Review – Quest for Celestia

Steven James, best-selling author and Christy award winner for “The Queen,” book five in the popular “Bowers Files” series, subtitles this well-written fantasy as “…a Reimagining of The Pilgrim’s Progress.” It is certainly that and more with James cast of characters that include dragons, giants, wizards, vagabonds, sorcerers and epic journeys to a land of healing ruled by a “…wise and benevolent king.” The excellent plot and well-written characters, a serious departure from his other books, will also have a strong appeal for young and old, or for any reader drawn to tales of sorcery, witches and magical fantasies. The story begins on a moonlit night with soon-to-be-seventeen-year-old Kadin when he takes a shortcut through an alley in the town of Abaddon on his way to a friend’s house. Where he’s approached by a stranger who calls himself “Alcion…a tall man with a snowy-white beard” who says, “I was sent to find you…You’ve been chosen.” Thus begins James modern re-telling of the “The Pilgrim’s Progress” where Kadin, just like Christian in John Bunyan’s classic 300-year-old tale, travels to a celestial city and encounters many dangers and intrigue along the way. This well-written, fast-paced narrative is an allegorical description of a spiritual journey with a cast of characters and events that keep the pages turning long after the lights should go out. Descriptive scenes of dungeons, giants, the Baron’s evil archers and a ginormous dragon bring the pages to life just as Bunyan did with “Pilgrim’s Progress.” Moving, tender scenes between Kadin and beautiful Leira, who becomes Kadin’s traveling companion, are realistic and poignant, as is the city of Celestia and King Kiral. James story, penned by someone I consider a “wizard of a storyteller,” is more subtle than Bunyan’s classic, however any words penned by this dynamic author are worthy of serious consideration. Tyndale first published this title in 2006, however, that edition is now out of print and it’s now published by Living Ink Books, a subsidiary of AMG Publishers. Back Cover Copy: After a chance encounter with a man whom 18-year-old Kadin believes is a wizard, Kadin’s life and health begin to deteriorate Out of desperation he embarks on an epic journey to a land no one in his village believes exists, to be healed of a disease no one thinks he has. His quest for truth leads him to a fantastical world of witches, dragons, giants, danger, and deception. Tracked by an evil lord and accompanied by only one friend, Kadin must face his greatest fear to find the healing he longs for most. A stand-alone fantasy novel, “Quest for Celestia” is a complete re-imagining of one of the bestselling books of all time, first published more than 300 years ago—“The Pilgrim’s Progress.” If you think you know the story, think again. Twists lurk around every corner. The journey begins now. Destiny awakes in the hills.