I purchased The Victor by Marlayne Giron, with lesson plan, as a summer project. I thought my junior high student would like it, because she enjoys Medieval stories, and her reading level is higher than her grade. I never expected to enjoy it myself as I did. I’m not a fiction fan, even of good fiction. It just isn’t my thing. But The Victor is an exception.

     The book promised to be an allegory of the gospel, written by a Jewish Christian. I expected something like the hit-you-in-the-face allegory of Pilgrim’s Progress—safe stuff that my daughter and I could wade through together.

     After the first couple of pages, I was hooked. The book starts off raw and shocking and brutal. Just like real life. Not at all what I expected from a Christian novel. In fact, I would not hesitate to recommend this book to non-Christians, because it contains no overtly religious references or preaching. Little numbers next to key passages correspond with Bible verses listed at the back of the book, with no commentary.

     A true Medieval fantasy, complete with knights, and jousting, and a damsel in distress, The Victor doesn’t read like an allegory. It reads like an action-packed historical romance, with a hint of the supernatural. The language and details are carefully researched, and fit a Medieval time period. Characters are well-developed and believable. And because the story is based on truth, it is both honest and compelling.

     The Victor depicts a good bit of violence, including sexual violence and innuendo from the bad guys, which fits the story. None of it seems gratuitous to me. God’s name is not used disrespectfully, but a small amount of mild profanity that fits the time period might not sit well with some modern Christian readers.

     It isn’t all darkness and drama, though. Loveable characters tease one another, and play practical jokes, providing light-hearted relief. The good guys are very good. And, of course, romance blooms.

     Vocabulary level is high school and above. Poetic language will put off some slower readers and thrill the romantic ones. Because of the reading level and content, I recommend this book for high school level students, and for adults.

The Lesson Plan contains a vocabulary list, chapter summary questions, pronunciation guide, guide to allegorical symbolism, short biography about the author, and a cool lesson about the armor that knights and their horses wore.

     End of chapter questions about content are interspersed with ideas for further study, or essay topics. In my copy, not all of the questions had answers provided, but the author assures me that problem has been corrected. Some chapters have more study questions or ideas than others. I wouldn’t plan on each chapter taking the same amount of time.

     All in all, the study guide is user-friendly for homeschool parents. If you just knuckle down and do it, you can probably finish in nine weeks. But plan for a full semester, so your student can take his time and chase down each delicious theme.

The study guide is rich in Language Arts, Bible, and some history. But the book can easily springboard to a unit study. I see potential for math, history, science, and social studies throughout.

To learn more about The Victor, or to purchase The Victor, The Victor Study Guide, review quiz, and/or The Victor bumper sticker, visit http://www.thevictorbook.com