The Restorer (The Sword of Lyric #1)

by Sharon Hinck

book data

72 ratings, 4.31 average rating, 25 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		58%
4		18%
3		19%
2		4%
1		0%

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published

May 15th 2007 by Navpress Publishing Group

binding

Paperback, 480 pages

isbn

1600061311 (isbn13: 9781600061318)

description

Meet Susan, a housewife and soccer mom whose dreams stretch far beyond her ordinary world. While studying the book of Judges, Susan longs to be a mode...more

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07/05/07

Carl rated it:

bookshelves: currently-reading, fantasysci-fi

recommends it for: Fans of Normal-Person-in-Another-World Fantasy

I got to read a rough draft of this novel years ago and loved it, and look forward to reading it now that it's finally in print-- Sharon is a great writer and a wonderful person! May her pen never run dry! Or her inkjet, or laser printer, whatever she uses, and if it does, may it be replaced ASAP by a generous benefactor.
Have just restarted the book, after finally buying a copy, and am enjoying it thoroughly. As a "real person sent to a fantasy world with a mission to accomplish"...more

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02/06/09

Ruth rated it:

Read in August, 2007

Susan, a mother of four, is suffering from major burn-out. Although she loves her family with every fiber of her being, somewhere along the way she lost sense of identity in meeting the constant demands of being a busy wife and mother. Desperate to reconnect with her faith and longing for a sense of purpose she lost long ago, her husband Mark builds her a secret "hideaway" in the family attic, a place totally Susan's own, off limits to everyone but her. She barely settles in for her fi...more Susan, a mother of four, is suffering from major burn-out. Although she loves her family with every fiber of her being, somewhere along the way she lost sense of identity in meeting the constant demands of being a busy wife and mother. Desperate to reconnect with her faith and longing for a sense of purpose she lost long ago, her husband Mark builds her a secret "hideaway" in the family attic, a place totally Susan's own, off limits to everyone but her. She barely settles in for her first quiet time when Susan finds herself abruptly thrust into an alien world where she witnesses a terrifying (and deathly) sword fight. Lost in an foreign land filled with customs and technology totally unknown to her, Susan struggles to survive and adapt to new powers, including the ability to heal from any injury, whether a bruise or a cut, almost instantaneously. This power marks Susan as a potential Restorer, deliverers the One promises to send to fight for the people in times of great need and to turn hearts back to the Verses. Susan struggles with coming to terms with this new identity, for how can she hope to help people hungry for deliverance when she feels so hopelessly out of her element, lost, and inadequate?

Hinck's previous novels, The Secret Life of Becky Miller and Renovating Becky Miller hinted at her ability to write compelling fantasy, as each chapter of those books began with one of Becky's delightful "dream" sequences. In The Restorer, Hinck delivers on the ability hinted at in her previous work by crafting a fully realized, enthralling fantasy. While the world Susan is sent to is utterly foreign, what makes the land, the people, and Susan's struggle so compelling are Hinck's rich characterizations. And this is where Hinck's success as a novelist lies - while all of her novels to date can be classified as "mom lit" because the protagonists are suburban mothers, Hinck crafts her characters in such a way that they are not "just" moms. In The Restorer, Susan's spiritual journey and quest to realize God's purpose for her life transcends the "mom lit" label and makes her a universally relatable heroine.

The Restorer is one of the most well-written, engaging entries in the burgeoning genre of Christian speculative fiction that I've come across in some time. Hinck reveals herself as a force to be reckoned with in the genre, expertly balancing the strange and fantastic with genuine, relatable spiritual struggle and character growth. I particularly liked the contrast of the Verses with the "mind poisoning" of those who would seek to have the truth silenced - it's a powerful illustration of the living nature of God's word and its ability to combat the "flaming arrows of the evil one" (Ephesians 6:16, NIV). The next chapter in The Sword of Lyric saga, The Restorer's Son, releases this fall. (less)

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08/21/08

Ron rated it:

bookshelves: fantasy

Read in January, 2008

Good effort. Sharon Hinck is no C. S. Lewis, but who is?

