spirituality. I was sent a copy of this book for review by the author and very much appreciate the opportunity. All opinions are my own.
October 27, 2019
STORY
The concepts this story handled were all SO. COOL.
Basically, you have a Biblical Moses retelling/inspired story, so there are different races, cool world building, and with the fantasy twist, different creatures and such. You have "kaites" and "aivenkaites", which in my understanding, are basically angels and demons. That was a cool story concept and it was well executed.
The story follows Rai as she bands together and leads a revolt in order to free her people. Honestly, while the concept was fantastic, I struggled to get invested. Some things seemed to drag, and the times where it was truly interesting, were often cut short or skimmed over.
Also, as much meat as the story had, there was also a lot of "telling" in the writing style. It was difficult for me personally to see anything or feel anything in the story. But that might just be me, since the actual story is quite intriguing!
THEMES
Amazing themes of salvation, fighting the good fight, and faith! I love how bold the fight was between good vs. evil. The aivenkaites were powerful but good still won over. That was really well done! I like that in fantasy.
The themes of loyalty, to people and to God (Aia), is a heavy theme. It is interesting to see it explored in this novel. We even must face the question, "If death isn't right, how do we face it in a world that belongs to the enemy?" and so forth. I definitely loved the themes!
CHARACTERS
Most of my qualm with this book is my own personal perspective, and that's simply: I didn't quite relate to any of the characters. I'm not sure why. It was just me.
Don't get me wrong, the characters were amazing. Rai was a humble servant of God and inspiring, but I often found her a bit immature and, again, most of her emotions were "told" not "shown"... thus, I never quite grew attached. Savi was very nice, and the supporting cast were all well rounded. My favorite was probably Nhardah.
CONTENT
Clean novel. Mentions of blood, violence, beatings, etc, but nothing ever heavily described. On screen deaths but nothing graphic. Mentions of swearing, brief swearing (heck, etc). Mild sensual scenes (kisses, hand holding, touching) between a married couple. Mentions of magicians, bad magic, etc, nothing ever shown as good. PG.
OVERALL
A good novel, I just didn't quite relate to it as much as I would have liked, but I ADORED the supernatural warfare! So good.
The concepts this story handled were all SO. COOL.
Basically, you have a Biblical Moses retelling/inspired story, so there are different races, cool world building, and with the fantasy twist, different creatures and such. You have "kaites" and "aivenkaites", which in my understanding, are basically angels and demons. That was a cool story concept and it was well executed.
The story follows Rai as she bands together and leads a revolt in order to free her people. Honestly, while the concept was fantastic, I struggled to get invested. Some things seemed to drag, and the times where it was truly interesting, were often cut short or skimmed over.
Also, as much meat as the story had, there was also a lot of "telling" in the writing style. It was difficult for me personally to see anything or feel anything in the story. But that might just be me, since the actual story is quite intriguing!
THEMES
Amazing themes of salvation, fighting the good fight, and faith! I love how bold the fight was between good vs. evil. The aivenkaites were powerful but good still won over. That was really well done! I like that in fantasy.
The themes of loyalty, to people and to God (Aia), is a heavy theme. It is interesting to see it explored in this novel. We even must face the question, "If death isn't right, how do we face it in a world that belongs to the enemy?" and so forth. I definitely loved the themes!
CHARACTERS
Most of my qualm with this book is my own personal perspective, and that's simply: I didn't quite relate to any of the characters. I'm not sure why. It was just me.
Don't get me wrong, the characters were amazing. Rai was a humble servant of God and inspiring, but I often found her a bit immature and, again, most of her emotions were "told" not "shown"... thus, I never quite grew attached. Savi was very nice, and the supporting cast were all well rounded. My favorite was probably Nhardah.
CONTENT
Clean novel. Mentions of blood, violence, beatings, etc, but nothing ever heavily described. On screen deaths but nothing graphic. Mentions of swearing, brief swearing (heck, etc). Mild sensual scenes (kisses, hand holding, touching) between a married couple. Mentions of magicians, bad magic, etc, nothing ever shown as good. PG.
OVERALL
A good novel, I just didn't quite relate to it as much as I would have liked, but I ADORED the supernatural warfare! So good.
December 27, 2018
This is a unique, beautiful retelling of the Bible story of Moses from the Exodus. I loved the fresh spin Wangler brought with the complex worldbuilding and elegant, concise first person narrative. I read this book over a very long length of time (exactly four months, actually), which is way longer than I'd like to read any book, particularly when it's of average novel length, so details regarding plot and characters are not fresh in my mind. But I thought the story was cleverly written and I liked the ties to the original story of Moses in the Bible. I haven't read much Christian fantasy, but this has got to be one of the best Christian fantasy novels published within the last few decades. Raiballeon is a believable character as a believer in Aia (God). She wrestles with the decision to follow Aia's calling to lead her people out of bondage. She makes mistakes. She struggles with her faith, and she's not the only character to do so. She encounters spiritual and mundane warfare, and it's her faith in Aia and her passion to free her people that drives her. The aspects of this creative Bible story retelling that particularly stood out to me were the main character, the worldbuilding, and a Christianity-inspired fantasy religion that drives not just the fictional world, but also the story itself.
March 1, 2019
As many have said before, "The Child of the Kaites" is a retelling of the story of the biblical story of Moses leading the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.
Things I loved:
1. The world-building.
I loved getting to see the differing beliefs of the various people groups, their customs and their way of life. I love the history of the world that was woven throughout, making the story more believable. The descriptions of the scenery were lovely too and at no point in the story did I feel like it was too much or overpowering.
2. The characters.
A few of my favorites were Rai and Savi because their fears and struggles were very relatable to my own. Some of their thoughts seemed to be pulled from my own head. Plus, I love the way that they were there for each other, supporting each other throughout the story.
I loved Forziel and Yori. While a lot of the book took on a more serious tone, these two added a welcome bit of levity to the situation. I can't wait to read more about these two.
Then there's Nhardah, who I absolutely adored. His wisdom and humor were amazing!
Somethings I'm getting used to:
Okay, so there's just one. I've never been a fan of 1st person narratives and "The Child of the Kaites" was told in first person. I'm happy to say, that I like them now more than I did. Figures it would be Beth Wangler's book that would convince me to give them a chance again.
Things I loved:
1. The world-building.
I loved getting to see the differing beliefs of the various people groups, their customs and their way of life. I love the history of the world that was woven throughout, making the story more believable. The descriptions of the scenery were lovely too and at no point in the story did I feel like it was too much or overpowering.
2. The characters.
A few of my favorites were Rai and Savi because their fears and struggles were very relatable to my own. Some of their thoughts seemed to be pulled from my own head. Plus, I love the way that they were there for each other, supporting each other throughout the story.
I loved Forziel and Yori. While a lot of the book took on a more serious tone, these two added a welcome bit of levity to the situation. I can't wait to read more about these two.
Then there's Nhardah, who I absolutely adored. His wisdom and humor were amazing!
Somethings I'm getting used to:
Okay, so there's just one. I've never been a fan of 1st person narratives and "The Child of the Kaites" was told in first person. I'm happy to say, that I like them now more than I did. Figures it would be Beth Wangler's book that would convince me to give them a chance again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2018
Child of the Kaites is a wonderful fantasy reimagining of the Exodus, complete with plagues, bird lions called axex, and a glowing sword. While reading it, I was in awe of how familiar it felt, while still managing to feel new at the same time. It follows the Bible’s account very well, but adds new twists of its own to make it unique.
I’m generally not a fan of first person, and definitely not first person present tense, (it just doesn’t work for me), but it turned out well for this story. Rai was a very palpable protagonist, and I loved watching Savi stay by her side through thick and thin. Then there's Forziel. I have a huge soft spot for comic relief characters that don’t come from an easy background. He and Yori were great sidekicks, and… Lev… was half mysterious warrior type, and half loveable grandfather who just doesn’t understand his grandkids.
Another thing I really enjoyed was the way Wangler chose to show the reality of the spiritual realm, and the warfare that constantly goes on around us. The aivankaites tried many times to stop Aia’s people from doing His will, but the kaites were always there to fight them off.
