The Victor: a Tale of Betrayal, Love, and Sacrifice is a fantasy novel unlike anything that I’ve read recently – with action-packed sword fights, and a touch of romance and humor, The Victor has what it takes to appeal to just about anyone.

While it was a little difficult to get into at first, the novel picks up as the characters become more familiar. I really enjoyed watching the characters grow, especially Prince Joshua. More importantly, I enjoyed how much meaning there is within this story. It wasn’t just about Kings, knights, jousting, and bad guys; this is an allegory of the gospels—evident with each page. Don’t get me wrong, the story, in and of itself, is really good, but it’s only scratching the surface of what this story truly is—a story of Mercy, Hope, and Love; the story of the King, His son’s sacrifice, and the battle between good and evil. Marlayne Giron also included endnotes with Scriptures that parallel, or are quoted within, the text. I found it interesting to look up some of the Scriptures as I came to them in the story.

There are several illustrations included throughout the novel. While they are all beautifully done, I found them to be a little distracting. I would have preferred them at the end of the book where I could still marvel at the beautiful drawings without being distracted from the story.

Finally, Marlayne Giron’s writing is quite impressive. The romance between Joseph and Llyonesse is done very well-without being too heavy or mushy. Whether it was victory, defeat, heartbreak, playfulness, or hope, Giron’s rich descriptions had me feeling each emotion. I find it hard to believe that The Victor is her first literary effort. - Jessica (San Diego, CA)