Move over, Harry Potter!
If you're looking for something to keep you busy until the final Harry Potter book comes out and you're tired of HP theorizing and wondering whether Snape is "good," why not start reading a totally new book series?
I just received Landon Snow and the Auctor's Riddle in the mail, and I can tell by the charming cover that it will be a good read. I will add the book to my growing stack of books to review.
Disclaimer: I'm not being paid to review this book. 
Landon Snow was published by Barbour Publishing, a Christian company. Thanks to my interest in Harry Potter, I'm finding many great Christian fantasy books and publishers. Author R.K. Mortenson (who I thought was a woman - thanks a lot, J.K. Rowling) is writing a second book titled Landon Snow and the Shadows of Malus Quidam, coming this spring. Do I smell a seven-book series?
Addendum: You may also comment on The Da Vinci Code book and upcoming movie in this thread.
Also see Why Christian Fiction?
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January 5th, 2006 at 4:05 pm
'You may also comment on The Da Vinci Code book and upcoming movie in this thread.'
Do we have to?
January 5th, 2006 at 4:08 pm
Wow. A commenter! Welcome, Jared. You may comment on that book and movie, Landon Snow, or any other Christian fantasy book.
January 5th, 2006 at 7:46 pm
As someone who loved Harry Potter and Narnia and would love to start a new series to read to my son while waiting for book 7, I have a question. I am Jewish but never found the Christian theme in Narnia to be particluarly overt or off-putting (maybe I'm a little dense but it didn't seem particularly Christian; it had a more universal appeal, AFAIC). My question then has to do with how overt the Christian message is in the book you recommend. I would not want my son or myself to be uncomfortable reading something that would seem like proselytizing. I value your input (obviously, otherwise why would I write this, but I redundantly digress) and look forward to your response.
January 6th, 2006 at 9:58 am
Here's my short review of Landon Snow:
http://www.christianfictionreview.com/Reviews/landonsnowandthe.html
ShrinkWrapped - this particular book has as its theme the general existence of God as Creator and Lord. There's not a Christ figure like Aslan. It's not explicitly Christian, per se. I guess you could call it Judeo-Christian.
January 6th, 2006 at 11:28 pm
Thanks; that sounds like a "buy" recommendation.
January 9th, 2006 at 12:08 pm
LaShawn,
I've also read and reviewed Landon Snow. Great book!
http://mom2momconnection.com/2005/11/25/landon-snow-and-the-auctors-riddle/
You may also be interested in another Christian fantasy adventure series published by Broadman & Holman: the Wilderking Trilogy by Jonathan Rogers. I've also reviewed the first two books on my site.
January 9th, 2006 at 5:36 pm
I laughed out loud at Jared's comment re: commenting on DaVinci Code: "Do we have to?"
Merlin and I have decided to keep our site, Muggle Matters a "Dan Brown-free Zone". There are several reasons for this, but one in particular which is most relevant for fans of symbolic literature (e.g., Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, C.s. Lewis's Space Trilogy, etc.) We believe that symbolism is this literature is an accurate reflection of reality, that is, this actual world and the spiritual world. So something like a lion doesn't symbolize courage because we really want it to, but it is a natural thing to do; as an archetype it fits, it's an apt symbol - lions are courageous. We don't force a snake to symbolize cunning or evil intentions; this also is a true archetype.
"The DaVinci Code" promotes a way of looking at symbols which Merlin pointed out to me is very different than symbolic literature and instead uses a form properly called "cipher". With ciphers you impose a meaning on things, you equate different things usually based on your own esoteric beliefs. I haven't read the book, but I know it borrows a lot from "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" which asserts that the Holy Grail is actually a "code" for Mary Magdalene who got married to Christ and so was the recipient of his blood in terms of being the progenitor of his offspring.
Then I guess the story presents a huge trail of clues which fit this model of equating one thing with another and reinterpreting everything to promote an agenda to pit official Christianity against this "secret knowledge" which has been suppressed. The Greek word for this knowledge is "gnosis" from which we get the name of the "Gnostic heresy". A priest friend of mine referred to it as the "oldest heresy which keeps cropping up again and again."
January 9th, 2006 at 7:35 pm
Landon Snow is a wonderful book. I'm still reading it to my five-year-old and she's all in it.
I also have a review about the book at Christian Fiction Blog.
January 10th, 2006 at 2:22 pm
As an English major and former English teacher, my main problem with DVC was its shoddy writing.
My other problem was with Brown's arrogant writing. 'Few people realize…', 'It's surprising the most Christians don't know…', 'It's a little-known fact…', blah, blah, blah. Few people relize anything, because few people ever do the research required to write a book like this.
I guess I just resent the implication that Christians, in general, are ignorant of history. This is true, but only because everyone, in general, is ignorant of history. Myself included.
January 10th, 2006 at 2:36 pm
I guess I just resent the implication that Christians, in general, are ignorant of history…
That's one of the reasons I'm going to Da Vinci blog. Unfortunately, too many Christians are ignorant of the church's history, including me. I'm still learning, and I hope to teach and learn from others.
January 10th, 2006 at 9:18 pm
I really struggled with Landon Snow.
It started out great. The boy's journey to Minnesota and into his Grandfather's house was gentle and touching.
However, when the fantasy started flowing. The author simply seemed out of his element. The Minnesota experience seemed so genuine, warm and real, that I was completely engaged.
In the fantasy, it felt like he threw in everything but the proverbial kitchen sink. Talking books, animated chess pieces, giant books. My five & seven year olds lost interest half-way through, and admittedly so did I.
Clearly the author was influenced by Lewis Carroll, but Landon's journey through the Looking Glass was neither compelling nor particularly Christian. We didn't finish the book and I am unlikely to pick it up any time soon. (This is exceedingly rare for me.)
However, I wholeheartedly recommend the Wilder King trilogy! It is outstanding!