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09/25/07

Margaret rated it:

bookshelves: christianfiction, contemporary, own, sc-fi-fantasy

Read in March, 2008

recommends it for: EVERYONE

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Two absolute favorite quotes from this book: Chapter 27 "As far as dramatic entrances go, I thought it was very effective." and Chapter 33 "Warmth surged through me. He was right. The role of the Restorer wasn't all that different from the roles I had in my own world. In both worlds I felt discouraged by my weakness and very small against the needs and battles I faced. yet, even weak or small, I wasn't on the road alone."

When I agreed to read The Restorer for rev...more Two absolute favorite quotes from this book: Chapter 27 "As far as dramatic entrances go, I thought it was very effective." and Chapter 33 "Warmth surged through me. He was right. The role of the Restorer wasn't all that different from the roles I had in my own world. In both worlds I felt discouraged by my weakness and very small against the needs and battles I faced. yet, even weak or small, I wasn't on the road alone."

When I agreed to read The Restorer for review, I was fairly excited about it. I had seen the book in a bookstore and almost had purchased it then. The cover completely intrigued me with a woman in normal khaki and sweater attire while holding a medieval sword. Upon receiving the task to read and review The Restorer's Journey, the third book in the series I knew I had to read all three in order, especially since I had heard so many good things about the creativeness of author Sharon Hinck's mind. I'm new to read the sci-fi/fantasy/speculative fiction Christian world and I am loving it. There are so many things that I do not have a basis for imagery, but just giving myself a brief image I am fully learning to use the capabilities of my imagination again.

The Restorer takes a normal, average woman and throws her into an alternate world and as I reader you think she might be dreaming or just plain crazy, but as each chapter and page reveals itself you stop caring about the reason why she is where she is and about what she will do next, and how she can survive. Hinck has performed an incredible task with her writing to really make the reader understand and feel what is going on in the life of our main character Susan. She doesn't just pick up a sword and become a super-hero, she goes through doubt and fear and through a realistic turn of events crazy and wonderful and terrifying things happen.

This story gives a reader an escape from reality, everything that Susan needed at the time. But it does so in a fashion that brings you back stronger and more optimistic about what really needs to be accomplished in reality. (Confused yet? Don't be, because that is not what is important.) There are so many things in our lives that are overwhelming and we just sometimes want to run away inside ourselves. It is possible and we are capable of doing just that, but that will not solve anything and really make life harder on the people we care about around us. It is when we realize that we need God, the One, and use His strength that we can accomplish any and all things that we are meant to do. The Bible, the Verses, are a gift to man from God. He has given us this gift of power for strength. When we know various scriptures and verses that can help in various situations, we can avoid the doubt and depression that comes on and move forward in His love. This book fully encourages me to go and memorize scripture for all I'm worth. When I think about my life I can remember times when scripture has helped me, or I knew the right thing to say to a friend to help. But so many times I have gotten caught up in the world around me and let doubt and the lack of time take over. In a sense I was being "poisoned" and did not realize it.

Part of me feels like if only we could live in a world that is framed around the Biblical scriptures and have everyone believe it would be so much easier, but at the same time. I realize that it wouldn't fix everything. There are still the random leader who seeks power for corruption and people can be fooled by man-altered documents. Prayer and time spent with the Lord and time thought over his verses of scripture personally is the only way to be as strong as you can be. Nobody else can do it for you. Wow, what an inspirational book. I never thought I'd be this impressed, but I am. (less)

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05/27/07

Grace rated it:

bookshelves: christianfantasy, inspirationalfiction

Read in May, 2007

recommends it for: Frazzled mothers, ordinary women doing extraordinary things

After hearing a lot of buzz building up about The Restorer, I decided I didn’t want to miss out on this one. I’d read Sharon’s first novel, The Secret Life of Becky Miller, just one week earlier, and was curious about her new project – which, according to the blurbs, takes mom-lit fantasy into a whole new dimension.

