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BOOK REVIEW: AWAKENING THE LIGHT

April 24, 2026April 24, 2026 joymargetts

AWAKENING THE LIGHT : (THE STRONGHOLD OF ENJANAN SERIES, BOOK 1)

Author: Natasha Woodcraft

Published by: Broadplace Publishing , 24th April 2026

ISBN: 978-1915034755

RRP: £12.99

THE BLURB:

In a world that spins around the Eternal Light, Shay’s people are in peril. The mysterious Nahil are seducing the four kingdoms with promises of prosperity, bringing chaos and darkness with them.

Shay has always felt invisible – a dependable son overshadowed by his brilliant siblings. But when Shay’s formidable sister falls victim to the Nahil’s schemes, it’s time for his dormant gifts to awaken, and his faith to be tested.

Will Shay embrace the light, or lose everyone he loves to the shadows?

Awakening the Light is the first book in The Stronghold of Enjanan – A Coming of Age fantasy series for Young Adult readers navigating a world of seductive quick fixes and pressure to conform, ready to discover that grace breaks through even the deepest shadows.

MY REVIEW:

Fantasy is not a genre I would usually choose. But when the author is someone who I know has an amazing imagination, and a gift for storytelling, and whose earlier books have blessed and encouraged me, I thought ‘Awakening the Light’ was worth my attention.

I am also not a teenager – the audience this book is aimed at. But just as I could, as an adult, lose myself in CS Lewis’ Narnia books and find inspiration, revelation and encouragement for my faith within them, so I found the same here.

Light versus Darkness

Natasha Woodcraft has done something extra-ordinary. She has created a fantasy world, different from our own, but so achingly familiar. Within that world she had created forces of good and evil, light and dark. She has created a family of characters who are well drawn and easy to relate to. She has described their growing turmoil as they try to hold on to what is good, and right – governed by the great light (Fa-cel) that sustains the world they live in – in the face of the creeping darkness that is subtlety infiltrating the society around them.

Her story centres on Shay – an ordinary teenage boy who carries a hidden gift – his father, mother, siblings and adopted siblings. Their lives have always been centred on stories of old, the faith of their ancestors and their own awareness of the One who guides them, protects them and provides for them. But when they are called to make a stand, to follow where Fa-cel has asked them to go, to physically fight the forces of darkness, they are forced to count the cost. Being different requires courage, faith and self-sacrifice.

A life-giving message

I know that the author’s intention was to write a fantasy book that was different to much of what fills the shelves for teenage readers today. She wanted to write a page-turning, action filled compelling story with enough adventure to hook you in but also wanted to feature characters that wrestled with real temptations and chose to live for what is right. In writing Awakening the Light, she not only drew on her God-given imagination, but on her own understanding of the challenges life can throw at those who seek to live for God in a fallen world. There are lessons about grace, about self-sacrificial love, about faith under trial, and about believing the truth when everything seems to be conspiring against it. This is a kingdom book, through and through, with a life-giving message.

‘I want to equip young people — and older ones — with a modern allegory that makes them long to be present with Jesus, the Light of the World.’ Natasha Woodcraft

Awakening the Light has a dramatic and satisfying ending – but it also leaves much unresolved. That is because it is the first in a series: The Stronghold of Enjanen. I for one cannot wait for the next book – I am invested in the characters and their individual stories. I am sure that the final resolution, when it comes, will be complete and glorious.

Awakening the Light is released today and available to purchase from the publisher or via Amazon.

THE AUTHOR

Natasha Woodcraft lives in a slightly crumbling farmhouse in Lincolnshire, England, with her husband, two teenage sons, two younger sons and a menagerie of animals including goats, chickens, quail and the usual suspects – a dog and two cats. Natasha passionately believes that stories have power to communicate deep truth and transform lives. She researches ancient worlds and dreams up fantasy ones, writing into the places time forgot and the places no one has imagined yet. Her published novels explore God’s redemptive purposes for ordinary, messy people just like her.

You can find out more about Natasha and her writing here NatashaWoodcraft.com

Joy Margetts is a published author and blogger. Her books are works of Christian Historical fiction. Set in medieval Wales against the backdrop of Cistercian abbey life, they tell stories of faith, hope and God’s redemptive power.

She has also written two non-fiction devotionals. More information on Joy, and her books can be found here

christian fiction, Christian Writer, Devotional thought, Kingdom books, Lessons from life, The Word of God

‘ER AR OO?’

November 28, 2024November 24, 2024 joymargetts

A couple of weeks ago we had the joy of going away for a few days with the children and grandchildren. All weekend the son-on-law was quipping about things he was doing, or we were discussing, ending up in my blog. He was right, but this one isn’t about him. I’m not sure if he will be pleased or disappointed about that! His time will come. My family are a source of endless inspiration for my blog it seems.

Photo of a small boy and small girl sitting on the fender of an old railway engine

No Escape

Being with two small people 24 hours a day is great fun but also exhausting. It was tiring enough when we were fit young parents. Now that we are not so fit and not so young, it is doubly exhausting. And there is no escape. We had forgotten that. No room is off limits to inquisitive toddlers – not our bedroom at 7 am in the morning, or the bathroom it seems.

‘Er ar oo?’

‘Nana, ‘er ar oo?’ the little one called from behind the locked bathroom door. ‘I’m here!’ I replied, hastening to finish what I had gone in there to do. There was a pause of quite a few seconds, in which I though she had given up and gone away. In fact she had gone for reinforcements – her brother – and then there was a crash of toy diggers against the door, and the repeated refrain, a little louder this time. ‘Nana, ‘er ar oo?’ .

‘I’m here’, I said, also a little louder, and resigned myself to the fact that I had been discovered in my temporary hiding place. I paused before opening the door – it was necessary, to save everyone embarrassment – and in the moments it took for me to make myself relatively decent, the voice came once more, and even more insistently. ‘NANA, ‘ER AR OO?’

Just behind the door

I love my grandchildren with a fierce intensity. I love that they want to be with me, and that a closed door is no barrier when they decide to find me. We will remember that sweet little question for a long time. It made my heart swell to hear it. I wondered afterwards if she asked the question repeatedly because she couldn’t hear my reply through the locked door. Or was she just making sure that she had my attention – making sure I knew she was there and looking for me? Wanting me to come out and love on her … and play toys.

Where are You God?’

I wonder if there are times when you go to our Heavenly Father, and call out to Him. Repeatedly perhaps. Have you ever felt that there is a locked shut door between you and Him? Or perhaps you have been listening out for His answer and not hearing it? I have experienced that. When life gets tough sometimes we become more aware of God’s presence and peace. But sometimes in those difficult times, it actually feels like He has hidden Himself away. We knock and knock, but He doesn’t seem to be listening.

I will never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 13:5

The Stranger

My latest book, The Stranger, was inspired by a time in my life where I felt I had lost contact with the God who had always been there for me. I couldn’t feel His presence, I couldn’t hear His voice. There seemed to be a barrier between us, and it was awful. Despair came calling and the temptation to abandon all that I have ever believed in was very real. Where are You, God? I called. Why aren’t you stopping this pain? Why have you left me here in this pit? Do You even care?

Just behind the door

I wrote The Stranger because I want to spread hope. The central character, Silas, goes on the same journey as I did all those years ago. God might have seemed silent and distant at the time, but I think now that He was answering my cries and I just couldn’t hear Him. Or wouldn’t hear Him. There was a huge solid wall between us. One that I had built. A seemingly closed door made up of accusation, fear, doubt, disappointment, anger and grief. When I stopped banging and yelling. When I repented for the case I had built against Him, then gently the door began to open. I began to hear Him again. First through the words of loving friends, then through the truth of His Word, and finally in the depths of my being – that still small voice that I long remembered and held dear.

I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matt 28:20

He had never abandoned me. He was just the other side of the door calling out, ‘I’m here, beloved, I’m here’.

If you would like to read Silas’ story in The Stranger, you can now buy a copy where all good books are sold, in the UK and the US. Or via my website at www.joymargetts.com.

‘The Pilgrim‘, her second full length novel, was published by Instant Apostle on 22 July 2022, and her third novel, ‘The Bride‘, published on 20th October 2023. Her first non-fiction book, an Advent Devotional, ‘Christ Illuminated‘ was published in September 2023.

‘The Stranger‘, her fourth full length novel was published 22 November 2024 by Broad Place Publishing.

More information on Joy, and her books can be found here

Book Review, Books, christian fiction, Christian publishing, Christian Writer, Faith

BOOK REVIEW: The Continued Times of Isabella M Smugge, by Ruth Leigh

October 13, 2022October 13, 2022 joymargetts

The book, The Continued Times of Isabella M Smugge, displayed with scented candles, flowers and soft material as background.

I am thrilled to be invited to take part in the blog tour for The Continued Times of Isabella M Smugge, the third book in Ruth Leigh’s Isabella M Smugge series. Thrilled because like many others I have been longing to read another witty, well written book from this author’s extraordinary imagination, and to catch up on Isabella’s progressing story.

But I am also thrilled because now that Ruth has become a dear friend, I have been privileged to watch from the side-lines as this book was written. She herself would admit that it has been a hard book to write, and only exists because God enabled her. With the help of lots of prayer and encouragement from others. I have seen some of the pain this book has caused in being birthed. So to see it delivered safe and whole has brought joy to my soul!

Laugh out loud funny

As in her previous books Ruth has done an amazing job in creating Isabella’s world. She has spent hours researching what things are trending in the world of those who care about these things. The book is funny. There are laugh out loud moments, with hysterical hashtags and clever references to things ‘on trend’. Like this dig at the ever developing trend for giving paint colours pretentious names, that made me giggle,

‘We are staying in a smart twin ensuite room painted in Belle Peinture’s top selling shade, Gauzy Gutter’

‘Gauzy Gutter’? Perfect nonsense. Brilliant!

Deeply Moving

Apart from being funny, this book is also deeply moving and the story engrossing. There is no doubt that Isabella M Smugge is changing. Oh, she is still a renowned social media influencer, with a bestselling book series, and blogger awards galore. Her elegant home is still being featured in magazine photoshoots and she has numerous companies clamouring to engage her to endorse their products – from teething rings to self plumping pillows.

Back cover of book with blurb description

But her life in reality is definitely less glamourous. Now she is a single parent to four children, including hormonal pre-teens and a teething infant. Issy’s mother, with whom she has a fractious relationship, is now also residing with them following a stroke. Add to that a cheating husband trying to wheedle his way back in, her arch enemy Lavinia Harcourt still causing trouble, and a plethora of other family dramas and secrets coming to light. Life is far from dull, and not always in good ways. Our heroine has to admit she can’t do perfect anymore – not alone anyway.

Thankfully the village community she once looked down her nose at has now become her place of refuge. Her fellow school mums, the vicar and his wife, the church community, they are all there to help, support and understand. What’s more Isabella has found the joy of giving and serving. The scenes where she shepherds a flock of nit-ridden angels for the church nativity, and runs around with hairspray and bun nets as a dance show chaperone were hysterical, but also strangely moving. This is a new and more selflessly genuine Isabella, doing things she would once never have dreamt of doing.

Changed by Love

Perhaps the most powerful aspect of this third book is Isabella’s growing personal experience of God. The church draws her, the Holy spirit touches her, and prayer becomes more natural. Isabella finds herself learning to forgive, wanting to rebuild broken relationships, becoming a much more empathetic and insightful person, and even finding the strength to address some of her own past demons.

‘At church… I once again found myself a sobbing mess, just because they sang a hymn we had at Daddy’s funeral. Honestly! I tried to pull myself together but I was as if something huge and slippery and uncontrollable had risen from the very depths of my being and was calling out for attention…’

Front cover of book against a background of cut flowers

I have had the pleasure of being able to blog review all three of Ruth Leigh’s ‘Issy’ books. The first, my first ever book blog review, on The Diary of Isabella M Smugge, you can read here. The second, on The Trials of Isabella M Smugge, you can read here. Do you have to read the first two #Issy instalments to enjoy the third? No. But why wouldn’t you? The books are so funny, so entertaining, but also so relatable. I would encourage you to read them all. But for me the third is definitely the best one yet. Why? because I really love what Ruth has done with Isabella’s character, turning her from a self absorbed snob into a open hearted, kind and generous individual. Can a person be changed like that in real life? Actually yes. Faith- filled friends and a loving God can do that for a person.

I have to admit I didn’t like Issy much at all in book one. By book two, I had warmed to her considerably, but still wouldn’t have had much in common with her. By the end of book three I loved Isabella. I wanted to spend time with her, laugh and cry with her, and get to know even more of the real person beneath all the fluff. Which is why I really hope there will be a book four. Over to you Ruth!

Her debut novel ‘The Healing‘ was published by Instant Apostle on 19 March 2021. Joy has also self- published a short novella, ‘The Beloved‘ as both a companion to ‘The Healing‘, and as an easy to read standalone story, which is available to buy on Amazon Kindle.

‘The Pilgrim‘, her second full length novel, was published by Instant Apostle on 22 July 2022

More information on Joy, and her books can be found here www.joymargetts.com

Book Review, Books, Christian publishing, Christian Writer, Faith, New Author

BLOG BOOK REVIEW: ‘They’ll Never Read That’ by Tony Collins

March 30, 2022March 29, 2022 joymargetts

Image of front cover of 'They'll Never Read That'

I never expected to become published author. It came late in my life and was surprising and terrifying all at the same time. I wrote a novel and it got published, and at the time I had absolutely no experience or understanding of the publishing world. My publishers had to hold my hand and guide me through the whole process, and they were patient and kind, while maintaining utmost professionalism.

Around this time I found the Association of Christian Writers, and a group that met via Zoom weekly (this was right in the middle of lockdown craziness). Here I found a group of lovely writers who were more than happy to chat, and answer my questions, and share funny stories, and generally encourage. One of the people I met was Tony Collins. I was a bit awestruck at first, when I realised how he had spent his life in publishing, the authors he knew personally, the books he had helped to publish. But Tony was generous and kind with his advice.

Imagine my delight when he announced he was publishing a book based on his experiences in Christian publishing. I could not wait to see it in print. And now I have the absolute delight in being able to review it and recommend it to you.

‘How to make mistakes in publishing’

Image of back cover of 'They'll Never Read That'

‘They’ll Never Read That’ has the subtitle ‘How to make mistakes in publishing’. It is Tony’s story and he does not gloss over the difficulties he encountered, both in his professional and personal life. He tells the tale with a gentle and engaging humour, and it is a compelling read. The publishing world might seem like a glamorous one on the surface, but it is far from that in reality. It is hard slog, and not always rewarding. It can even be heart-breaking at times. I did not know this. Now I do, and I am grateful to Tony for opening my eyes.

On the other hand, there are amazing successes, and achievements to be genuinely proud of. I turned the pages of Tony’s book and discovered time and time again, that he had been instrumental in publishing some of the books that have been influential in my life and walk with God. From the English version of the NIV Bible, to ‘Killing Fields, Living Fields’ by Don Cormack, and ‘The Heavenly Man’ by Paul Hattaway/Brother Yun. I also have Tony to thank for the publication of the ‘Freedom in Christ’ course by Steve Goss, which has been transformational in my life and in the lives of many that I know.

A love for books

Tony Collins has worked for several of the biggest Christian publishing houses in the UK, including Lion Hudson, Monarch and SPCK. He has published hundreds of books and turned down thousands more (let’s not mention Joni!) That he loves books is without doubt, but what comes across is that he also appreciates authors. He understands the work that goes in to produce a book, the frustrations and the joys. Now that I have read his book I have a much greater appreciation for publishers – in particular the individuals who dedicate themselves to each stage of the publishing process – the people who work so hard to ensure that we have great quality Christian books at our fingertips.

Tony’s book is a must read for anyone who is interested in the Christian book world. Whether you are aspiring writer, an already published author, or just a reader. It is a great read, written by man honest about his failures, and yet propelled by his faith in God to take risks, over and over again. It is a brilliant expose of all that publishing books entails and a celebration of the life of a man who loves his involvement in it. I commend it to you wholeheartedly.

‘They’ll Never Read That: How to make mistakes in Publishing‘ by Tony Collins was published by Sarah Grace Publishing in Feb 2022. RRP £9.99 ISBN 9781912863983

Joy Margetts is new to blogging, and new to being published. Her debut novel ‘The Healing‘ was published by Instant Apostle on 19 March 2021. A work of historic fiction, set in medieval Wales against the backdrop of Cistercian abbey life, it is also a story of faith, hope and God’s redemptive power. Joy has also self- published a short novella, ‘The Beloved‘ as both a companion to ‘The Healing‘, and as an easy to read standalone story, which is available to buy on Amazon Kindle.

‘The Pilgrim‘, her second full length novel, will be published by Instant Apostle in July 2022

More information on Joy and her writing, and links to purchase her books can be found here www.joymargetts.com