Genre

Fantasy, Comic fantasy, time-travel fantasy

Audience

Adult

Author’s Worldview

Catholic

Year Published

2024

Themes

Coming of age, romance, quest, heroism, self-discovery

 

Reviewed by

Corinna Turner

Mark Reid’s thirteenth century girlfriend thinks he’s a coward. She’s used to being courted by warriors, and he’s just an ordinary twenty-first century guy. Desperate to prove himself, Mark embarks on an Arthurian-style quest that will test him in multiple ways. If only he had the slightest idea how to ride a horse, swordfight, or (literally!) face his inner demons. Can he survive his quest—and keep his true love?

This short sequel to Rosaline’s Curse is definitely best read after the first book. Some readers might be frustrated by how short this story is, but it is clearly billed as a novelette at the beginning. Fans of Katherine Campbell’s series will not want to miss it. 

Mark’s Noble Quest explores an inevitable dilemma that is bound to develop between Rosaline and Mark with plenty of humor and adventure. Mark learns some important lessons—the ones about boundaries and about resentment being especially memorable. 

Although the values and lessons are things that will be valued by a Catholic or general Christian audience, there is little that is specifically Christian about the book, making it a good read for a secular audience as well.

A quick, light-hearted read that touches on serious moral lessons.

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Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight by G.M. Baker

Dark psychological fairy tale in which the heroine slays her enchanter only to become possessed by his spirit

The Wolf, the Lamb, and the Air Balloon by Corinna Turner

A wolf, a lamb, an air balloon—what could go wrong?

Demons are Forever by Declan Finn

Marco flees from his fears of hurting Amanda by taking a job to train Vampire Hunters in San Francisco. Should be a quiet job right?

Vigil by Russell Newquist

“Big Trouble in Little China” meets Saint George and the Dragon

Gapman by Karina Fabian

Earth has its first superhero—and a dragon’s taking him under his wing.

Secrets: The Truth Will Out By Verity Lucia

Two little lines are about to change Elise’s perfect teen world.

The Eternal Spring By, Phillip MacArthur

A fairy tale about faith, hope, and the destruction they protect us from.

Rosaline’s Curse by Katherine Campbell

If Sleeping Beauty woke in 2017 and Prince Un-Charming was still after her… Sometimes it takes 800 years to find true love.

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Beyond the adventure, the way to read The Lord of the Rings is not as an allegory but as a meditation on the human Story we are each caught up in, and in which we each have our part to play, our temptations to resist, and our task to accomplish.

Infernal Affairs by Declan Finn

St. Tommy finally comes face-to-face with the warlock that has been behind the events of the previous two books while fighting off hordes of everything from gangsters to vampires.

Mandy Lamb and the Full Moon By Corinna Turner 

A human-sheep hybrid’s friendships with a friendly vampire and a very angsty house-wolf are tested in this story that explores nature versus nurture. 

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