The world-building also felt real. From the differing beliefs of the different people groups, to the chanavea necklace each Maraian wore, to the kaites and aivankaites, and architectural differences between Ira and Izyphorn, everything was thought out. The Maraians were also so very… Jewish. They passed down the histories (or at least Rai did), were enslaved to Izyphorn, and were divided into tribes. The chanaveas were another very Maraian thing, like the tassels on a Jewish person's clothing.
Child of the Kaites is also pretty clean. The only thing I can think of to comment on is the fact that there’s a scene where newlyweds are shown waking up in the village’s “marriage hut.” But since their lives are threatened almost immediately after, the scene moves on quickly.
Together, Rai and Savi form the Moses and Aaron duo we all know so well from the Old Testament. The Bible, however, rarely fills in what a person is feeling, and Moses must have sometimes been rife with doubt, even after the burning bush told him “Go.” Child of the Kaites underscores Rai’s humanity by showing her struggles. I think many of us have been called to do something, set out to do it, and then wondered, later on, whether we really were called to such a thing. Perhaps we misunderstood God. This is a character arc I don’t see often, and I appreciate it. I related to Rai in her struggles, and I’m looking forward to more from Wangler.
I’m generally not a fan of first person, and definitely not first person present tense, (it just doesn’t work for me), but it turned out well for this story. Rai was a very palpable protagonist, and I loved watching Savi stay by her side through thick and thin. Then there's Forziel. I have a huge soft spot for comic relief characters that don’t come from an easy background. He and Yori were great sidekicks, and… Lev… was half mysterious warrior type, and half loveable grandfather who just doesn’t understand his grandkids.
Another thing I really enjoyed was the way Wangler chose to show the reality of the spiritual realm, and the warfare that constantly goes on around us. The aivankaites tried many times to stop Aia’s people from doing His will, but the kaites were always there to fight them off.
The world-building also felt real. From the differing beliefs of the different people groups, to the chanavea necklace each Maraian wore, to the kaites and aivankaites, and architectural differences between Ira and Izyphorn, everything was thought out. The Maraians were also so very… Jewish. They passed down the histories (or at least Rai did), were enslaved to Izyphorn, and were divided into tribes. The chanaveas were another very Maraian thing, like the tassels on a Jewish person's clothing.
Child of the Kaites is also pretty clean. The only thing I can think of to comment on is the fact that there’s a scene where newlyweds are shown waking up in the village’s “marriage hut.” But since their lives are threatened almost immediately after, the scene moves on quickly.
Together, Rai and Savi form the Moses and Aaron duo we all know so well from the Old Testament. The Bible, however, rarely fills in what a person is feeling, and Moses must have sometimes been rife with doubt, even after the burning bush told him “Go.” Child of the Kaites underscores Rai’s humanity by showing her struggles. I think many of us have been called to do something, set out to do it, and then wondered, later on, whether we really were called to such a thing. Perhaps we misunderstood God. This is a character arc I don’t see often, and I appreciate it. I related to Rai in her struggles, and I’m looking forward to more from Wangler.
January 8, 2020
I'm so happy to have finally read this! RTC after this semester ends!
December 15, 2019
What a journey!
This story world is so well-developed. I had to pause in my reading of this book, sometimes for several days, a bunch of times as life and time-sensitive projects came up. And even though I was interrupted, I never felt disrupted. I never had to stop and re-read like "Wait, who is this character? What where they doing?" Which is amazing to me because, in a world where all the places and names and nations and histories are unfamiliar to me, I expected that having to set it down and walk away for awhile would leave me completely disoriented. It didn't. I attribute that to the writing. The author does such a good job immersing the reader in her world, I was just THERE. Like I'd lived there forever. I'm hugely impressed.
Rai feels very much like a real person to me. She's strong without being invincible or overbearing, and she's a young woman of strong faith but without coming across like she's already read her own story. And even though this is a retelling of a familiar Old Testament story, it's very much its own, character-driven adventure.
I need more Forziel in my life. And Yorchan. And I'm in the market for a baby axex if you know anyone.
This story world is so well-developed. I had to pause in my reading of this book, sometimes for several days, a bunch of times as life and time-sensitive projects came up. And even though I was interrupted, I never felt disrupted. I never had to stop and re-read like "Wait, who is this character? What where they doing?" Which is amazing to me because, in a world where all the places and names and nations and histories are unfamiliar to me, I expected that having to set it down and walk away for awhile would leave me completely disoriented. It didn't. I attribute that to the writing. The author does such a good job immersing the reader in her world, I was just THERE. Like I'd lived there forever. I'm hugely impressed.
