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How Sweet the Sound
An uprising has separated the island of Terranin from the mainland rule, bringing it under the control of the rebel leader, Lucien. What was once a land of prosperity has been devastated by Lucien’s lust for power, pleasure and control. Blinding the people with his attractive lies, Lucien is turning the once peaceful land into one of fear, madness and darkness.
Disguised as a commoner, Justin, grandson of the King, the one man with the authority to destroy the evil rule, enters Terranin and challenges Lucien’s control. But Lucien’s desire for power is surpassed only by one his hatred for the King.
In a power play between purity, betrayal and deceit, Lucien goes after the very thing Justin cares for Christina.
Disguised as a commoner, Justin, grandson of the King, the one man with the authority to destroy the evil rule, enters Terranin and challenges Lucien’s control. But Lucien’s desire for power is surpassed only by one his hatred for the King.
In a power play between purity, betrayal and deceit, Lucien goes after the very thing Justin cares for Christina.
- GenresChristian
381 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
2 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Meredith Resce
39 books71 followersSouth Australian Author, Meredith Resce, has been writing since 1991, and has had books in the Australian market since 1997. She is an Australian best selling Christian fiction writer.
Following the Australian success of her “Heart of Green Valley” series, an English Publisher has taken the first three books in this series, and has released them to the British and American markets.
Apart from writing, Meredith also takes the opportunity to speak to groups on issues relevant to relationships and emotional and spiritual growth.
Meredith has also been co-writer and co-producer in the 2007 feature film production, “Twin Rivers”.
With her husband, Nick, Meredith has worked in Christian ministry since 1983.
Meredith and Nick have one daughter and two sons.
Following the Australian success of her “Heart of Green Valley” series, an English Publisher has taken the first three books in this series, and has released them to the British and American markets.
Apart from writing, Meredith also takes the opportunity to speak to groups on issues relevant to relationships and emotional and spiritual growth.
Meredith has also been co-writer and co-producer in the 2007 feature film production, “Twin Rivers”.
With her husband, Nick, Meredith has worked in Christian ministry since 1983.
Meredith and Nick have one daughter and two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 17, 2015
Parable, fantasy, romance, allegory: How Sweet the Sound defies categorisation into any tidy or specific box. It is light without being frothy, tender without being syrupy, otherworldly without being unnatural, symbolic without being incomprehensible. Its footprints touch the ground nimbly in a number of genres without planting themselves firmly in any of them.
Resce’s touch is sure and subtle as she tells the story of Christina, the governor’s daughter who is betrothed to Prince Justin, the high king’s grandson. While there will be very few plot surprises for any reader who recognises the interweaving of parables — the tenants in the vineyard, the lost sheep, the talents, the bridegroom and the marriage feast, the good shepherd — with the great gospel themes of fall and redemption, the narrative doesn’t fit any of them so closely that the storyline is entirely predictable.
It clips along in a fluid, easy-to-read style. The characters are afflicted with all the frustrating foibles and frailties that beset most of us. I wanted to knock Mike and Gabe’s heads together every other page. Lovable, but oh so dense! Brawny bodyguards they might have been, but when brains were handed out they must have been temporarily missing-in-action because it’s certain they’re too loyal to ever have dreamt of going absent-without-leave. As for Christina, I wanted to shake some sense into her and yell: Wake up, get a life! How clueless can you get? There are times when it’s hard to like the heroine; she follows neither her head nor her heart.
The province of Terranin has been overrun by rebels. The governor and his wife have been murdered and their daughter Christina taken under the protection of the self-styled emperor, Lucien. A devilishly handsome man with a mesmeric personality, he has a dark repellent side and plans an exquisitely cruel and humiliating revenge on the king who exiled him to Terranin. The king is unaware of what is happening in the province. He has sent several ambassadors but none have returned. A mysterious message arrives informing him that the governor is dead, the ambassadors killed and Christina kidnapped. His grandson Justin persuades him that the best option for Christina’s rescue is not a frontal assault but a clandestine mission which would have the advantage of enabling a true assessment of the situation in Terranin.
Justin has been betrothed to Christina since she was four and he was twelve. When she was fifteen he visited her in disguise to find out her true feelings towards their impending marriage. Having fallen madly in love on that occasion, he is determined that nothing will stand in the way of her release. Nothing, that is, except Christina herself. He is not prepared to force her to do anything she does not want to do and is completely unprepared for the depth of her suspicion towards him. Sometimes true love has to pay a price.
Resce’s touch is sure and subtle as she tells the story of Christina, the governor’s daughter who is betrothed to Prince Justin, the high king’s grandson. While there will be very few plot surprises for any reader who recognises the interweaving of parables — the tenants in the vineyard, the lost sheep, the talents, the bridegroom and the marriage feast, the good shepherd — with the great gospel themes of fall and redemption, the narrative doesn’t fit any of them so closely that the storyline is entirely predictable.
It clips along in a fluid, easy-to-read style. The characters are afflicted with all the frustrating foibles and frailties that beset most of us. I wanted to knock Mike and Gabe’s heads together every other page. Lovable, but oh so dense! Brawny bodyguards they might have been, but when brains were handed out they must have been temporarily missing-in-action because it’s certain they’re too loyal to ever have dreamt of going absent-without-leave. As for Christina, I wanted to shake some sense into her and yell: Wake up, get a life! How clueless can you get? There are times when it’s hard to like the heroine; she follows neither her head nor her heart.
The province of Terranin has been overrun by rebels. The governor and his wife have been murdered and their daughter Christina taken under the protection of the self-styled emperor, Lucien. A devilishly handsome man with a mesmeric personality, he has a dark repellent side and plans an exquisitely cruel and humiliating revenge on the king who exiled him to Terranin. The king is unaware of what is happening in the province. He has sent several ambassadors but none have returned. A mysterious message arrives informing him that the governor is dead, the ambassadors killed and Christina kidnapped. His grandson Justin persuades him that the best option for Christina’s rescue is not a frontal assault but a clandestine mission which would have the advantage of enabling a true assessment of the situation in Terranin.
Justin has been betrothed to Christina since she was four and he was twelve. When she was fifteen he visited her in disguise to find out her true feelings towards their impending marriage. Having fallen madly in love on that occasion, he is determined that nothing will stand in the way of her release. Nothing, that is, except Christina herself. He is not prepared to force her to do anything she does not want to do and is completely unprepared for the depth of her suspicion towards him. Sometimes true love has to pay a price.
January 29, 2017
Wow. What a clever and beautifully written allegory. Powerful and moving. I know I will read it again and recommend it to others. So grateful to have this book on my shelf.
April 17, 2013
I’m going to start by saying that I’m not really a fan of Christian allegory. I’ve read some great ones (e.g. Narnia and Streiker’s Bride) and some that really missed the boat for me, both in terms of story and allegory (e.g. the two sequels to Streiker’s Bride). So I was a bit apprehensive when I picked this up and realised it was allegory.
I had nothing to worry about.
Justin is the grandson of the King, and has been betrothed to Christina since he was a boy. They have only met a few times, as she lives with her parents to the distant island of Terranin. But trouble is afoot, and the King sends Justin, along with bodyguards Gabe and Michael, on an undercover mission to discover what has happened, and to find Christina and bring her back. When Justin’s small group reach Christina’s home, they find it abandoned, her parents murdered, and Christina living with Lucien, the self-appointed Emperor of a now-depraved and deprived land.
I found Christina very annoying at times with her reluctance to trust Justin and her unwillingness to leave Lucien's 'protection'. But that's the nature of an allegorical story about the relationship between Christ and the church. There are no real surprises in the plot in that it follows the biblical record, but it's interesting to think about the way the author has chosen to portray this in an allegorical fantasy.
The story is told in a rather distant third-person point of view, almost omniscient. I don’t usually like this style, but it worked here because the story is almost like a fairy tale, set in a faraway land with a handsome Prince trying to win the hand of the fair lady. There were some editorial issues (e.g. telling, head-hopping, typos and paragraphs that were too long for the Kindle screen), but nothing that distracted from the story. It should be noted that there were some scenes that, while not graphic, means that this is an adult novel.
Overall, I enjoyed How Sweet the Sound a lot (especially the ending). It is well worth reading.
Thanks to Meredith Resce for providing a free ebook for review.
I had nothing to worry about.
Justin is the grandson of the King, and has been betrothed to Christina since he was a boy. They have only met a few times, as she lives with her parents to the distant island of Terranin. But trouble is afoot, and the King sends Justin, along with bodyguards Gabe and Michael, on an undercover mission to discover what has happened, and to find Christina and bring her back. When Justin’s small group reach Christina’s home, they find it abandoned, her parents murdered, and Christina living with Lucien, the self-appointed Emperor of a now-depraved and deprived land.
