Synopsis:

King Eloth’s former steward, Lucius, is hell-bent on overthrowing Eloth and killing his entire family in his quest for power over Ellioth. His initial attempt does not go as planned, but years later, he finds a new venue to obtain what he seeks. But this final battle is not between Lucius and Eloth, but between Lucius and Eloth’s son, Joshua, as he fights to free his people and save the woman he loves.

Review:

The Victor is Marlayne Giron’s first novel, and it employs a fairly standard storyline for a fantasy: hero saves damsel and distress and enslaved people from a raving madman. However, it doesn’t make the book any less enjoyable. The storyline is a backdrop for the novel, but plenty of other sub-plots carry on, such as Joshua’s knight training, Lucius’ sly infiltration of Shiloh, and the romance between Joshua and Llyonesse.

What sets it apart from other typical fantasy books is the allegorical writing. The book has a bit of an influence from Lord of the Rings, but it’s not nearly as subtle of an allegory. It’s closer to C. S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe in that respect, except that it doesn’t slap you in the face as hard, screaming that it’s an allegory. Yet, Giron definitely wants everyone to know that it is a Christian novel, because she added footnotes to cite her Biblical quotations. I see some pros and cons with adding the footnotes. On the pro side, they really tie her story down as an allegory and strengthen it in that respect. On the con side, the footnotes could possibly turn away potential fantasy fans who do not care for allegory.

Giron does a fairly good job with her first publication effort, but it is a bit obvious that it is her first time to write a book. Luckily, she tells a good story. Even though I’ve read the Bible and enough fantasy novels to know how the book would end, I still sat on the edge of my seat, turning the pages during a few scenes.

And wrapping up…

Personally, I’m happy to see a Christian fantasy novel for several reasons that I won’t list here to avoid a flame war. However, the fact that it is a Christian novel makes it a little difficult for me to recommend to others unless I’m already familiar with their religious affiliation. As for a final rating, I’d have to give The Victor a 3.5/5. I hope Giron writes other novels in the future. - Keri Honea