Rai feels very much like a real person to me. She's strong without being invincible or overbearing, and she's a young woman of strong faith but without coming across like she's already read her own story. And even though this is a retelling of a familiar Old Testament story, it's very much its own, character-driven adventure.
I need more Forziel in my life. And Yorchan. And I'm in the market for a baby axex if you know anyone.
October 20, 2018
Child of the Kaites is the first of a new series named The Firsborn Legacy, and written by Beth Wangler. She has also done previous short stories which are part of the series
(The Weaver's Blessing; The Kangraffs' Curse; & Noemi's Dragon) Inspired from Biblical stories, it is an Exodus retelling combined with various fantasy elements (ex. set in a different world)
Overall, I enjoyed it for what it was; as a retelling of a story I know well it does do its job, with an interesting world, interesting characters, and interesting ideas overall. Of
course, if you are familiar with the tale of Moses then expecting a lot of surprises isn't exactly to be found here. But even then Child of the Kaites does have its own couple of twists with some strong execution well enough to keep one invested.
And there is a lot in here that I did like:
For favorite characters it was probably Rai and Nhardah, as well as the side character Drigo, who I kind of wish got a bit more to do while he was around, but no big deal. I especially like Nhardah's role in particular, with him being this novel's take on God speaking to Rai (who's basically Moses but gender swapped), focusing on his backstory as an immortal being who, as an Adam figure, caused the chaos in the world they exist in. Rai herself is also a pretty good heroine, having to overcome her fears and struggles with her past life in order to redeem her people and free them from the Izyphorns. In terms of favorite scenes I enjoyed the moments that were had between Rai and those close to her, such as the ones at the beginning when with her adopted family from the island of Ira. Along with the combining of historically inspired details added in, it works.
I'll be definitely looking out for her work in the near future. I recommend it to those familiar with retellings and want to find something a little different.
(The Weaver's Blessing; The Kangraffs' Curse; & Noemi's Dragon) Inspired from Biblical stories, it is an Exodus retelling combined with various fantasy elements (ex. set in a different world)
Overall, I enjoyed it for what it was; as a retelling of a story I know well it does do its job, with an interesting world, interesting characters, and interesting ideas overall. Of
course, if you are familiar with the tale of Moses then expecting a lot of surprises isn't exactly to be found here. But even then Child of the Kaites does have its own couple of twists with some strong execution well enough to keep one invested.
And there is a lot in here that I did like:
For favorite characters it was probably Rai and Nhardah, as well as the side character Drigo, who I kind of wish got a bit more to do while he was around, but no big deal. I especially like Nhardah's role in particular, with him being this novel's take on God speaking to Rai (who's basically Moses but gender swapped), focusing on his backstory as an immortal being who, as an Adam figure, caused the chaos in the world they exist in. Rai herself is also a pretty good heroine, having to overcome her fears and struggles with her past life in order to redeem her people and free them from the Izyphorns. In terms of favorite scenes I enjoyed the moments that were had between Rai and those close to her, such as the ones at the beginning when with her adopted family from the island of Ira. Along with the combining of historically inspired details added in, it works.
I'll be definitely looking out for her work in the near future. I recommend it to those familiar with retellings and want to find something a little different.
October 1, 2018
Child of the Kaites is a Biblical retelling of the story of Moses, but with several twists that make the story unique in its own right.
Plot
The plot was a little slow at first, but it quickly picked up once I realized that the plot was somewhat character driven. Yes, this is based off the story of Moses, so I knew where the plot was eventually going to lead, but the characters in this book have their own problems and realizations that are their own as well.
Characters
Rai was probably my favorite character. While there's the external struggle of wanting to free her people, she also has to deal with the fear and doubts that threaten to lead her away from her calling. However, she has so many characters to support her, and I think this is where the characterization really pays off.
My only critique here is that I wished we could have learned more about Rai's "adopted" family that was introduced in the first half of the story. Don't get me wrong, these characters certainly weren't flat, but I feel like they lacked the depth the other characters had.