This book reached me at a time when I badly needed a break from my own life. Instead of running away, I ran into its pages and met people – and a woman like me �...more After hearing a lot of buzz building up about The Restorer, I decided I didn’t want to miss out on this one. I’d read Sharon’s first novel, The Secret Life of Becky Miller, just one week earlier, and was curious about her new project – which, according to the blurbs, takes mom-lit fantasy into a whole new dimension.

This book reached me at a time when I badly needed a break from my own life. Instead of running away, I ran into its pages and met people – and a woman like me – dealing with tougher things than I’ve ever had to face. I huddled on my sofa, glancing out at the thunderstorm beyond my window, and relished this balm for the soul – words to comfort and empower.

Susan, prime-aged mother of four, happily married, has struck a crisis and gotten bogged down in a housewife’s daily slog. Her thoughtful husband provides a possibility for her to take time-out, but before she can catch her breath, a mysterious portal whisks her into a strange and terrifying place – a land where she has a task she knows nothing of. Randomly memorized Bible verses often provide precise help when she most needs it along her journey of discovery – what it means to be this peculiar land’s prophesied Restorer. This story will keep you panting as you follow its jagged, twisting path, and a constant stream of breathtaking surprises are coiled around every corner.

The characters are rough-edged and realistic, carrying their weaknesses with courage, no matter how severely dysfunctional they are. One object lesson stuck particularly in my mind: as Restorer, Susan is given the ability to heal quickly from any injuries she receives. To prove she really is the Restorer, various locals frequently use their knives on her so they can watch the miracle healing take place within seconds. Thus, the proof of one’s strength is seen in how your wounds heal. Isn’t that true of real life, too?

Susan sees it all with the eyes of a mother, her feelings mirroring what you or I would go through if we were suddenly transformed into another world’s heroines. The impossible odds she faced and conquered tell me that although this is a fantasy, God’s faithfulness and love are no fairytale and remain the same – in any world.

The only other book I can even remotely compare this to is Karen Hancock’s Arena, although it’s actually completely different. They share the theme of an ordinary woman being dumped into a hostile fantasy world, so if you enjoyed Arena, you’ll love Restorer too. It’s a rich feast for the senses, earthy and inspiring. It left me with lots of questions, but of the kind that open a horizon of hope. I ponder: If I trust God to patch me up and make me whole, maybe I can be a Restorer, too. And that’s something our own world can sure use plenty of.
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10/21/08

Diane rated it:

bookshelves: christian-fiction

Christian fiction at its best! Here we have a discouraged woman, not really aware of how good she's got it, undergoing profound depression, who enters a different world, where Redemption has not yet fully occurred.

There, she learns she is "The Restorer," a kind of prophet-warrior, who heals very quickly, and has other gifts. Soon, she's embroiled in a political struggle with enemies, and while she's trying to figure things out, she learns how God has been helping her in...more

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02/22/08

Debi rated it:

Read in July, 2008

Imagine finding yourself in a strange world with different customs and technology. Susan Mitchell, mom of 4, retreats to her attic for some time alone and finds herself in a strange alley watching 2 men sword-fighting. At first she thinks they are actors rehearsing for a play, until 1 man kills the other. In shock, she turns to run and finds herself hit by a large moving vehicle. When she wakes up, she finds herself in a strange home and discovers that not only is she no longer in her neighborho...more

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11/22/08

Lindsey rated it:

bookshelves: christian-fiction

Read in January, 2007

Fantastic! To be honest, I didn't think I'd have much in common with a mother of four children (some of them teens) but boy was I wrong! Susan's struggle to trust God when it seems like He has forgotten her has been felt by every Christian. I highly recommend this book!

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02/09/09

Teresa rated it:

Read in February, 2009

This is not as well written as I'd like it to be, but the premise is good, and she handles the setting and characters well. I enjoyed it enough to want to read the follow ups.

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03/23/09

Valerie rated it:

Read in April, 2009

I bought this book a couple of weeks ago at a Christian bookstore when I went out of town for a Women's conference. In the beginning I liked the book but after reading the first 5 chapters I got bored with it. But I decided to keep reading thinking it would get better again.

It had a great storyline but the book was a little long.

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01/26/09

Mommy rated it:

Read in January, 2009

I am really enjoying this series. This author has given new meaning to our Christian walk.

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10/04/08

Erin rated it:

bookshelves: christian-fiction

Read in February, 2009

A busy housewife gets her life turned upside down when she accidentally goes through a portal into a different world. We are along for the ride as Susan adjusts to this world of guardians, songkeepers, sword fights, and strange new abilities to frighten and confuse her. She wonders if God has forgotten about her... but discovers instead that this journey can turn her heart towards Him in new ways if she is willing to trust Him on any path He leads her down. Exciting adventure, unexpected turns o...more

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08/01/08

Kathleen rated it:

Read in August, 2008

I liked the characters and the world and I liked how the Verses were an integral part of the world. For some reason the book was hard to get into. I suspect it may have been because the author spent a lot of time on how the protagonist became accustomed to the strange world she found herself in. It just seemed to take longer than my interest could handle. Once the character started doing things in the world, participating in the problems and trying to help, the book became much more interest...more

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03/05/09

Ally rated it:

Read in March, 2009

Kind of slow to get into, but fairly decent once it gets going... Not so sure I'd read it again though (thats why it only got a 3) - I'm thinking the second one must be even better, because I trust my friend who recommended it's recommendations.

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03/11/08

Stampedwithgrace rated it:

Read in February, 2008

recommended to Stampedwithgrace by: acfwbookclub
recommends it for: anyone and everyone!

I loved this book! It reminded me of Narnia, which I love and can't wait for the new movie :) I wish they'd make a movie out of this; it would be so great! I could totally relate to Susan, being an almost forty mother of many. I loved how Sharon paralleled fantasy and reality and how she kept the book so clean that I could hand it to my 16 year old son without wishing I could edit some pages. I would recommend this book to anyone and am looking forward to reading The Restorer's Son.

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04/01/08

Joanne rated it:

bookshelves: fiction

Read in March, 2008

Self-deprecating soccer mom gets dropped into an alternate universe and discovers she's destined to be a hero there. She feels abandoned by God and is whiny and real-sounding and not at all your typical fantasy or Christian hero. That's the good part. But there's a ridiculous plot twist halfway through the book that turns her character into a more traditional role and that is just not nearly as fun. It's a promising series, though.

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03/17/09

Tammy Alastname rated it:

Read in April, 2009

Great start to this series!! Looking forward to the rest. :)

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08/07/08

Virginia rated it:

I loved this book. I immediately identified with the main character, and I loved the world she was pulled into. It contained all the elements I love in a fantasy novel - sweeping adventure, political intrigue, sword fights, oppressed people and those who would die to save them. Add to that a strong spiritual element, and how could I not love The Restorer?

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04/17/08

Tricia rated it:

Read in May, 2008

This was required reading for my book club. I had a difficult time starting it, but since I needed to read it, I hung on. I am really glad I did. This is the first book in a series which I will definately continue to read when I complete the Outlander Series that I am currenly engrossed with.

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01/15/08

Magma rated it:

bookshelves: action, adult-young-adult, current-era, fantasy, sci-fi

Read in January, 2008

recommends it for: fantasy lovers, parents, adults, teens who like fantasy

I really enjoyed this book.
it was pretty fast paced, and definately interesting.
It has alot of plot twists that I can say I honestly didn't see coming.

and with the guarentee or your money back from the publisher what person could refuse buying it?

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