The Sunlit Lands had been on my radar for a while, but I had missed The Crescent Stone when it first came out and, as a reviewer, it’s often difficult to get back to old books because of all the new ones. But with the release of the third and final book in the series, The Story King, I decided to finally dive into this YA fantasy from Matt Mikalatos. I actually had an interview scheduled with Matt and thought, “Hey, I can probably read all three of these books in a week.” Not. A. Chance.

Imagine, if you will, that C.S. Lewis was writing to teenagers instead of elementary schoolchildren and you’ll have a pretty good idea of what The Sunlit Lands is like. Mikalatos is exquisite in his worldbuilding, bringing together a rich and complex fantasy land that only becomes more nuanced and fully realized as the series progresses. While many things hold symbolism, not everything does; while many things have thematic similarities to real-world events, it’s never a strict analogy. The result is one that forces readers to slow down, take everything in, sort through it thoughtfully, and follow the characters on their own journeys of discovery.

Fantasy, especially Christian fantasy, is often rather overt in its symbolism. Good and evil are clearly defined. The hero’s journey is clear-cut and inevitable. All the pieces fall into place at exactly the right time. That’s not the case with The Crescent Stone. The characters are nuanced and real—even while occasionally being over-the-top. There’s a lot going on and Mikalatos manages to help the reader focus on the primary story while setting up enough mystery in the background so that you also have this understanding that the story is different—and deeper—than what you currently know. (In fact, in reading some negative reviews of The Crescent Stone, I often found that if the reviewer had just kept reading…)

The Crescent Stone is the story of Madeline Oliver, a teenage girl with a terminal illness who is offered her health in exchange for a year of service in the Sunlit Lands. The person making this offer in Hanali, son of Vivi, an emissary of the lands. His job is to search for humans in need and bring them into the service of his people, the Elenil, in their war against the Scim. Facing death, Madeline accepts the offer.

Along for the ride is Jason Wu—Chinese name, 武松 or Wu Song. Nobody really asked him to come, but he walked in on Hanali giving Madeline the offer and refused to let her go alone. Jason is an incorrigible truth-teller and joke-spinner, making him both the comic relief and prophetic voice of the novel. In some ways, Jason’s character is a bit jarring. Jason doesn’t seem to realize he’s in a fantasy world, so it can pull the reader out a bit as well. But, on the other hand, Jason probably has the only truly realistic reaction to being transported into a fantasy world. It’s a voice that you’ll either find endearing or grating. For me, there were times I felt that it fit and times I thought it exasperating (though I have the impression that’s what Mikalatos was going for).

Above all, The Crescent Stone is about the discovery that privilege has a price and that systemic inequality is often masked from the side of privilege but blatantly obvious from all other facets. It’s that social commentary—both woven seamlessly into the Sunlit Lands, and given discussion in the real world—that makes this series stand apart. There’s so much that could be said about these books, but it’s better to just experience it. Trust me on this. The Crescent Stone is a deep and immersive tale that demands your attention.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book. Unfortunately, while the blurb really interested me, I have been unable to get into the book.

I did not realize when I began this book that it was to be the first in a series. As I read, the characters seemed to be rather well developed. Much of the book has an unwritten subtext which becomes more evident as the book progresses. Justice and one's idea of write and wrong are profoundly evaluated through this book, and is quite applicable in our world. I look forward to reading the follow-up novels.

This book was something special.
The little kid in me was so flipping excited to find this new magical world. And the journey through it for these characters.

There were so many fun and crazy twists and turns. And I found myself not wanting to put it down until I finished.

I totally adored the characters too.
They were so relatable. And so sympathetic.
You want to just hug them haha.

Overall, the story was just amazing and inwould suggest to anyone to pick up a copy of it

I haven't read too much fantasy, but The Crescent Stone was amazing. I related to Jason's truth-telling and Madeline's compassion and I want to know so much more about Hanali! And the Scim in general. There'd better be an epic second, third, and even fourth book to this series. I found the magic system interesting (I thought up of a similar concept a few years ago *pouts*) and overall, this book inspired me to read more fantasy. Oh, and I REALLY WANT TO READ THE TALES OF MESELIA NOW.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! What a wild ride! This book had a little bit of everything. It has the usual fantasy tropes of knights, magic and unjust class systems. It has so much more though. It talks about injustice for minorities and the privilege that people are born with sometimes. Following Madeline through her physical and moral dilemmas was so easy to do because Mike Mikalatos makes you fall in love with each of the characters you encounter. It is also hilarious and goofy at times with Madeline’s friend Wu Song and his “unicorn”.

This book was really not at all what I expected it to be! And that is actually a pleasant surprise! On our podcast, Genre Junkies, we review fantasy, sci fi, and horror books. I love it when these types of books can genuinely surprise me with the journey they take me on.

This book is important. It speaks on heavy themes of jusitice, diversity, colonialism, compassion, peace, and what it means to be human. It also happens to be very funny.

At times the exposition got a little clunky for this bookworm, but that’s probably personal preference. I will do my part to encourage other readers to take a chance on this emotional, poigonant book that is also a greatly imaginative piece of fantasy literature.

Mikalatos gives readers a thought provoking fantasy adventure in the style of C. S. Lewis. There are allusions to Christian truths in the story and the plot contains many ethical decisions. There are unusual creatures inhabiting many kingdoms. There are intense battles and life and death situations. There are complex loyalties and underlying motives that made me wonder who the good guys really were. Perhaps like reality, the good and evil motives in beings were often hidden.

The characters are well developed and very interesting. One character, for example, is the King of Mirrors. He is always looking into one, when he is not fighting, that is. My favorite character was Jason. His truth telling and sarcasm brought humor to the narrative.

Mikalatos has included a number of moral issues in the plot. We learn about Angel Island and the historical woes of immigrants coming to the west coast of the U.S. We are informed about privatized prisons in the U.S. and the profitability of filling them, even if it requires made up charges. Most glaringly, we readers are faced with living our comfortable middle class lives at the expense of others.

This novel is in the young adult genre. I enjoyed it as an older adult too. The prevalence of social justice issues contained in the book makes me suggest the novel would be good for older teens. It would be a good choice for a teen reading group as there would be much to discuss.

I recommend this book to readers who enjoy an allegory with hints of the gospel and other spiritual truths as well as many social justice issues.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

What price would you pay to breathe?

Wow! Just wow! What an absolutely brilliant, mesmerizing ride! The Crescent Stone is a thrilling journey of trials, challenges, and redemption in a magical world. Madeline Oliver is dying from a disease that ravages her lungs, filling them with scar tissue. She’s rejected her boyfriend, lived through the stages of grief (mostly), and grasps at normalcy by attending her high school classes. She’s surviving pitying looks, the kindness of strangers, and the distant love of her parents. When Madeline is offered a healing in exchange for a year’s labor, she accepts the gift of life, not knowing the true cost of the exchange.

Jason Wu comes to Madeline’s aid when she faints in chemistry class, beginning a friendship that he clings to for redemption from old mistakes. While Madeline is a wonderfully strong heroine who matter-of-factly accepts that hers is a road she must walk alone, it is Jason’s wit, truth, integrity, loyalty, and perseverance that light up the story. He also provides comic relief even in the direst moments of their adventures, whether it’s his costumes, his truth-telling, his fighting prowess or lack thereof, or his beloved unicorn steed (i.e., a rhinoceros), Delightful Glitter Lady (aka DLG and Dee). Luckily, Jason has a magical embiggenator to shrink or enlarge Dee as the circumstances require. As the fool, Jason draws our eye to wisdom, as Madeline draws our eyes toward courage and justice.

Jason and Madeline have embarked on a journey that will take them beyond our planet to the magical world of a beautiful people with dark intent, a war-loving race seeking justice and revenge, and two mysterious and mythical kings, one a peasant, one majestic. It is a world fraught with bodily peril and soul-searing revelations, courageous warriors, walking legends, and social injustice. It might just be a world where Madeline and Jason, along with their companions, can be heroes.

Grab your Kleenex box and your highlighter, because The Crescent Stone is going to grab your heart and not let go, and the pithy quotes will endure a lifetime. You will race your way from adventure to adventure, from revelation to revelation, and from defeat to triumph. Friends will become enemies, and enemies will become staunch friends as plots and hidden motives are revealed, and the story turns from light to dark and dark to light.

Don’t miss the legends and stories in the appendix; they’re as meaningful and wise as the main tale. As some stories end, “this story bears three gifts: one for the storyteller, one for the hearer, and one for the heart which understands.” Dear reader, these gifts are for you and me. We leave this story entertained and enlightened beyond measure.

I cannot express how much I loved this book, how well it works on so many levels, including as an adventure story and as an allegory. There is so much wisdom and so many insights to be gleaned. Highly recommended for those who love fantasy, Christian storytelling, allegories, and simply brilliant writing. I’ve not read any book by Matt Mikalatos previously, but I’m so taken with The Crescent Stone that I’ll be grabbing the sequel when it’s published and checking out his previous work while I’m waiting. I believe Mikalatos’ writing is right up there with Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Brandon Sanderson, and the other fantasy greats. Simply an amazing book that I was sad to put down. I’m already impatient already for the next book, The Heartwood Crown.

Madeline Oliver has never wanted for anything, but now she would give anything just to breathe. Jason Wu skates through life on jokes, but when a tragedy leaves him guilt-stricken, he promises to tell only the truth, no matter the price. When a mysterious stranger name Hanali appears to Madeline and offers to heal her in exchange for one year of service to his people, Madeline and Jason are swept into a strange land where they don’t know the rules and where their decisions carry consequences that reach farther than they could ever guess.

If you've read my reviews before, you know I LOVE portal fantasies. Into the Hazelwood, has been one of my favorite books so far this year. Getting the chance to read a portal fantasy, like The Crescent Stone was an exciting opportunity, because it gives me a chance to explore an entirely new and unique world. I couldn't wait to see what Matt Mikalatos had created! 
I definitely loved the world of The Crescent Stone. While the characters often relate their new home to portal fantasies they're familiar with, like Narnia and Harry Potter, it really is an entirely unique concept. I enjoyed the dynamic between the humans and the fairy-like people of The Sunlit Lands. Their relationship is something new and refreshing to a genre where humans are usually considered hostile or completely foreign. In this world, humans and well integrated and an import part of society. I enjoyed learning about that relationship and the history of the world.
The plot of the book is high stakes from the beginning. We learn right away that Madeline has a lung disease and will die soon. The tension and action only builds from there. There are few moments of rest of reflection in this book and the plot is propelled by intense action, one event right after the other. While this isn't always a bad thing, I did get a bit of whiplash when I started this book, as I didn't get much time to get to know the characters before the plot started in full force. 

I struggled with the characters in this book the most. Madeline was unique and memorable, due to her disease, but not because any part of her personality was especially outstanding. On the other hand, Jason, has a dark, veiled backstory and outrageous personality. I struggled to take Jason seriously as a character, as he didn't seem to take the plot seriously much of the time. While I understood his important role in the overall story arch and the need for some comic-relief from time to time, his contact joking during dark and strange situations made him hard to believe for this reader. 

In The Crescent Stone,  author Matt Mikalatos created a new and exciting world that I thoroughly enjoyed exploring. The plot is fast paced, which makes this a great quick read for portal fantasy enthusiasts. The main characters in this book weren't my favorite out of portal fantasies I'd read, but if you enjoy a plot-driven story with a light-hearted tone then Madeline and Jason will be the perfect fit for you!

This one is a delightful start to a new series. I only wish that the next book was out already! The characters balance each other well.

I read the excerpt of this book, and then went half mad waiting for the rest of the book to be sent to me. I devoured this book in a sitting and was left wanting more. In short, I highly recommend "The Crescent Stone" to anyone who enjoys young adult fiction. It is a masterpiece along the lines of Narnia by C.S. Lewis and George Morris' Seven Sleepers Series.

Despite having finished this book well over a week ago, the story of the Crescent Stone has been reverberating around in my mind ever since and refuses to let me stop thinking about it (surely, a sign of a good book!). In addition to being action packed and highly entertaining, this story had an unusual and thought provoking depth to it. Matt Mikalatos clearly has a passion for social justice, and in a seamless matter he managed to incorporate some rather strong themes of social justice and bring the reader's attention to present day social injustices without interfering with the story at all - in fact, it definitely added to the tale.

The Crescent Stone takes place in a parallel universe that is linked to Earth - The Sunlit Lands. The world Mikalatos has created is vivid and multi faceted. He has clearly spent a lot of time figuring out the intricacies of his world, and it is a pleasure to read. I felt like I was actually there. The different races of 'people', the different religions, the currencies, the magic.... it was magnificent. In addition, the characters were a very creative, unique, and delightful assortment of individuals. I sincerely hope there is another installment to this tale.

Thank-you to Tyndale Publishing House for a PDF version of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is my first foray into Matt Mikalatos' young adult writings. Having read Night of the Living Dead Christian, Dinner with a Perfect Stranger and My Imaginary Jesus I was very familiar with his Christian works. However, I had never read any of his young adult fantasy works.

The Crescent Stone is the first it what looks to be an interesting series entitled The Sunlit Lands. Imagine a world divided. One portion lives in beauty and sunlight and wealth. And yet they are plagued with a second group that lives in darkness and crudeness and ugliness. A war rages and this is where Madeline and her friends enter the story.

What would you do when someone offers you life in exchange for a year of service? Madeline barely hesitates to accept and is quickly swept into a world so different than her own along with her new friend Jason Wu. Madeline is spellbound by the beauty that greets her, while Jason is skeptical.

Mikalatos, in this fantasy world, brings up some very interesting real world questions. Is it ok to do something that harms someone in order to save someone else? Is it ok to allow someone else to volunteer take on pain and hardship that should rightfully be yours? Is your enemy necessarily your enemy, or is it a matter of perspective?

I really enjoyed the characters and the world that Mikalatos has created in this story, and I look forward to seeing what happens next!