World Building
This is where Wangler does a fantastic job. There are so many different places and cultures presented, and each one has vivid detail. Architecture, political structure, holidays, even how to greet travelers. Wangler is a history lover and it shows, but she also weaves in aspects of culture that are unique to her story, such as the chanavea. Wangler has mastered the art of expanding her world naturally as the plot continues.
Themes
Ok, I digress, I am a sucker for Christian themes and there are so many wonderful ones in here! Becoming bold in your faith, embracing your calling, trusting God in the midst of suffering, the importance of discernment, and I could go on. One thing I like is that these themes aren't "easy" for the characters to embrace. There is a struggle with each of these, which makes the themes shine out more.
Even general themes like overcoming fear, sacrifice, and freedom are well done.
This was one of my first Biblical retellings, and it did not disappoint. While it was clear what the source material was, Wangler drew from her own extensive knowledge of history, created unique elements as well. I am looking forward to the next book! :)
Plot
The plot was a little slow at first, but it quickly picked up once I realized that the plot was somewhat character driven. Yes, this is based off the story of Moses, so I knew where the plot was eventually going to lead, but the characters in this book have their own problems and realizations that are their own as well.
Characters
Rai was probably my favorite character. While there's the external struggle of wanting to free her people, she also has to deal with the fear and doubts that threaten to lead her away from her calling. However, she has so many characters to support her, and I think this is where the characterization really pays off.
My only critique here is that I wished we could have learned more about Rai's "adopted" family that was introduced in the first half of the story. Don't get me wrong, these characters certainly weren't flat, but I feel like they lacked the depth the other characters had.
World Building
This is where Wangler does a fantastic job. There are so many different places and cultures presented, and each one has vivid detail. Architecture, political structure, holidays, even how to greet travelers. Wangler is a history lover and it shows, but she also weaves in aspects of culture that are unique to her story, such as the chanavea. Wangler has mastered the art of expanding her world naturally as the plot continues.
Themes
Ok, I digress, I am a sucker for Christian themes and there are so many wonderful ones in here! Becoming bold in your faith, embracing your calling, trusting God in the midst of suffering, the importance of discernment, and I could go on. One thing I like is that these themes aren't "easy" for the characters to embrace. There is a struggle with each of these, which makes the themes shine out more.
Even general themes like overcoming fear, sacrifice, and freedom are well done.
This was one of my first Biblical retellings, and it did not disappoint. While it was clear what the source material was, Wangler drew from her own extensive knowledge of history, created unique elements as well. I am looking forward to the next book! :)
May 15, 2021
It took me a while to get into this one, but some of that difficulty came from my recent struggle with e-books. Once I switched over to paperback, though, the story still moved along rather slowly, but even when it picked up, some of the action sequences seemed a little over the top and unnecessary. I think if the story focused less on the action sequences and more on the character development and culture in the later half of the book, I might have been more intrigued.
Personally, I wasn't a fan of the whole retelling aspect of the story. I think if the blurb pitched the book as a biblical-inspired story rather than a retelling, I might have enjoyed the story more. The main reason: the book itself seemed to downplay some of the major themes found in the story of Moses, especially Moses' connection to Egyptians, the main reason he fled Egypt, and God's involvement in the freedom of his people. Whereas in Child of Kaites, Raiba has no connection to the Izyphorns, she flees for completely different reasons, and Aia (God) never makes an appearance, but Aivenah (the devil) does. I'm not saying that a retelling has to be 100% the same as the original, but the main themes and motivations were drastically different.
As a story on it's own, it was pretty decent. It seemed to focus more on character development on the first half and action in the second, which was a little confusing. That and the cultural differences were interesting, but I didn't get much of a glimpse of the Marian culture, even though one of the main arcs of the book was the freedom of the Marian people.
In all, I gave Child of Kaites 3.5 stars, rounding to 3. I'd like to read more books by Wangler, but this particular book was not my favorite.
Personally, I wasn't a fan of the whole retelling aspect of the story. I think if the blurb pitched the book as a biblical-inspired story rather than a retelling, I might have enjoyed the story more. The main reason: the book itself seemed to downplay some of the major themes found in the story of Moses, especially Moses' connection to Egyptians, the main reason he fled Egypt, and God's involvement in the freedom of his people. Whereas in Child of Kaites, Raiba has no connection to the Izyphorns, she flees for completely different reasons, and Aia (God) never makes an appearance, but Aivenah (the devil) does. I'm not saying that a retelling has to be 100% the same as the original, but the main themes and motivations were drastically different.
As a story on it's own, it was pretty decent. It seemed to focus more on character development on the first half and action in the second, which was a little confusing. That and the cultural differences were interesting, but I didn't get much of a glimpse of the Marian culture, even though one of the main arcs of the book was the freedom of the Marian people.
In all, I gave Child of Kaites 3.5 stars, rounding to 3. I'd like to read more books by Wangler, but this particular book was not my favorite.
May 26, 2019
Child of the Kaites is an imaginative fantasy retelling of the Exodus. Those familiar with the tale will find it easy to draw comparisons, but will also be delighted by the author's creative changes, which bring a fresh twist to the classic story of Moses. Perhaps the most obvious distinction is that this story follows a young woman named Raiba, and her journey to embrace what God has called her to be. This book combines two things that I love in a way that I thoroughly enjoyed - it's wonderful to find Christian fiction set in a fantasy world, where the fantastical elements don't diminish the truth, but rather compliment it and allow it to be accessible in a fresh new way.
Wangler takes you on an emotional journey over the sea, trekking through the harsh, dry desert, and soaring across the sky. The story is well-paced and the characters face many perils throughout their journey. The fast-paced battles juxtapose nicely with quieter scenes where the characters confront (or attempt to bury) their emotions, and try to find the strength they need to persevere. I found, in these gentle moments, the humanity of the characters really shone through.
What I love most about this book is that the central idea, the central truth, remains consistent through the entire story: that God always has a plan, that He loves all of His children, and He keeps His promises.
This story is definitely worth a read, and I will continue reading this series, looking forward to what will come next!
Wangler takes you on an emotional journey over the sea, trekking through the harsh, dry desert, and soaring across the sky. The story is well-paced and the characters face many perils throughout their journey. The fast-paced battles juxtapose nicely with quieter scenes where the characters confront (or attempt to bury) their emotions, and try to find the strength they need to persevere. I found, in these gentle moments, the humanity of the characters really shone through.
What I love most about this book is that the central idea, the central truth, remains consistent through the entire story: that God always has a plan, that He loves all of His children, and He keeps His promises.
This story is definitely worth a read, and I will continue reading this series, looking forward to what will come next!
September 22, 2019
I was taken up with this story but kept getting confused as I got farther and farther into it.
I could see biblical themes throughout the story, but they didn't match up to what I saw in the Word. I wasn't sure who the "first-born" was since there is no character in the Bible who is immortal. At first I likened him to Adam, but then the ending of the story put me somewhere else with this character. I'm pretty sure that the people from Rai's home world are the Jews and where they are now is Egypt. Unlike in the Bible, all the babies in this world are put into the waters to die and many of them are saved and adopted by those saving them.
The Kaites are the heavenly warriors, angels. Their counterparts were the demons and they were able to use the things of nature to attack those who were following the true God (which again, I don't see in the Bible).
It was hard for me to separate the two, fantasy world and Biblical world because there were too many similarities to the Bible, and yet they veered off of the Word in this fantasy world - I just ended up confused. BUT, I liked the story overall, especially when I could separate the two. I'm looking forward to the sequel.
This is a clean read.
I could see biblical themes throughout the story, but they didn't match up to what I saw in the Word. I wasn't sure who the "first-born" was since there is no character in the Bible who is immortal. At first I likened him to Adam, but then the ending of the story put me somewhere else with this character. I'm pretty sure that the people from Rai's home world are the Jews and where they are now is Egypt. Unlike in the Bible, all the babies in this world are put into the waters to die and many of them are saved and adopted by those saving them.
The Kaites are the heavenly warriors, angels. Their counterparts were the demons and they were able to use the things of nature to attack those who were following the true God (which again, I don't see in the Bible).