I found Christina very annoying at times with her reluctance to trust Justin and her unwillingness to leave Lucien's 'protection'. But that's the nature of an allegorical story about the relationship between Christ and the church. There are no real surprises in the plot in that it follows the biblical record, but it's interesting to think about the way the author has chosen to portray this in an allegorical fantasy.
The story is told in a rather distant third-person point of view, almost omniscient. I don’t usually like this style, but it worked here because the story is almost like a fairy tale, set in a faraway land with a handsome Prince trying to win the hand of the fair lady. There were some editorial issues (e.g. telling, head-hopping, typos and paragraphs that were too long for the Kindle screen), but nothing that distracted from the story. It should be noted that there were some scenes that, while not graphic, means that this is an adult novel.
Overall, I enjoyed How Sweet the Sound a lot (especially the ending). It is well worth reading.
Thanks to Meredith Resce for providing a free ebook for review.
January 18, 2022
Like a classic fairytale, this story begins with the first meeting between Crown Prince Justin, grandson of the King, and the blonde child who has been chosen as his future princess. Their betrothal ceremony is the only opportunity for the children to meet before Christina leaves for the island of Terranin, where her father is the newly appointed governor.
The story plays out as an allegory, following the Biblical theme of the Bridegroom and His Bride. There are references to other Bible stories and themes, and once that is understood, the unfolding events follow a predictable pattern. But that does not mean that there are no surprises, so be ready to cheer when unlikely champions appear. And there is no sugar-coating the consequences when difficult challenges arise.
Before the adult Prince can claim his bride, Terranin falls to rebels and the self-appointed emperor Lucien becomes Christina's guardian. Lucien is everything one could want in a villain, darkly handsome, popular and persuasive. He declares the King a tyrant, does away with the 'repressive' moral laws that once governed Terranin society and tells Christine that the Prince will never come.
While most of the story follows Christina's adventure, from beginning to end, it is Justin who remains the shining light. He is steadfast, patient, hopeful and merciful, yet he remains loyal to the orders of the King and understands the need for justice. This makes him the perfect Bridegroom as he comes seeking Christina as his imperfect but greatly loved Bride.
The story plays out as an allegory, following the Biblical theme of the Bridegroom and His Bride. There are references to other Bible stories and themes, and once that is understood, the unfolding events follow a predictable pattern. But that does not mean that there are no surprises, so be ready to cheer when unlikely champions appear. And there is no sugar-coating the consequences when difficult challenges arise.
Before the adult Prince can claim his bride, Terranin falls to rebels and the self-appointed emperor Lucien becomes Christina's guardian. Lucien is everything one could want in a villain, darkly handsome, popular and persuasive. He declares the King a tyrant, does away with the 'repressive' moral laws that once governed Terranin society and tells Christine that the Prince will never come.
While most of the story follows Christina's adventure, from beginning to end, it is Justin who remains the shining light. He is steadfast, patient, hopeful and merciful, yet he remains loyal to the orders of the King and understands the need for justice. This makes him the perfect Bridegroom as he comes seeking Christina as his imperfect but greatly loved Bride.
February 4, 2011
There has been many writers passionate about rewriting the beautiful story of salvation. I couldn't say this is the best.
But actually, this is the first book that opens my mind about salvation. I've been a Christian for a long time and yet i've never really see what salvation is like. I know the story, and i believe in it, but i just never feel it.
And with this book, the picture is clear.
My fave part is probably when Justin made the deal with Lucien. He made it clear that by taking Christina's place, Christina is pure. again.
It's not a perfect book.
Not the kind of roller coaster book (at least for me).
I didn't really cry (well a bit) and i couldn't relate to Justin. I couldn't admire Justin like all the book characters do.
It's a good book. And the messages are delivered well.
And Meredith is talented but this book could be soooo much better.
I do owe Meredith a thankyou for writing this book, though.
But actually, this is the first book that opens my mind about salvation. I've been a Christian for a long time and yet i've never really see what salvation is like. I know the story, and i believe in it, but i just never feel it.
And with this book, the picture is clear.
My fave part is probably when Justin made the deal with Lucien. He made it clear that by taking Christina's place, Christina is pure. again.
It's not a perfect book.
Not the kind of roller coaster book (at least for me).
I didn't really cry (well a bit) and i couldn't relate to Justin. I couldn't admire Justin like all the book characters do.
It's a good book. And the messages are delivered well.
And Meredith is talented but this book could be soooo much better.
I do owe Meredith a thankyou for writing this book, though.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews