ARC provided by NetGalley. This is not one of my typical reads but I enjoyed the story line and the revelations throughout the book.

Stories of redemption are ones that I never tire of hearing, especially when they parallel the story of the prodigal son. What really intrigued me with A Path to Forgiveness was just how far the “prodigal daughter” strayed, and the weight of the amount of debt that had to be paid by her redeemer.

I am not a Christian fantasy reader myself, and have only just recently started reading Christian fiction in general, but there is something about this story that instantly drew me in. Could it be the parallels to my own life and waywardness or is the author just that incredible of a storyteller? I’d like to think it’s the latter, as it’s apparent Lisa James has a way with words, bringing such a fantastical world to life.

Esther is a woman we can all identify with in one way or another. Who among us hasn’t had moments of waywardness, living for self until life hits us in the face, and the reality of our actions comes crashing down, the weight falling squarely on our shoulders. It’s these moments in my life that came to the forefront of my mind as I read more about Esther and her choices. Oh that I had a redeemer like Esther had Levi!

Levi is an upstanding man that makes the difficult decision to shoulder Esther’s burdens, taking on her debt, while also getting a ready made family. Though it’s apparent he has a heart of gold, Levi struggles with his own bitterness about Esther and their past, though I can’t really fault him for his feelings. Past pains can easily fester if left untreated, and this story paints a good picture of that.

Being a fantasy tale, the world that Levi and Esther live in is no of this world, so it took a little bit to get my bearings as I tried to understand the workings of The Gourd, but once I did I was hooked. Levi and Esther have a wonderful chemistry and I am a sucker for a good redemption story. If A Path to Forgiveness is any indication of the talent of Lisa M. James then she’s got a new fan! It’s apparent that this story was written with a lot of heart, and it was a journey that I immensely enjoyed.

What an incredible story! I was so blown away by how good it was. This was a great introduction to the author!

Esther was such a raw character. She is so sure of her unworthiness and how she doesn't deserve kindness from anyone because of how she's lived her life. She's lived to excess and has been brought very low by her choices. Not just her, but her son as well.

Levi, someone she knew from childhood, fulfills a promise made to Esther's father and takes on her debt. Levi is a pretty raw character as well. He's a man who has spent much of his life closed off to others. He's know pain and heartache.

Both Esther and Levi have so much growth in this story. It's just beautiful. And the way God (the Redeemer) is shown in this story... He is the Only way. This story straight up directs the reader to God. It shows God's love and mercy for His children. That no one is too far gone to be redeemed. Truth is spoken through the characters - main and secondary - throughout the entire story. It is SO powerful!

I enjoyed the fantasy world of The Gourd. There are so many ways The Gourd parallels our world. They have healers (doctors), prophets, church leaders, etc. There's evil that tries to draw people away from the Redeemer in the same ways the enemy does in our world. It's all a rather fascinating part of the story!

I can't wait for the next books in the series! I'll be the first in line for both!

I loved this Christian Fantasy parable. The parallels were so strong. I loved the story in this set up. Levi and Esther were great characters with their flaws. I have a soft sport for these kinds of redemption stories. I empathize with characters that feel that they don't deserve love or forgiveness. I loved Levi and his humanness.

This was an excellent story sent in a fantasy world at the beginning of the third of three wars. The biblical parallels were beautifully written. This story was beautiful in it's simplicity and natural in it's conflict. It gave humanity to the characters and genuineness to the story. It was the prodigal son, but it was something else entirely, a story of it's own. It had heart and compassion, and healing. I love when there is healing.

I received an eARC through Netgalley and this is my honest review.