Kenneth Bliss - Author
Reading List
As an author, I'm supposed to be reading as well as writing. Honestly, this can consume more time than I'd wish to use. I'd rather write than read, but I do need to find books which are comparable to my own so agents and readers will have a clue what I'm writing about. So, here are some books I've read recently or are on my list of books to read.
THE WORD RECLAIMED and THE WORD UNLEASHED by Steve Rzasa, 2009, Enclave Publishing (formerly Marcher Lord Press) - Set in the distant future where religions have mostly been thrown in a blender and government regulated, this tells the tale of some junkers which found an intact, complete Bible. Their lives are forever changed as the Secret Police begin to hound them because a Bible is such an evil book.
I enjoyed reading this novel. The story was tight and mostly fast-paced. God talked to the protagonist through the Bible, which I thought was well done. In a world shrouded in conspiracies, God opened up a path for reawakening.
THE SONGKEEPER CHRONICLES (books 1-3) by Gillian Bronte Adams, 2014-2018, Enclave Publishing - A fantasy novel where God is called the "Master Singer" in this trilogy. Songs, or only a few notes, are sung to generate magic in this world. Songkeepers are those gifted individuals who can use this magic. The world is on the brink of war and the Songkeepers of old have vanished, leaving an evil overlord unchecked to conquer the peaceful nations...until an orphan girl with the gift begins to realize just what she is...
This is a hero's journey set of novels which started out pretty good. I enjoyed the first book of the trilogy. About half-way through the second book, I started to skim. The narrative became bogged down with unnecessary descriptions of eeevvvveerrryythiing. My own writing had been described as verbose, but this was worse, in my opinion. I did slog through the third book, skimming all the way through. My biggest problem with this trilogy is not calling God as God, but this Master Singer. I realize it's an allegory. It just feels like a cheat.
SYNAPSE by Steven James, 2019, Thomas Nelson Publishing - I have read this one, but notes are TBA
KNOX'S IRREGULARS by J. Wesley Bush, 2011, Enclave Publishing - I have read this one, but notes are TBA
GIRL WHO COULD MOVE SH*T WITH HER MIND by Jackson Ford, 2019, Orbit publishing - Sorry for the title on this one. I've been trying to find books which are similar to mine. This one involves a girl with telekinesis, so it fits. However, given the title, I don't expect any virtuous characters or language. I have not read this one yet, so notes are TBA.