The Map Across Time

The Gates of Heaven #2

by C.S. Lakin

An ancient curse plagues the kingdom of Sherbourne, and unless it is stopped, all will fall to ruin. The King, obsessed with greed, cannot see the danger. But his teenage twin children, Aletha and Adin, know they must act. A hermit leads Adin to a magical map that will send him back in time to discover the origin of the curse. Once back, Adin must find the Keeper, who protects the Gate of Heaven, but all he has is a symbol as a clue to guide him. Unbeknown to Adin, Aletha follows her brother, but they both arrive in Sherbourne’s past at the precipice of a great war, and there is little time to discover how to counteract the curse. One unexpected disaster after another forces the twins to make difficult choices. Adin’s only hope to correct the past is to return to the future to manipulate events so his quest can succeed. Through his trials and failures, Adin learns that nothing can stop heaven from accomplishing its goal, and that all events work for the good of those who trust heaven. An epic fairy tale with surprising twists, embracing the enduring power of love and faith.

Genres: Fantasy, Christian Fiction, Young Adult, Christian Fantasy, Fiction, Time Travel, Christian

428 pages, Paperback

First published January 14, 2011

Reviews

[L.L. Helland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book: The Map Across Time. It was very imaginative and yet relatable. I loved the two protagonist, and at first I thought Aletha was the main one, but it turned out to be her twin brother. One of my favorite characters, besides Aletha and Adin was Reya. She could influence Aletha and Adin without them realizing she was. The mother's part-Queen- turned firebird was brilliant. The entire book was filled with adventure. From the enchanted pig, to the wonderful creative maze to the map, and Aletha tracking Adin through his footprints, to Adin living in the cabin, and he was the old man that had talked to Aletha and Adin by the wall about their mother. At the end when Aiden finally gets to live back with his twin sister and her family-was a peaceful and accepting ending to a long journey. Since I have a twin sister, I was hoping all the way through the book that they would get to be together again. When they just kept missing each other when Aletha went to find Adin, I kept thinking, Aletha-Adin's been hurt-and he's so close. I wanted to reach through the book and put Aletha right in front of Adin.
Very creative because there was no way I could have guessed the ending. Kudos for a great book. I always enjoy a book that is different and yet inspirational. I tried guessing at every chapter-the outcome of the storyline and characters, but it was more imaginative than I would have ever thought. Great book. Laura/Helland/Stolmeier

[Tomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m adding Lakin’s Gates of Heaven series to my all time favorites list and I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of future additions to this series.

I can’t recall ever reading a fairy tale intertwined with scripture and that may be one of the primary reasons I fell in love with this book. Well that and the fact that it was really a great tale. The Map Across Time is a tale of twins who unbeknownst to their father, the king, to free their townsfolk from the evil that has enveloped it. Lakin does a wonderful job creating a world familiar, yet distant, but nonetheless appealing to the reader.

One of the reasons I fell in love with this tale was that unlike other tales of good vs. evil, The Map Across Time incorporates biblical references and scripture in a clever way. A way I’ve never seen before. Albeit a complicated read, perhaps best for an older reader, The Map Across Time is well written. The constant use of Hebrew will have any reader flipping to the glossary in the back of the book but the language does not detract from this tale of the power of a believer. This isn’t your parent’s fairy tale. Kudos to Lakin for finding a way to merge a world of fantasy with the mortal world and the Heavenly word.

[Kelsey Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't remember being so dazzled by a fantasy series since the Chronicles of Narnia and the Lord of the Rings. This complex and enthralling tale kept me up late and has satiated my imagination. I think I'll move on to book 3 right away, because I'm not ready for it to end yet. :-) I love the Hebrew and Scriptural elements woven into a fairytale world. The plot was full of surprises, yet they were all compelling in the best possible way. The time travel was mind-boggling yet graspable (as much as possible ;-) ) in the end. I loved the character of Adin; the other characters were masterfully crafted, too. While reading, I couldn't help but think of the inscrutable ways of God and how He has a plan for all things, and the main encouragement I took from it is that it's okay to not know everything. Searching out our path in this mysterious world is joy in the life of a person who trusts in God.

[Nikole Hahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2, The Gates of Heaven Series

Release date: January 14, 2011

Honored. That’s how I felt when C.S. Lakin asked me to review her book, The Map Across Time. It wasn’t scheduled on the offical blog tour run by CSFF and this book isn’t scheduled for publication until mid-January.

Most series usually use prior characters. It’s a way to continue a story from the first book like Terri Blackstock’s suspense series. You always meet the characters in the prior book before they become the subject of the next book. The Gates of Heaven Series are different. Just like Grimm’s Fairy Tales, C.S. Lakin continues the story in the same LAND. Eventually, you do meet the ancestors of the town of Tebron and learn some history, but ultimately it’s a time travel story.

She reeled me in from page to page. Time travel stories are tricky because you’ve got to have some understanding of what it means to mess with another time in history and its consequences. My husband loves to point out mistakes in most time travel movies, but he would have trouble finding the mistakes in this book. It’s mind boggling.

Adin and Aletha, twins by birth, and heirs to a kingdom have to find the cure for the curse that promises to demolish their kingdom’s future. Adin was born with some prominent birth defects and one leg is shorter than the other. The book opens with their mother, the queen dying of some mysterious and evil enchantment.

Why have I not been able to produce a cure? In all her many seasons she had treated every known illness and handily counteracted poisons from noxious plants mistakenly ingested or, on rare occasion, purposely administered. There was no plant she could fail to identify; cite uses for its seed, leaf, and root; and prepare at least half a dozen infusions to treat every known ailment in this kingdom.

But this! For months this nemesis had been unreadable. The symptoms of the Queen’s ailment acted like fenweed poison, but had the fever and chills of harrowbane. Nothing Reya tried had elicited a positive reaction. She could almost sense a magical binding but could not suss it out. There were none of the obvious markers, and yet when she laid her palm on the Queen’s neck she met with an odd sensation, a resonance both strange and chillingly familiar. If magic was the culprit, then it was masterfully masked. Reya had not wanted to admit the possibility, but seeing the Queen now in her final hours—the horrible reality of something evil at work, something beyond her wisdom to cure or even name—sent a shiver up her spine.

A young hero with a weak leg and some facial birth defects saves the day in this story—or at least one of him saves the day. She uses Hebrew in the story as their ancient language. Familiar stories from the Bible are ingeniously weaved throughout. I closed the last page and sighed. Typical and yet it was an untypical happy ending. Read it carefully. I have a feeling if I reread (and I will!) these stories, I will come across clues and things that I have missed on my first reading. The stories are far from simple, especially book 2. I will be looking for a book 3 in this series, and am thinking that these books would make a blockbuster movie!

Book Provided by the Publisher

[Orbs n Rings · Rating 5 out of 5]

A woven masterpiece of true inspiration heavenly sent and well explicated by the introspect of Lakins.

This is the first book from the author C.S. Lakin I have ever read and I love how the bible is intermingled with her tale. It is a beautiful story of twin siblings, children of royalty, who risk their lives in search of answers to why their father, the King and their kingdom seem to be falling apart before their eyes. Aletha and Adin are very close as are most twins in real life. Adin who at one time as a young boy was treated lovingly and kindly by his father, is filled with sadness and confusion as now his father treats him like trash due to his deformities. The kings attitude becomes even worse after the death of his children's mother, the beautiful Queen. The King becomes even more hateful towards his only son, while he is eaten away by his greed and egotistical ways. Imposing heavier taxes on the people of his kingdom, the King keeps himself hidden within his walls, where he uses the money for his obsession's, accumulating more and more useless treasures. