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The Alliance
In the Shadow of Caledron
Just as Teman discovers it greatest hope, it is confronted by its greatest enemy.On discovering the truth about her heritage, Bethany finds herself swept up into a life of confusion and responsibility that threaten to break her. Only the king can guide her through it and help her accept her destiny, but it's all too much for her to bear. Meanwhile, as Stephen seeks to find his cousin's murderer, he and the king of Teman learn that higher people are involved with an even deeper conspiracy. But exposing the truth threatens to split the realm. Bethany may be the key to pulling the people together, but she feels ill equipped to assume her role.In Rygia, a power-hungry baron seeks an ancient gift that purports to make him the most powerful man in the world. All of Rygia suffers under his dominion as he forms an alliance with ancient enemies and tears the castle apart in his attempt to find the gift.With a price on both their heads, Justus Corden and Squire Fox must leave the safety of Teman and return to Rygia to find the true prince and bring him to safety. Threatened by the darkness themselves, their friends in Teman are unable to come to their aid.The seven books of The Alliance series deal with one man's spiritual journey and his efforts to find the true king. As he attempts to spread the light of God to his people, an ancient evil threatens both his land and Teman, the neighboring realm of righteous believers. The two formerly antagonistic realms must learn to work together to dispel this encroaching evil. Yet a growing number of dissenters believe they might be better off following the stronger, darker power.The race of people who call themselves Rygian become caught in the middle of a struggle between ancient enemies-those who fear God and those who follow this darker power. The Rygians' own mysterious beginnings may hold the key to their future, if only they can discover who they truly are.Through the lives of the characters, many Christian traits and spiritual truths are exemplified. The Alliance is marked by epic battles, political intrigue, suspense, mystery, and romance.
- GenresFantasy
526 pages, Paperback
First published November 20, 2012
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3 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 14, 2024
5 Stars ✨
“The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
Absolutely Fantastic 👏🏽. This book gave me so many emotions. It made me happy, excited, furious, cry ugly tears and broke my heart all at the same time. I am totally going to miss these characters when this is over with. The message throughout this journey is amazing. It truly is mostly about one man’s spiritual journey but also all the lives he touches along the way. Through the lives of the characters, faith and spiritual truths are exemplified. The Alliance is marked by epic battles, political intrigue, suspense, mystery, and romance.
In saying all that, this particular installment was tough to read at times and got super intense at one point. Just like the cover reveals, it is Darker than the rest.
“The day of the Lord is coming. It is close at hand— a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes, such as never was of old nor ever will be in ages to come.”
The characters go through some really hard things. Just as a warning- ⚠️ it does include torture, and mentions the word “ravaged” referring to a particular woman. It’s not explicitly graphic, just heartbreaking. Nothing more graphic than picking up the Old Testament and reading some of the things that happen in those days or the crucifixion even. I feel the author did an amazing job at writing this particular part and using the utmost tact while trying to portray what was going on. It’s also not what the whole book is about - and believe me the good outweighs the bad in every possible way!! Loved the epilogue and the appendix additions at the end. Sad, but also very eager to read the conclusion to this beautiful series! HIGHLY RECOMMEND 🥹
“The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
Absolutely Fantastic 👏🏽. This book gave me so many emotions. It made me happy, excited, furious, cry ugly tears and broke my heart all at the same time. I am totally going to miss these characters when this is over with. The message throughout this journey is amazing. It truly is mostly about one man’s spiritual journey but also all the lives he touches along the way. Through the lives of the characters, faith and spiritual truths are exemplified. The Alliance is marked by epic battles, political intrigue, suspense, mystery, and romance.
In saying all that, this particular installment was tough to read at times and got super intense at one point. Just like the cover reveals, it is Darker than the rest.
“The day of the Lord is coming. It is close at hand— a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes, such as never was of old nor ever will be in ages to come.”
The characters go through some really hard things. Just as a warning- ⚠️ it does include torture, and mentions the word “ravaged” referring to a particular woman. It’s not explicitly graphic, just heartbreaking. Nothing more graphic than picking up the Old Testament and reading some of the things that happen in those days or the crucifixion even. I feel the author did an amazing job at writing this particular part and using the utmost tact while trying to portray what was going on. It’s also not what the whole book is about - and believe me the good outweighs the bad in every possible way!! Loved the epilogue and the appendix additions at the end. Sad, but also very eager to read the conclusion to this beautiful series! HIGHLY RECOMMEND 🥹
June 2, 2017
This book would have received a higher rating had it not been for the graphic, prolonged torture of a 14 year-old boy.
Yes, evil is malicious and cruel. That's been well established by now. No need to have many, many pages devoted to the vivid torture of a child.
This put me off the entire book.
Yes, evil is malicious and cruel. That's been well established by now. No need to have many, many pages devoted to the vivid torture of a child.
This put me off the entire book.
Read
October 29, 2021This is a hard book to give a rating to, and judging by the title I kinda figured it would be. Most of the book I would give a solid 4, some aspects a 5 - the plot of this series is just so complex and deep, and becoming more so with every book. It's amazing!
But as I've mentioned in reviews for a few of the previous books, the Caledronians are just so...evil. And sometimes we get a little more detail in these pages than a reader's imagination needs. This time around, there were quite a few children among the victims in a short amount of time, and that aspect of the story I'd have to give a low rating to.
Overall, I really did enjoy this poignant chapter of the Alliance series (especially the first 1/4 of the book where we all got to say "Finally!!"). So much is still unfolding and I can't wait to read how it happens - and I don't even feel like I'm missing anything knowing that the author skipped 6 yrs between this and the next book! Lyons truly knows how to wield her pen well.
But as I've mentioned in reviews for a few of the previous books, the Caledronians are just so...evil. And sometimes we get a little more detail in these pages than a reader's imagination needs. This time around, there were quite a few children among the victims in a short amount of time, and that aspect of the story I'd have to give a low rating to.
Overall, I really did enjoy this poignant chapter of the Alliance series (especially the first 1/4 of the book where we all got to say "Finally!!"). So much is still unfolding and I can't wait to read how it happens - and I don't even feel like I'm missing anything knowing that the author skipped 6 yrs between this and the next book! Lyons truly knows how to wield her pen well.
May 9, 2016
Oh, how I enjoy thick books. At around 500 pages, while a fifth deals with identity, the rest of In the Shadow of Caledron continues the adventures of Justus Corden and Paulus the Fox as the foretold darkness comes for Rygia... and Teman itself. From prophecy to betrayal, heritage to individual choice, sword fights to explosions, Lyons heightens the tension and prepares for the concluding book in The Alliance series, On the Throne of Rygia.
When it comes to the prophecy concerning love and faithfulness, peace and righteousness, I keep getting the song “Rise” by Housefires II stuck in my head. Perhaps it’s because it’s one of the songs being sung at my church lately, but it’s a great song that fits the relationship between two characters.
With the return of Ishbak and many other beloved (and not-so-beloved) characters, the tension rises even more as many of the characters’ worst fears are about to become a reality. Although the first portion of the book focuses on Bethany and Josephus, the rest turns to the adventures of Corden and Fox as they set out on a mission in a country where there’s a price on their heads. Of all the books in this series, this one is perhaps the darkest, though it displays a great contrast between steadfastness and resignation.
Here’s one of my favorite lines:
“‘Maybe in your little corner of the world the sky is red, but to me it’s blue. And tomorrow morning it’ll be pink and yellow. In the evening it’s orange and purple. I’m sorry if your world isn’t as colorful as mine. Maybe you’d be a better person it if was.’”
Taken out of context, it might not make as much sense, but it’s one of the most powerful moments in the book.
I gave this book 5/5 stars for its characters, plot, and theme. I would recommend it to all fans of The Alliance series, those who enjoy medieval fiction and political intrigue, and/or Christian fiction. This series is one of the first I recommend to people.
When it comes to the prophecy concerning love and faithfulness, peace and righteousness, I keep getting the song “Rise” by Housefires II stuck in my head. Perhaps it’s because it’s one of the songs being sung at my church lately, but it’s a great song that fits the relationship between two characters.
With the return of Ishbak and many other beloved (and not-so-beloved) characters, the tension rises even more as many of the characters’ worst fears are about to become a reality. Although the first portion of the book focuses on Bethany and Josephus, the rest turns to the adventures of Corden and Fox as they set out on a mission in a country where there’s a price on their heads. Of all the books in this series, this one is perhaps the darkest, though it displays a great contrast between steadfastness and resignation.
Here’s one of my favorite lines:
“‘Maybe in your little corner of the world the sky is red, but to me it’s blue. And tomorrow morning it’ll be pink and yellow. In the evening it’s orange and purple. I’m sorry if your world isn’t as colorful as mine. Maybe you’d be a better person it if was.’”
Taken out of context, it might not make as much sense, but it’s one of the most powerful moments in the book.
I gave this book 5/5 stars for its characters, plot, and theme. I would recommend it to all fans of The Alliance series, those who enjoy medieval fiction and political intrigue, and/or Christian fiction. This series is one of the first I recommend to people.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews