The King's Scrolls

Ilyon Chronicles #2

by Jaye L. Knight

Following the harrowing events that brought them to Landale Forest, Jace and Kyrin have settled comfortably into their new lives and the mission of protecting those under the emperor’s persecution. The fast approach of winter brings with it the anticipation of a quiet few months ahead. That is until the arrival of four mysterious, dragon-riding cretes who seek aid in a mission of great importance—not only to their own people, but to all followers of Elôm.

Hidden in the vast mining valley north of Valcré, a faithful crete has spent years sharing his knowledge with the destitute miners and their families and is known to possess what may be Arcacia’s last surviving copies of the King’s Scrolls—the Word of Elôm. Joining the cretes, those in Landale must find the crete teacher and bring him to safety, but it is a race against time. Should Daican’s men find him first, execution and the destruction of the Scrolls is certain.

When disaster strikes, all seems lost. Could Elôm have a plan even in the enemy’s triumph?

Genres: Fantasy, Christian Fiction, Christian, Christian Fantasy, Young Adult, Dragons, Fiction

441 pages, Paperback

First published February 17, 2015

About the author

Jaye L. Knight is a hopeless romantic with an active imagination and an AuDHD brain that fuels her stories with twists, adventure, and heart. She weaves tales of faith, courage, happily-ever-afters, and the power of God’s love to light the way even in the deepest darkness. When she’s not crafting fantasy, she dabbles in contemporary romance as Jaye Elliot.

Reviews

[Celestria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Original 2019 review:

I gave this 4 ½ stars the first time I read it because people died and I was upset, but I don't care anymore, it's getting 5 stars. It's not the best book in the series, but this is where we meet the cretes and dragons, which is cool, and it's also where Jace starts to realize he might have feelings for a certain blue-eyed Arcacian rebel. These characters are like family to me at this point 😭❤️

[Lilian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'M EMOTIONALLY DISTRAUGHT (and forcing myself emphatically not to start the third until I recover)...

[mary liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmmmmmmmmmm.

I was hoping this would be the book that would knock me off my feet, straight into the Ilyon Chronicles Fanclub.

BUT

I have issues.

The characters //

Jace: I'M SORRY BUT I STILL DON'T LOVE HIM. Like, I can appreciate that he's a good character...and I want to see him safe and protected...but I just can't love him yet. He's kind of "unapproachable" to me, I guess. I think his relationship with Kyrin is sweet page 368 though *grins*, but I don't particularly LOVE Jace. Sowwy. :P

Kyrin: *groans* I'm honestly tired of her. She's kind of bland and a bit too "perfect," if you know what I mean. I don't relate to her. I'm just SO TIRED of being in her POV. Again, not to say she's a bad character - not at all - she just really needs a bit more personality.

Kaden: HERE IS WHERE I SCREAM FOREVER. I loooooooove Kaden and honestly wish he were the main character instead of his twin. #sorrynotsorry He's the adorably protective older brother. I love his fiery temper (I'm sorry, it's endearing) and the way he always looks out for his sister.

Liam: He's my baby. <3333 I want to hug him forever pleaseeeee. I'm so pleased he got more of the spotlight in this book.

Marcus: I KIND OF LOVED HIM, NOT GONNA LIE. His conflict between his duty/family was one of the most impactful things in this book. I loved how well-drawn he was as a character. I JUST LOVE ALL KYRIN'S BROS, OKAY??

Trev: oKAY why was he mentioned only like twice in this book? I wanted to get to know him better, but he just faded into the background and that makes me Unhappy.

Daniel: He was super intriguing and I kind of already love him?? Please give me more Daniel. *puppy dog eyes*

Others: Leetra was -_-, Timothy was -_-, most of them were just -_-. Except the dragons!! I loved the dragons. The cretes were an interesting group, but I didn't particularly like them because they just seemed really snobby. :P (Except for Talas, whom I did like.)

Lovely Things:

- Family conflict. This is arguably a very UNlovely thing, but c'mon. This family conflict made the plot 1000x better. BECAUSE ALL THE EMOTIONS YESSS. I had a love/hate relationship with it, but it's the thing that made me most interested in the plot so

- The setting. We got to see more of Ilyon and IT WAS LOVELY. Plus, it's winter, and that added the perfect atmosphere to their quest.

-The plot. Speaking of plot...this book had a MUCH better plot with MUCH higher stakes. I loved all the quest elements, "secret missions", undercover agents, and of course, family conflict. It was SO GOOD.

- The characters. I just did a pretty thorough overview of the characters but GUYS. I love a lot of these characters. That just needs to be said again.

- Dragons. *knowing nod*

Not-So-Lovely Things:

- Where's the humor?? I'm sorry, but did I miss something here? Haven't these characters ever heard of something called laughter?? LIKE YES I GET THAT THINGS ARE SERIOUS. I get that life isn't peaches and rainbows for them...but a little comic relief every now and then would really be appreciated.

- The writing. Herein is where my main problem lies. I know I listed this in the positive section of my review for the last book but...things have changed. I have discovered that the writing is what's keeping me from loving this series. It's like the author is narrating everything - including the characters' emotions. IT'S DRIVING ME CRAZY. Because as much as I love the characters, I feel like I'm only seeing a narrated version of them. Different POVs don't FEEL different because the author is just telling us everythingggg. I want to FEEL what it's like to be a hot-tempered, protective Kaden. I want to FEEL what it's like to be a young, rather -sarcastic-at-times Trask. I want to FEEL what it's like to be a gentle, compassionate, and confused Liam. I WANT TO FEEL EVERYTHING LIKE IT'S REAL.

- Unrealistic perfection. Kyrin feels too perfect to me, but she's not the only one. Different characters' personalities feel suppressed because they "have to make the right decision" and "can't act on emotions." UM, excuse me...but is that realistic? Are we as human beings always able to think sensibly and do the right thing instead of acting on emotions? I'm not saying I want the characters to go crazy and do whatever the heck they want...but I want them to make mistakes and learn from them. Kaden is a good example here. He feels too impulsive and headstrong to ALWAYS follow his orders and do the right thing. He's the kind of person who acts on emotions. I wanted to see that. Also, his relationship with Marcus seemed to miraculously heal once Marcus joined them.
That...doesn't seem realistic?? I mean, the two clashed a lot their WHOLE LIVES. I feel like there needs to be a period of healing before "everything is perfect." :P I'm not even sure if this even makes sense to anyone, but it does to me. *shrugs*

- A couple minor things: Why hasn't their camp been found yet? Where are all the female characters? Just little things like that. :P

OKAY SO YEAH. I expected to love this but...I didn't. I LIKED it, don't get me wrong...I just feel kind of disappointed. Still, the plot was really interesting and I LOVED Kyrin's brothers and all the family conflict.

3.5 stars

[Shantelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

An epic continuation of the ILYON CHRONICLES, The King’s Scrolls takes off where Resistance ended with breath-taking action and adventure, and poignant themes of faith.

Kyrin and Jace, along with Kyrin’s twin brother, Kaden, are settling in Landale camp; happy to be together and safe from Emperor Daican’s merciless laws. But everything … is about to change.
Cretes and dragons, dangerous escapades and heart-rending death sentences… and one precious copy of the King’s Scrolls.
Will they be able to retrieve the valuable words of Elôm before they lose everything? And is there hope for the Altair family to ever be together again?

Let me just sit here wordlessly and think about the thrilling adventure I just finished. I love it, I love it. The characters come more alive as new challenges are hurled their way … and secondary-characters less known in Resistance are at last explored. Let me just say … prepare to have your heart torn out a few times. But you will be utterly thrilled, satisfied, and awaiting more when you reach the last page of The King’s Scrolls.

Can I just say that I love Kyrin’s brothers?? I was so, so happy to get to know Liam … what a great guy! It was also spectacular to meet Marcus, Michael, and Ronny personally. And Kaden, as always, has a special place in my heart. *smiles* Jace … his desire to protect Kyrin is just heart-melting. Their sweet, endearing, steadfast relationship is one of my favorite parts of the ILYON CHRONICLES. So yeah, that handsome, half-ryrik is also an amazing young man! I just can’t wait to read more of him … discover his personality and background even more! Can we hope for such an in-depth journey, Jaye? *smiles* The cretes were intriguing characters as well (and the DRAGONS!!!); I really enjoyed meeting Leetra and Talas, as well as Captain Darq. Oh, and Timothy! Excited to read more of him! A charming and heart-felt array of characters for sure. Love it. Though I can’t say the General charmed me any as I saw more of his nasty behavior, he was definitely a great “bad guy” character. OH! Prince Daniel!! His struggle … his dry humor ... *wink* … his potential. Please write a book for him, Jaye! ^_^

Now that I gushed on forever about the characters … *grins* Let me warn you again that The King’s Scrolls is not a light read, just as the book before it wasn’t. Once again, we explore some really hard situations with Kyrin and Jace … once again (more than ever this time), Jaye L. Knight makes us cry … once again, God’s grace and power shines through.

What a harrowing adventure. I cried out all my tears probably during the middle section of the book. Then the end-ish was a mad-dash height of action. Whew. Prepare to be enthralled and terrified, breathless and exhilarated. This is one journey you don’t want to miss. Entrancing fantasy, people, truly.

I beta read The King’s Scrolls a few months ago in October, but this novel didn’t fail to delight me a second time. ^_^ I can’t wait for my little sister to read it (she LOVES Resistance), and I keep wanting to ask my mom and my older brother to try them out too! *smiles* I believe the ILYON CHRONICLES has the potential to captivate a wide variety of ages.

I suppose what makes this series so special is the Christian-allegory at the center of it. It weaves together such real-life scenarios … almost has a futuristic touch. But then it also reflects the difficult times of ancient Rome when Christians were thrown into an arena for their beliefs. We have some deep moments, situations, and struggles in The King’s Scrolls … that we as followers of Christ can absolutely relate to. It’s an incredible tale. And why else is it such a great book … well, because Jaye L. Knight just has an amazing imagination and creates vivid fantasy worlds, characters, and circumstances.

If you haven’t read this series yet, then order a copy of Resistance (Book One) today. And The King’s Scrolls as soon as it comes out! *grins* ILYON CHRONICLES is a fascinating, non-magical fantasy series that is sure to capture your interest and your heart.

I received a copy of The King's Scrolls from the author in exchange for my honest review

Finished my beta-read of The King's Scrolls October 1st 2014

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars ✨

“I know I must trust, even when it’s the most difficult thing to do.”

Ilyon Chronicles

Re-read 4/24 - 😭 so good Again.

The King’s Scrolls was an epic addition to this non-magical fantasy series. It picks right up after the ending of Resistance. Kyrin, Jace, Kaden and the other followers of Elom are all camped out in Landale, safely hiding away from the the emperor, enjoying being with others who accept them for who they are.

Yet - they must always be on guard against threats and there is still much work to be done - as we soon find out, when some Cretes and their DRAGONS show up seeking their help. They want to retrieve the Kings Scrolls, the last copy of the precious words of Elom. They start out on a dangerous mission to retrieve them in a place they least expect.

This installment was incredible. Full of action, adventures, betrayals and heart break. The pace moved effortlessly. It seemed like something was always happening and I was holding my breath through the whole book. I knew I was going to love this series. There are new characters and creatures that bring a fresh element to the series. I was excited to learn more about the rest of Kyrin and Kadens family. The dragon aspect was also amazing!! This storyline is totally in my wheelhouse, the main characters are so dear to my heart they feel like part of my family. My emotions were all over the place and I cried multiple times -so heads up, you better have tissues handy when you read this one.

Knight is so creative and such a talented author. What makes this series so special to me, is the Christian faith is so beautifully and perfectly intertwined to make this series so powerful! I love books like this so much. Definitely a new favorite series for me that I will highly recommend!!

[Victoria Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

While shorter, this book was almost better than the first! The story line was magnificent!

Reread review: Still as amazing as the first time I read it. More in depth review to come. . . maybe. . . if I can find the time to write one. Just know it is my favorite fantasy series in the whole wide world.

[Katie Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, sorry, did the noise startle you?

That was just me quietly screaming because THIS BOOK IS. SO. DARN. GOOD.

I don't even know where to start with my review . . . I'm just like aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggggghhhhhh I finished it and now what do I do with my life. Let me try to collect my thoughts. Thanks. You're the best.

What I liked:

-KYRIN. I loved her in the first book, but I loved her even more in this one. She was so strong, and so brave, and yet she struggled so much and it was horrible and real and heartbreaking. I could relate to every bit of it, too, which made it even harder to read; but so worthwhile. Because I adore my family--my mom and my dad and ALL my seven siblings and all my relatives--and if we were ever splintered into warring factions and forced to fight each other, the way Kyrin's family is, I don't know how I'd survive it. But . . . she does, somehow. Because she's Kyrin, I guess. She is made of sterner stuff than I, and I applaud her--as I do her author. WELL DONE, MS. KNIGHT. Well done.
-Marcus. UM, OUCH. Not gonna lie, I hated Marcus for a good portion of this book; but even as I hated him, I had to admit, he was real, too. And I could understand him. And empathize with him. Did I ever come to love him? Well . . . you'll just have to read the book yourself to find out. *smiles mysteriously*
-Liam. MY BABY. 'Nuff said.
-Basically, all the scenes with Kyrin, Marcus, and Liam broke my heart a little. They were awesome. Awesome in a I-can't-believe-I-just-read-that way. THIS BOOK IS THAT GOOD. There were definitely a few portions in Book 1, "Resistance," where I was like, "I don't . . . really feel anything here??" but not in "The King's Scrolls." I felt alllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll the things in this one. Speaking of which:
-JAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE. This boy has been through enough, okay??????? Can we Ilyon fans as a group just get together and adopt him and put him in protective custody, far, far away from Jaye L. Knight? Somewhere nice, with kittens and chocolate and coloring books? PLEASE?
-On second thoughts, if we do that, my precious ship will never sail. And I want it to sail. In Book 3, if at all possible. I've heard good things about Book 3. *insert heart-eyed emojis*
-I loved Timothy!!! He's cool. And I very much appreciate the Biblical parallels there. *nods*
-GENERAL VESHIRON MAKES AN ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT VILLAIN. I hate his guts like poison and I want him to die in torments, but my worrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrd, does he ever make the sparks fly. He's a "foeman worthy of our steel," if you get my drift. These books wouldn't be half so exciting without him. That being said--if he's not stone cold dead and bleeding on the floor by the time the last book draws to a close, I for one shall be Angry.
-Also, dragons. All the dragons. Heck yes.
-This book FINALLY explained what the religious conflict is all about! YAY. Remember in Book 1, where I kept asking, "but why are these two groups fighting each other in the first place??" That question is answered around the middle of this book--and it's a very complete and logical answer, actually. Basically, because the empire of Arcacia is a relatively new one, they needed a foundation upon which to establish their social/political legitimacy; and the foundation they chose was the worship of Aertus and Vilai. In other words, their entire society is now built on this idea that "we have to serve Aertus and Vilai if we want to remain prosperous, and as long as we do, they'll protect us." It's not a veneer; it's woven into EVERYTHING they do. Therefore, anybody who chooses to step outside of that framework and worship a different god--like Elom--is considered a traitor . . . not just by the Emperor himself, but by EVERYONE who lives in Arcacia. It's a way of holding onto power, but it's more than that--it's a way of shoring up the legitimacy of the entire social order. That's why the Emperor is willing to spend so much resources and so much cruelty on suppressing the followers of Elom. It all makes sense now. I get it. *nods*

What I didn't like (this will be short)

-The middle was a TEENY bit slow.
-I did predict some of the plot twists. Some. Not all.
-The whole "race question" hasn't been resolved. As far as we know, ryriks as a race still don't have souls. This . . . is unacceptable to me. Particularly since ryriks are said to have "rebelled" against King Elom at one point??? HOW DO YOU REBEL IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SOUL IN THE FIRST PLACE. That makes no darn sense. How do you even have free will, if you don't have a soul? How can anything you do be really "wrong," if you don't have a soul? If you're an animal, then fine, you're an animal and nothing you do is deserving of condemnation; because you can't really choose right or wrong. And yet . . . ryriks as a race are still condemned for their actions? I have questions, and I don't have answers, and I don't like it. *frowns*
-I kind of wanted to see some more of the "radical side" of Christianity represented in this allegory, and so far, it hasn't shown up yet. You know, have somebody commit to serve Elom through perpetual celibacy; or give all their possessions to the poor and become a hermit or a traveling preacher; stuff like that. Not only would it be pretty awesome, but you have to admit, it would raise the stakes of the religious conflict even higher, because the Emperor and his men could clearly point to these "unnatural freaks" and say, "look, these people want to destroy human society as we know it, we've got to kill them all." I'm just saying, it would be COOL. Maybe Timothy . . . ? *looks around hopefully*

Conclusion:

This book is wonderful, and beautiful, and epic, and I want you all to read it. I also need Book 3 . . . like, NOW.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread: William's death still hurts like crazy, even when you're fully expecting it. Once again, I stayed up way late finishing, even though I knew what was going to happen. Such a good series. On to Samara's Peril!

Original Review:

Recommended for: Ages 12 to Adult

Rating PG-13 (violence, injuries, and dangerous situations)

Remember back to last year when I said how amazing Resistance was? I still hold to all that, but you know what? It pales in comparison to the awesomeness of The King's Scrolls. Seriously, every book I've read by Jaye/Molly has been better than her previous book. And with Ilyon Chronicles...well, I think C. S. Lewis may have ceded first place. I can't recommend Ilyon highly enough. In case you were wondering, I am still a beta reader, but that has nothing to do with my being a part of this small but wonderful fandom. (And, yes, we do claim fandom status.)

Writing: 5/5

TKS is just as well written as Resistance. Jaye really gives the reader insight into the characters' thoughts. This book is a lot more emotionally painful than the last one (warning, if you cry over books, have a box of tissues ready), and she does an extremely good job of showing it to the reader. I've only cried over one book, and I've now read this one three times, and I was still on the verge of tears multiple times while reading it. I like the pacing. It's not zoom through the plot like my books are (I'm working hard to fix that), nor does it drag like (I'm sorry) Lord Of The Rings sometimes does. It's terrific. And even though the one I just read was an ARC, it was already free of typos. At least I didn't notice any, and they usually stick out to me.

Setting: 5/5

Arcacia is the same Arcacia it was before...only Daican is taking things further. The events of Resistance have made things even more dangerous for followers of Elôm. We get to see a little more of Ilyon in this book, mining towns where some new characters are introduced. Also, cretes are introduced in this book, which means the introduction of a new culture. It's certainly very different. I hope some of the characters someday get to go to a crete village EDIT: since writing this, I've learned they will go to a crete village sometime! because it sounds pretty cool, even if cretes are generally kind of unfriendly. And dragons! The dragons are amazing, and I love the way Jaye handled them. I love Gem especially. Jaye's worldbuilding is solid, and the reveals are steady and realistic as the characters learn more about the world around them. Also, some old settings are revisited, and of course camp is a part of it.

Plot: 5/5

The plot is pretty awesome, and terrible at the same time. Jaye's pretty mean to her characters. There were plot twists that left me gasping, events that made me just about cry, and tense situations that made me not want to put the book down. Something I really liked about this one was that Jace and Kyrin were together for pretty much the whole book. It was great. There is a separate storyline, that of Timothy and Aaron and Josan, but it converges with that of the old characters before the midpoint is reached. There's a lot more of Kyrin's family in this book, which I loved. Really great.

Character Development: 5/5

Lots of Jace and Kyrin. They have grown quite a bit since they were first introduced, but in a completely natural way. I loved seeing how their friendship deepened, and how much they care about one another, though I wouldn't call it a romance yet. And I love Jace more the more I read about him. I've always connected to Kyrin, and I still do, but I've come to really love Jace. He's such a great guy, but so tortured by his past. And tortured in other ways. He's collecting fangirls, and it's not hard to see why. I loved seeing more of Kaden with his love of flying. Besides the fact that I still just love twins. Kyrin and Kaden are the perfect set of twins. I was able to get to know Marcus and Liam a lot more in this book. It took me a while to like Marcus, but I do now. We also get to meet the rest of Kyrin's family. Some new characters are introduced: half-crete brothers Timothy and Aaron and the crete Josan, cretes Captain Darq, Talas, Leetra, and Falcor. All are quite well developed. Leetra is especially well developed. She can be kind of prickly, but she also goes through some tough things. They further fill out the cast and add just what the story needs. I still like Jace and Kyrin best, though. :)

The King's Scrolls is an excellent next installment in the Ilyon Chronicles, and is better than the first. I highly recommend it.

For more reviews from me and my sisters, visit www.shirereviews.blogspot.com.

[Amanda (BookLoverAmanda) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review: The King's Scrolls by Jaye L. Knight
(Book 2 in the Ilyon Chronicles)
5 Stars

Wow, this series is becoming a favorite of all time at this point, and we are only on book 2! If you haven't picked up Resistance, you MUST read it asap because I cannot recommend this series enough. Knight's skillful storytelling and deep character development shine brightly in this sequel, making this series a must-read for any fan of fantasy and adventure.

This is a Christian, non-magical fantasy series that has such beautiful biblical allegory, in-depth characters and found family. In this book, we also have DRAGONS! Let's goooo!

I tabbed this book up so much notating the faith elements, prayers, "wow" moments, etc. This is filled with a lot of action and emotions so get ready!

Set in the richly detailed world of Ilyon, this book dived deeper into the lives of its beloved characters. We see several new characters and creatures, in addition to those returning. They face new challenges that test their limits and strengthen their bond together. I loved the different races of characters and learning about them.

The plot revolves around the ancient King's Scrolls, the Word of Elom, which hold information that could change the course of the kingdom's history and the fate of its people. The story picks up where Resistance left off. We see Kyrin, Jace, Kaden and many others hiding from the emperor as the events from book 1 lead them to Landale Forest. They are trying to settle into their new lives when the emperor's threats continue upon them. Dragon-riding Cretes seek aid in a mission of importance to all followers of Elom.

There is a central theme in this of the power of faith. We see the strength in those who have faith in Elom as He provides it during times of adversity. Many of the biblical allegory moments in this book will be relatable to others in their own faith walk.

To summarize:
Read this if you like:

- Dragons
- Epic fantasy adventures
- Strong character development and growth
- Christian non-magical fantasy
- Found family
- Action packed sequences balanced with emotional depth
- Vivid world building
- Faith, friendship and courage displayed
- Engaging and well crafted plot
- Emotional rollercoaster (I cried in chapters 17-18 and 24 and several other points!)

Highly recommend this series! Start with Book 1! Excited to read book 3!!

[Stargazer R. L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The King's Scrolls was fabulous, though there is one sad thing that happened in this book, but I'll go into that later.

Story-wise, The King's Scrolls surpassed Resistance by a long stretch. So much more complex and fun and epic.

From Resistance to The King's Scrolls, we went from Shadrach-Meshach-and-Abednego-meets-dystopian-ickness-meets-Robin Hood, to epic-dragon-riding-adventures-to-save-the-last-copy-of-the-Bible. They're getting better.

Epic was a word I couldn't quite use to describe Resistance, but the word really applies to The King's Scrolls. It was EPIC.

It was fun to see characters from the first once again. Jace continues to be totally awesome and my favorite. Kaden is so much fun, and he has a dragon now! Kyrin was more likable. Trask, Rayad and Trev didn't get NEAR enough “screen-time” but their appearances were great.

It was also great to get to know characters we saw briefly in the first one. Liam is so CUTE. I love him. Marcus grew on me and I really liked him. And then there's William. I'll get to him in a minute.

The new characters were nice as well. Timothy was nice and kind of adorable. Aaron was really cool though he fell to the background near the end. Talas was AWSOME. Darq was cool. Leetra was a little annoying at first but she really grew on me.

I was a bit disappointed how little of Jace there was. Sure, he was like the third most important character, and there were a lot of AWESOME scenes with him, but the main focus was on Kyrin, and near the beginning, Timothy. Thankfully Kyrin was MUCH better in this one. I liked her a lot more and she was all around more likable. But I still wish there'd been more of Jace and less of her.

The dragons were amazing! I loved them. I loved how Jaye didn't try to make them unique. They were just classic, awesome, fire-breathing, big beasts. I really liked them. Gem especially, because, you know, she's Jace's.

I liked the cretes too! They were a really cool race.

EDIT. There used to be a long rant in here, but I got over the thing that happened, and it was mean, so I take it back and I'm sorry if the old version hurt anybody's feelings (Jaye is included in the apology). I'm sorry.
I think it's enough to say, William died, and I was really sad. Because I loved William and he was really cool. In the few scenes we saw him, I got really attached to him. And I realized that he was a role-model. His words/thoughts/prayers, were the most inspiring part of the book for me. :)


After William died I thought I'd be giving The King's Scrolls a low rating. But it surprised me and with all the awesome epicness of the ending and all the good stuff that happened, the book earned back its five stars. Which I'm very pleased about. So I am happy to honestly give The King's Scrolls five stars.

It was a really awesome adventure, Jace was fantastic, and the dragons were really cool. Apart from my one complaint, The King's Scrolls was awesomer than the first one, and a really enjoyable read.

If you can take emotional stories that will probably make you cry, if you like dragons, awesome guys, epicness, fantasy, and Christian messages... go read it. Now. You won't be disappointed.

[Kendra Ardnek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm honestly not sure where to start with this review. I've loved Jaye's books since she was Molly Evangeline, and her Ilyon Chronicles are next to the Chronicles of Narnia for my favorite fantasies - even after having read one book. I didn't know how book two could be any better, but when Jaye asked if I would review it for her, I naturally jumped at the opportunity.

I had NO idea what would happen in the book, but had assumed that the plot of looking for the mysterious Crete and the scrolls he possesses, would be most of it. I was wrong, they actually found him fairly early on. This is a story of the importance of scripture, its value in strengthening a Christian's walk, as I had anticipated, but it was also the story of how God is still in control even when things are spiralling into a mess and seem to be going horribly wrong.

The characters in this book were amazing, both the ones that we already knew from the first book, and the new faces. Jace and Kyrin are adorable, and I had a moment of hyperventilation when her father asked what the status of their relationship was. Kaden was so wonderfully protective of Kyrin, and I loved the fact that he got a dragon of his own in this book. I was expecting him to do that some time in the series, but not quite this soon. Technically, other characters received dragons, but Kaden's the only one who matters. And I loved the scenes with Prince Daniel. Poor fellow, I hope he finds Elom, and soon!

As for new characters, I loved the Cretes, especially Tallas and Timothy. They were both so sweet, each in their own way. Leetra was very interesting, and even though she rather annoyed me at the beginning, by the end, she'd grown on me. Also, I loved getting to know Kyrin's family. Kaden's still my favorite of her brothers (because he's her twin, and twins are awesome) but they're all amazing, each in their own way.

The villains were amazing as well, the sort that you just have to hate, though feel sorry for at the same time.

If there is any complaint I have, it's that one of my favorite characters died (can't say who, though!). I was in denial until the last moment, and even several moments after that, as I hoped and prayed that someone would be able to rescue him in time. BUT ... it was necessary to the plot, and really, in this genre, it's not realistic for characters to not die. After everyone survived book one, I knew that someone would have to go down in book two ... didn't keep me out of denial, however.

Also, I got lost a bit in some of the action sequences, particularly at the end ... but action sequences get me lost frequently, so it probably was just me. The end itself was so very sweet, and I'm really looking forward to book 3, whenever it comes out.

Originally reviewed at: http://oscarlettreviews.blogspot.com/...

[gabi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say??? This book, the second in the Ilyon Chronicles, left me speechless. I can't say that I "loved" what happened in this book (Some parts made me want to cry and I do not cry.), but I loved the book immensely.

In the first book we see only Humans, peaceful Talcrins, and some terrifying Ryriks (not including Jace). In this book we are introduced to the Cretes and some creatures known as dragons. I just love this world with all the different races and fantastic creatures.

The main characters are still Jace and Kyrin, but I think this book focuses a bit more on Kyrin and her family (The Altairs) which includes William (Father), Lydia (Mother), Marcus, Liam, Kaden (He is one of the two secondary main characters who we meet in Resistance.), Michael, and Ronan (also known as Ronny). Another character that plays a significant role is the General (Lydia's Father; Kyrin and her siblings' grandfather). There are also some new characters you will come to know and love. In this book Jace faces a fear he has had most of his life and struggles with pain. Kyrin deals with pain of a different kind.

The King's Scrolls was very well written and descriptive. I was fully immersed in this beautiful tale. I can't stop thinking about it! It was amazing. Through the whole book I felt for the characters every step of the way. It was wonderful. It was very fast-paced and will keep you on the edge of your seat during the whole book.

I would recommend this book to absolutely anyone who loves Christian Fiction. You certainly don't have to love fantasy to love this book. It will capture your heart.

You can check out this review on my blog too, at: https://aheartredeemed.wordpress.com/... Thanks!

[Kaytlin Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! It took me a little over a year to finally purchase and pick this series back up simply because my tbr is sooooooo long. But wow! This was awesome!

Characters:
So many good ones....um, focusing on my favorites.
Jace is my boy. He's so...conflicted, awesome, tender, fierce, and just I love this guy! So much!
Talas was just...he reminded me of my brother Ky, and that was just awesome! Because Talas is cool, happy, can make friends with anyone, and is slightly reckless...yep, sounds like my brother.
Rayad and how he looks out for Jace always gets me! I love it!
Kyrin has the most point of view, and I don't hate her character... but I find myself always waiting for Jace's next turn...lol...
And there are so many other characters I'm not even gonna try to mention everyone, but they are awesome! I love Kyrin's brothers, especially Kaden and Liam!

Themes:
Trusting that God has a plan even in the darkest moments that. That as much as something hurts there is a reason behind it or maybe many reasons. We might never see the full picture but God does and we can trust that His plan is good.

Language:
N/A

Romance:
Hints and I squealed every time I got a hint! Eeep! Those two are perfect for each other!

Magic:
N/A

Overall:
This is such a good series so far! Very sound and just refreshing to read! It tackles tough questions and delivers a thoroughly enjoyable story at the same time!
There are a lot of POVs but I will say Knight handles them really well. We always know who's POV it is within the first sentence or two of a switch which makes it super easy to keep up and honestly, really fun to read!
Recommend for 14 and up looking for an awesome Christian Fantasy series!

[Leah Good · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read: August 2023

It will be my heart's greatest joy to see Your face, my King.

I hand lettered this quote in 2015 after first reading The King's Scrolls. Eight years later, it still hit in a powerful way.

Sometimes re-reading beloved books almost a decade later is a mistake. Life changes. People change. Preferences change. Thankfully, I'm finding The Ilyon Chronicles stand the test of time without bringing any tarnish to the gleam of both characters and stories.

If you like this story and want more like it, I'd recommend:
Dare
Safely Home
Counted Worthy

Original Review: March 2015
Some books stand out from the many others I read because of their intricacy of plot. Others because of the breathtaking skill of the writer. Others because of the trueness of the characters. This book (and Resistance) was one that stands out because of it's characters. As a writer myself, I've found myself mentally putting Jaye's characters into various extrastory situations and imagining how they might react. That proves what a strong place they've seized in my heart and imagination!

For a more "typical" review, you can read the book summary and thoughts my brother put together. They're spot on.
http://leahegood.com/2015/02/20/book-...

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS IS EVEN BETTER THAN BOOK ONE.

The same nonstop action combined with RESCUE MISSIONS and SEARCH PARTIES and SECRET IDENTITIES and NEW RACES and DRAGON RIDING (!!) and even more SIBLING RELATIONSHIPS!!

Violence level goes up. And the sheer intensity of hard times the characters went through made me HURT SO MUCH.

CHARACTERS are so good!! We get to know our main characters even more and meet NEW ONES. Like Kyrin's family. I adore Kyrin's family.

THE WHOLE STORYLINE ABOUT KYRIN'S FAMILY.

I just adore adore adore it.

The themes of faith and suffering and trusting in Elom ring so true. This fantasy world has stolen my heart forever.


Sorry this review is so short and unorganised but my life hardly has time for reviews these days :'(

[Micailah · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Suddenly appears clutching the book and looks around, confused*
"Where. . .?"
I am back and I can hardly believe the adventure I've just been on.
"Oh, hello there. Are you waiting to hear my review of The King's Scrolls? Well, I'm sorry I've kept you waiting." *smiles sheepishly* "I was a bit preoccupied with the dragons and things. So, you want to know what I thought of the book and of whether or not it is worth your time and money?" *laughs outright*
"The second part isn't even a question. It's worth all that and more. But keep in mind, this is just my opinion. You'll have to decide that for yourself. The depth of the characters alone makes this book worth the read.
*sighs dreamily* Jace is one of a kind. I've never met (Yes, I said 'met') a character like him. He struggles with so much pain both inside and out, but at the same time he's also one of the strongest characters. Perhaps that's because of all the stuff he's overcome. You can't help but want to give him a hug.
Kyrin is also an amazing asset to the book. She is such a strong female character. A breath of fresh air from most of the other prominent female character's I've read. Her faith never falters even through trials. I really admire her love for others.
That brings me to the next thing: Faith. As those of you who've read Resistance (and if you haven't yet I strongly suggest you do. BEST BOOK EVER.) already know this book, and the entire series is biased on faith. The people living in the land of Ilyon are being persecuted for their faith in Elom, the one true God. The Kings Scrolls in particular shows the characters trusting in Elom (God) through the tough times. 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.' Proverbs 3:5. God has a plan and a purpose for us, and he is working through us even when it doesn't seem like it.
There are many other things I could say about this novel--DRAGONS--but I would rather you found out the rest for yourself.
Oh, but I will tell you two cons: the book was entirely too short and now I have to wait around (patiently) for the next one. :) I'd better go now. Kaden mentioned something about taking me flying. I hate heights, but who could refuse a dragon ride? Better warn Kaden though, I don't think he'll be at all pleased if I end up puking on him.:/ Talk about embarrassing."
I open The Kings Scrolls again and it appears to you as if I have vanished from right beneath your eyes. But I'm only back within the woods of Ilyon, flying.

[H.S.J. Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jaye L. Knight's second book in The Illyon Chronicles begins with a crisp, intriguing pace, picking up shortly where the first book left off. So as a warning to any new reader, go back and read Resistance before The King's Scrolls.

No doubt Jaye's greatest strength is knowing her characters. Nearly each character she writes, even some of the villains, possess some quality that makes you feel as if you like you know them in real life. This story focuses mostly on the Altair family, especially Kyrin. As such, Kyrin blooms into an even more admirable yet relatable heroine, and her heart is truly one to aspire to. Fans of Jace, do not worry, he is a prominent character, learning his true strengths. Kaden continues to amuse, all brother characters must. We also receive some new favorites, my most adored among them being the irrepressible Talas.

But as characters are Jaye's greatest strength, they're also probably her greatest weakness. While she keeps admirable focus and balance of the main characters, so many of the minor characters, even those much beloved, are lost in the bustle. But while this might be a sad thing for readers hoping to see more of fellows like Trev and Trask, it doesn't cheapen the excellence of the book.

The world of Illyon expands in this book as well, introducing one of its most exotic races, the cretes. I was expecting a bit more otherness to their people then what was given, but that was my own notion. Despite not being what I'd expected, they were quite interesting and cool, as were their dragons!

This story is more emotional than the first since we deal with terrible loss, even more insecurities, betrayal, and intense family conflict.

I can't say I've encountered anything this author's written for younger fantasy fans to be warned away from. There is violence, yes, but it's mild in description. And the romances are all so very sweet and chaste.

Jaye has built a strong setting, characters, plot, and fanbase, and there is little doubt that it will only grow stronger. I eagerly look forward to the next book, especially since I hear it will focus more on Jace.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Age Appropriate For: 13 and up for violence and thematic elements
Best for Ages: 13 and up

When I was asked to be part of the advanced reader team for this book, I jumped at the chance, but I was a little worried when I opened up the document. After all, Resistance had been so good, what if King’s Scrolls couldn’t measure up? I shouldn’t have worried. This book exceeded my expectations by far.

This book took many twists and turns. Some of them were exciting and exhilarating, while others were heart wrenching and brought me to the brink of tears. This book took me on an emotional roller-coaster that took me some time to recover from … in a good way.

I had so loved some of the early works by this author (written under the name Molly Evangeline), because they were so unabashedly Christian. I was worried that as she got older and her writing matured, her message of faith, heart for salvation, and love for the bible would fade. I am so grateful that they haven’t. Yes, her writing has matured as well as how she portrays her faith, but it is still strong and such a blessing.

The characters, both old and new, are wonderful and so real I felt like I have met each one. Kyrin is still my favorite, but Jace is a close second. Kyrin and I have a lot in common, and I just love how strong her faith is even though she goes through some doubt during some of the very, very hard things that happen in this book.

I cannot say enough about this book, so I will simply leave off by saying that I highly recommend it to those who love non-magical fantasy, adventure, and powerful tales of faith.

I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are entirely my own

[aria ✧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.”

The King's Scrolls is the second book in the Ilyon Chronicles, a medieval, new adult, non-magical christian fantasy series.

Following the events of the first book, our cast find themselves a part of the rebellion against the tyrant Emperor Daican but their routine of rescuing imprisoned followers of Elôm is interrupted when the crete, a human race known for raising dragons, come seeking for aid. Their princes, Josan and Torin, left their home to go study and spread the words of Elôm. But with their faith now treasonous, it’s a race against time to find the teachers of Elôm before Daican’s soldiers do. For they may have the last remaining copies of the King’s Scrolls, Elôm’s words to His people.

I would really enjoy these books if the writing style was less telling and more showing. To make it worse, it all happens so fast. For example, while it was adorable reading about Jace befriending a grieving dragon, the cretes (who raise dragons!) said they had struggled to get her to eat but Jace managed it in one night?! Make it make sense. I know, I know, plot but from what I’ve read so far, I’m not seeing myself giving any book of this series above three stars unless something changes.

[Kira Murphey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Characters

Just as last time, I loved the characters. They were well-developed, endearing (or in the case of some, not-so-endearing) people. Kyrin may be one of my favorite female protagonists of all time.

The characters, as in the last one, were fantastic – especially the recurring characters. I loved getting to know Kyrin’s brothers, despised the villain (not the emperor; a different one) just a little more with every word he said, and excitedly followed along with their adventures simply because I loved them.

One thing that I did dislike here was the sheer amount of characters. The author was excellent in keeping each person a separate, unique character (something very rarely seen in books with many characters!), but frequently we found characters fading into the background. It was hard to remember who was present at all times – while reading at one point, I was startled to remember that Trev had been present the whole time. In the last book, we were able to keep track of all the characters and see who they were; in this one, I feel like there was just a few too many characters to know quite as well as we did last time. However, it didn’t bother me most of the time; the characters we did focus on were worth it. I only wish Trask had more screen time. I missed his snarky manner mixed in with his excellent leadership.

Plot

The plot was a good mix of past-paced action and endearing quiet scenes. The continuity was good throughout the novel, and I eagerly kept reading (I actually ended up carrying the Kindle around while helping my little sisters clean their room. And sniffling the whole time). It was one of the books that you honestly don’t want to put down; so you carry it around as you walk around the house, even if you’re not reading, so you can come back to it as fast as possible.

I was pleasantly surprised when I was right about what a particular character needed, and it happened. It was fantastic (and tragic). The plot kept me rooting for the characters through my teeth when I should have been asleep; if my sisters heard me muttering, “Come on, Marcus!” from beneath my comforter—no, I wasn’t sleep-talking.

I was also pleasantly surprised (in a tragic sort of way) that the grieving shown here was realistic; far better than that of most books.

Setting

As in the last book, the author knew her land well. This one went from a mining town, to a forest, to a capital, and we got glimpses of an entirely different culture through visitors to the country. Each place possessed a distinctive feel, but was still bound tightly in the same world. The world is a well-developed one; the type you could almost expect to find across the ocean, or just around the next bend on an unfamiliar road.

Writing

Can I start by mentioning how deeply in-character the story took us? A character with a fear of heights made me, a girl who has always loved heights, understand perfectly how it must be to feel fear racing through your limbs at the thought of heights. Even though I was prepared for a death in the story, the grief of the characters left me with a tight feeling in my stomach. Jaye L. Knight is a master of going into the heads of the characters with her writing.

The style of the writing was the same as in the last book, and made me think of a quote I recently saw: “The prose is a window, beyond which all these wonderful things are happening.” — Brandon Sanderson

In Summary

The King’s Scrolls is an excellent, uplifting book. The characters are good, upstanding people, but with flaws to make them relatable. The continuity between the two books was great; I saw no typos or grammatical errors.

This book was one that captured my imagination, skillfully told a story from the hand of a master. A beautiful book that brings glory to God, I would definitely recommend this to Christian Fantasy lovers. I am eagerly awaiting the next book. Well done, Jaye L. Knight.

[M.H. Elrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do you deal with tremendous loss? How do you make sense of senseless tragedy?
Knight tackles these questions in the next installment of her epic Christian fantasy series.
When I read this the last time, I don't think I felt the emotions as keenly as I did this time. Perhaps, six years later, I understand loss more than I did before. I know what it means to be crying in the storm, asking God why it had to happen, why, even though it benefitted in good, it had to happen that particular way. And Knight does a great job of showing this raw emotion and doesn't flinch away from asking these hard questions.
As for the plot, this book had more of a man v. self conflict, while continuing the man v. society conflict involving King Daican. There was also some betrayals which were surprising, and dragons were added to the mix, so it upped the action. However, it felt a bit slower-paced than her first book (Not that I'm complaining!).
The added crete culture was awesome! Just thinking about riding dragons and how the cretes look was just really neat. I love how Knight explains something just enough for you to form an image in your head, but not so much that you're wanting to sleep. But everything felt so grounded and real, from the realities of winter to the maze of city streets.
But the character development, particularly for Kyrin and her family, was the best part of this story. The emotional thread ran through this story, bringing you in for a peaceful finale that was an exhale of "they're safe...mostly."
Looking forward to reading the next!

[Tricia Mingerink · Rating 5 out of 5]

READ THIS BOOK! Seriously! Read it!

The King's Scrolls pick up where Resistance left off, but it also introduces several new characters. I adored Timothy and the other crete characters. The Altair family dynamics play a much bigger role in this book, and we finally get to meet all of Kyrin and Kaden's brothers. Liam is so sweet and Marcus...well, there's nothing like the conflict of duty and family to tear a person apart. All the characters are well-crafted, which makes the events in the book more poignant.

I'll admit it. I cried. There is one part of the book...but I can't give that away. My advice is keep a box of Kleenex handy.

New characters, new tests, new adventures, and dragons! A book doesn't get better than this!

[serena482* · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love the kings scrolls. Amazing, were to begin, first of all this book definitely deserves a five star rating. The Resistance is on one mission after another trying to rescue people from the evil king Dacian. But many hardships will always be there to stalk them, will they all make it out alive? Will anyone die? The only way to find out is to read the Kings Scrolls. There isn't anything I didn't like about this book. I recommend it to people ages 12 and up, because of mildly violent scenes. I can't wait till the next book comes out!! God bless you Jaye L. Knight, keep on writing your amazing books. :)

[Samantha | samanthakreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
I am loving this series so far! I'm invested in this story, growing attached to these characters, and enjoy the cool world-building... not to mention the faith content and themes.

There are dragons in this one and I loved it. Also, there is a very slow... and I mean slow potential romance happening and I'm eager to see where it goes.

I'm excited to continue this series and see what will happen next...✨

[Addy Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

*coughs* I'm not going to lie to y'all, I finished this book in less than three days. And I don't regret it at all.

What a beautiful continuation of the Ilyon Chronicles! It was absolutely addicting. I could barely pull myself away from it.

Here is the overview:

-Language: n/a, very clean
-Romance: attraction, blossoming feelings, a whole lot of gazing at each other (to read their emotions)
-Violence: this is where you should use caution. for more sensitive, careful readers, there is quite a lot of violent scenes. there is a terribly tragic execution, much fighting and plenty of injuries. Two characters get whipped forty times each. You can imagine what their backs looked like afterwards. While nothing was so extreme I had to put the book down, I did cringe a lot. Jaye writes in a way that makes you feel like you're there with the characters.
-Blood/Gore: there is a great deal of blood, injuries, and if I remember correctly, one or two characters die from bleeding to death or from being stabbed. There is description of tending to awful open wounds, including the agonizing pain.

Jace and Kyrin - yep, I have two new favorite characters. I feel for Jace especially so much. I can imagine his bright blue eyes and dark hair, he must be a beautiful, yet strong person. I wish I could take every ounce of his pain away from him. He has a terribly traumatizing past. I admire his dedication to protecting Kyrin.

Kyrin, her gentle demeanor and care for Jace make me smile. She is my age, which made it even more special. She is all of the things I strive to be, I believe. I look forward to reading more about her.

While The King's Scrolls had quite the intense scenes and gory violence, I was pleased to find no foul language or cringe-worthy romance. On the contrary, I found an exciting adventure story mixed with fantasy and plenty of emotional scenes. Like I said earlier, Jaye writes in a way that brings the characters to life - I can picture myself there with them. And that I appreciate in a good story.

On to book 3!!!

Recommended for ages 13+ due to violence/intense scenes unsuitable and frightening for younger children.

[Lucy Lloyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5-3.75⭐️

This sequel destroyed me, emotionally.

I love the writing style, the Christian allegory was decent, the characters are all solid for the most part, and the plot sucked me in from the get-go. However, I do not think this is quite a four star for me. Primarily because of the never-ending torturous peril and oppression… and a lot of the scenes got too violent and detailed for me. (the flogging scene!!! Why???)

The tone of this book lacked joy, I felt sad the entire time I was reading it; and, at times, it felt utterly hopeless. I have a very difficult time giving high ratings to books that make me feel this way, regardless of how objectively good they are.

Despite all this, oddly enough, the end left me wanting more and I’m feeling compelled to continue the series, because I’m invested fully in the characters. It might be a minute though, so I can emotionally prepare for it. Because I suspect there’s a lot more death and destruction and torture and sadness to come…

[Amanda Beguerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started this book, I was a little worried. I mean, what if I didn’t like it? What if it was cheesy? What if it was boring?
Well, it sure wasn’t. This book is the FANTASTIC sequel to Resistance (actually, book two of six in the Ilyon Chronicles) by Christian New Adult Fantasy author, Jaye L. Knight. I can’t even tell you how much I loved Resistance. I thought it was super. And it was. Absolutely FANTABULOUS. But The King’s Scrolls was even better.

There were so many moments that I just stopped reading for a moment and closed my eyes, or crossed my fingers, or bit my lip, or just let my heart flutter for a minute. You know, those moments when I was screaming and fangirling on the inside with pure joy on my face because it was so good. Just. So. Good. 
I'd close my eyes and grasp the book so tightly and hold it to my heart, attempting to soak up the beautiful literature via book osmosis. 
Please tell me that I'm not the only one. 

Now for the plot. 

Four dragon-riding cretes arrive in Landale Forest. They are seeking to retrieve the only complete collection of The King's Scrolls. However…belief in Elôm (the one true God) is illegal, and reclaiming the Scrolls is, well, dangerous to say the least, and if anything goes wrong, it’ll end surely in execution. 

At the same time, some crete followers of Elôm are being dangerously sought out for the accusation of being Elôm’s followers and having the last complete collection of the King’s Scrolls in their possession. What will happen when they are discovered?

Kyrin and Kaden Altair are twins and they are fugitives. (Kyrin is more so the main character than Kaden, by the way. This is explained in the first book.) They have openly denied Aertus and Vilai — the moon gods of Ilyon — and put their faith in Elôm, the one true God. However, this is illegal. The emperor is after them and their friends who have helped them escape and find refuge in Landale Forest.

Jace is a half-blood. For most of his life, he was a slave and a gladiator by force. Because he is half human and half ryrik (a race in Ilyon that is looked down upon and viewed as soulless monsters), he has been treated poorly all his life. Jace struggles with believing that he has a soul (though everyone knows that he does) because of the ryrik blood in him. He and Kyrin form a strong bond of friendship throughout Resistance and even more so in The King’s Scrolls. He places utmost value on protecting Kyrin and promised her father that he would protect her, no matter what. (My heart melted at that part. *happy tears*)

Timothy and Aaron are amazing! I love them. Seriously, the perfect picture of what brothers should be. They made me so happy! I loved (SO MUCH) how Timothy really understood The King’s Scrolls (AKA the Bible). It was so inspiring. Aaron cares so much for his brother…dedication that was really heartwarming, sweet, and awesome. (Aaron actually reminded me of my younger brother, Aaron, who has a similar personality, and who said to me, “Sissy, I promise, I will never let anything happen to you.”) *heart melts again*

I won’t describe the other characters now, because, well, spoilers. Jaye did a wonderful job bringing them to life (and death).

Dragons.
*jaw drops*
*opens mouth to speak but no words come out*
*takes a deep breath before trying to explain*
I just love them. They are so awesome. I was a little skeptical about having dragons in this book, because I thought it might ruin the "believable" factor -- but it didn't. Not at all. It just multiplied the awesomeness factor. 

Now, there were a few parts in the book that completely manipulated my emotions. They. Were. So. Sad. (Killing characters that you LOVE is just NOT OKAY!) One of the days that I read for a few hours, I cried five times. (Seriously! It’s pretty pitiful, seeing that I’ve never cried that much over something real, let alone a fantasy book.) The next day, I cried twice. Honestly though, as much as it tore me in two or more pieces, it was so believable and perfect although immensely heartbreaking.

A heartfelt thank you to Jaye who graciously gave me a free copy of this book to read and honestly review. All opinions are my own, and I wouldn’t change them if someone paid me. :)

You can see the blog edition of this review on my blog here, http://scatteredjournalpages.com/2015....

[Erika Mathews · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve never read a book that you’ve seen recommended online, let this be the exception. It sounds cliché, but I’m not trying to overstate the case. I have already read this book multiple times and eagerly look forward to the next ones. If you enjoy well-written adventure but are tired of being overwhelmed with darkness, evil, and paranormal sub-realities, you just might love this book. With clean, fresh fantasy combined with deeper, tougher issues, this book is one I can’t recommend highly enough.

Why I Like It...And Why You Will Too

1. Spiritual focus. Jaye' characters have a depth of relationship with Elom that every one of us needs with our Creator and Keeper. There is a sweetness–a joy and a simple rest–portrayed through the character's walk with Elom.

2. The Scrolls. Not only does the fact that the Scrolls parallel the Scriptures cause them to soar in my interest and reverence, but there's a mystery about them. There's also an urgency: the Scrolls must be saved from the Emperor and must be saved from destruction! But there's also the words of the Scrolls themselves–life-giving, comforting, refreshing, relaxing, quieting in the midst of hardship, darkness, and danger.

3. The characters. Kyrin is back, and so are her brothers. The plot follows her family and their ups and downs for much of the story. Jaye did an excellent job creating the characters of the Altair family. Each of the brothers–Marcus, Liam, Kaden, Michael, and Ronny–has his own distinct personality, mannerisms, and issues that come across clearly with surprisingly little description and explanation. Her parents are also well-developed; it is very easy to feel like you know the entire family.

4. The plot. It's not your usual conflict-climax-resolution style. It's far better. It's not boring.

5. The emotion. Jaye really brings out the emotion in this story. It's not because it's intense. It's because it's deep. It's real. The characters experience such vast differences in their emotions and it comes out through the words. It just bring you to tears. It's not because it's miserably sad or painful or the characters do things wrong. It's because there's a depth of reality that few books can touch in mere words. This book brings out these aspects better than many movies do–even with their advantage of touching music, audible dialogue and visual effects. I've never read anything like it.

6. Timothy. He is everything that a follower of Elom should be.

7. Marcus and Liam. I already mentioned them under characters, but they deserve a mention of their own. It's difficult to understand how Jaye can create so many characters that stand out in this way.

8. Jace's new struggles. In Resistance, we read his struggle to believe he had a soul. In The King's Scrolls, we get a glimpse right into his soul. Jaye makes Jace's new struggles and challenges very real and relatable. To avoid spoilers, I will simply comment that scenes with Jace and a dragon make Jace's entire existence more than worthwhile!

9. Being introduced to crete culture. It's fascinating.

10. The length of the book. It has substance and therefore contains that much more adventure.

11. The ending. It's very different from the ending of Resistance, but very satisfactory and hints at setting the stage for Book Three. Jaye does an excellent job wrapping up her stories to make them feel complete in and of themselves and yet still flow perfectly and intriguingly into the next book.

Advisory/What I Didn't Like: As this is a New Adult book and not a children's book, there are a few somewhat intense scenes along the lines of persecution/execution (similar to Resistance), but such elements are not described in much detail or at any length. It may not be suitable for young children.

That's it. I honestly enjoyed everything about this book. The hard work Jaye put into it shines clearly forth from the pages as well as the strong Biblical principles, truths, and examples it contains.

This book is a literary masterpiece.

[Nicole Dust · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that is really, really difficult to read, but that’s also what makes it amazing.

But to explain it properly, I’m going to review this book a little differently than usual.

THE FIRST HALF:

Initially, when I read this for the first time, and even when I began to read it for the second time now, I thought this was a four-star book. The first half, although it was still great, just didn’t hold the same appeal as Resistance had.

I loved Jace's struggle with being brave throughout this part, as it’s something I definitely can relate to.

Also, DRAGONS. <3

And I’m still not over all the Jayrin moments that happened in this book. There's SO MANY and I loved them ALL.


THE SECOND HALF:

(Before I get into the rest of my thoughts, let me just say - JACE LIKES KYRIN AND MY SHIP IS BEGINNING TO SAIL. *fangirls*)

The second half was where everything changed. This was where everything got super dark for me. This was where I had to take the book one small section at a time, just so I wouldn’t be overwhelmed.

But it was also the most beautiful part and the most hopeful part.

For anyone wanting to read this book, I must warn you of two things:
-You are going to cry. A lot.
-There is a torture scene in this book that is extremely difficult to read. Not all the violence is shown, but it’s the mental impact on the characters that is so hard.

But what I truly loved about this part, and this book as a whole, is that even though literally almost everything goes wrong for the characters, they never gave up, they kept fighting, and most of all, they kept HOPE. This is a message that needs to be more prominent in teen books today.


As I said, The King's Scrolls is a hard book to read. But is it worth it? Absolutely.

[Abby Burrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

*takes a deep breath*
AAHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Oh my goodness.
Phew.
Full review to come. (Hopefully.) I'll just say that I understand this book better than I used to. I relate to it more. I see the beauty in it better now than I did at first. This is the first time I've reread this one (versus rereading others several times), partly because of what it contains plot wise, but now, I'm glad I did.

Time for a reread!


This book is a little gut wrenching to read, but of course that what helps make it what great. It's neat to see Jace's compassion come out, seriously, how could he ever be a monster?