It was hard for me to separate the two, fantasy world and Biblical world because there were too many similarities to the Bible, and yet they veered off of the Word in this fantasy world - I just ended up confused. BUT, I liked the story overall, especially when I could separate the two. I'm looking forward to the sequel.
This is a clean read.
April 3, 2019
I'd add it to my 'favorite' shelf but there were just a phew things that kept it back. I need like a half favorite shelf xD
Read
August 31, 2020RTC eventually ;)
January 26, 2021
A great fantasy retelling of the story of Moses with characters you come to care about deeply.
October 22, 2020
I just realized that rating this book on my kindle made me forget to review it.
The love I have for this book is immense, I shall dazzle you with the reasons why!
What I loved: Everything! But like seriosly ! Ok , ok more specific then.
The plot was well thought out and flowed so smoothly, I never wanted to put it down.
I didn't know how much I needed a Moses "retelling" . I am at a loss here because it mimicked the story of Moses , but I also felt it was so original and unique that I don't really want to refer to it as a retelling....
Savi and Rai are such a wonderful example of what a godly relationship should look like! Reading their interactions , how they handled situations, how they handled each other ..... it was all done so well! I hardly ever see fictional couples where the relationship is healthy and so well done!
Also Forziel is an adorable thing that I want to protect at all cost..... I mean this line: "Forziel cheers. “That’s right, remind us you’re actually married.”" when Savi and Rai kiss, priceless. I just love his enthusiasm about everything.
All the characters were well developed, I always knew who was being referenced without having to remind myself oh they did this or that, I KNEW because they were all well fleshed out.
Realizes this review is way longer than I meant it to be..... If you made it this far congratulations on not giving up on the way my brain processes things and do yourself a favour and go read this book , it's so good!!!
The love I have for this book is immense, I shall dazzle you with the reasons why!
What I loved: Everything! But like seriosly ! Ok , ok more specific then.
The plot was well thought out and flowed so smoothly, I never wanted to put it down.
I didn't know how much I needed a Moses "retelling" . I am at a loss here because it mimicked the story of Moses , but I also felt it was so original and unique that I don't really want to refer to it as a retelling....
Savi and Rai are such a wonderful example of what a godly relationship should look like! Reading their interactions , how they handled situations, how they handled each other ..... it was all done so well! I hardly ever see fictional couples where the relationship is healthy and so well done!
Also Forziel is an adorable thing that I want to protect at all cost..... I mean this line: "Forziel cheers. “That’s right, remind us you’re actually married.”" when Savi and Rai kiss, priceless. I just love his enthusiasm about everything.
All the characters were well developed, I always knew who was being referenced without having to remind myself oh they did this or that, I KNEW because they were all well fleshed out.
Realizes this review is way longer than I meant it to be..... If you made it this far congratulations on not giving up on the way my brain processes things and do yourself a favour and go read this book , it's so good!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2023
Ahhh I loved this book. I first read it about a year ago and have wanted to reread it ever since.
I loved the world built here, the cultures and clear differences in the various groups.
But most especially I adored the characters. Pitka is my favorite <3 But also the dynamics of all the other characters and relationships. They are each unique and different. I loved watching the growth between Savi and Rai as difficulties arose.
The only thing that even in the second time re-reading would feel off was the fact the story is written in first-person, present tense, so sometimes I needed to reread a section to grasp what was happening since sometimes things occurred suddenly and were occasionally hard to track. But this was only a few times and overal, didn't distract from the story.
I also loved that I could see the inspiration from biblical accounts. It was even more apparent the second time around. It definitely makes me think a little more about scripture and to consider different aspects of it.
I loved the world built here, the cultures and clear differences in the various groups.
But most especially I adored the characters. Pitka is my favorite <3 But also the dynamics of all the other characters and relationships. They are each unique and different. I loved watching the growth between Savi and Rai as difficulties arose.
The only thing that even in the second time re-reading would feel off was the fact the story is written in first-person, present tense, so sometimes I needed to reread a section to grasp what was happening since sometimes things occurred suddenly and were occasionally hard to track. But this was only a few times and overal, didn't distract from the story.
I also loved that I could see the inspiration from biblical accounts. It was even more apparent the second time around. It definitely makes me think a little more about scripture and to consider different aspects of it.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews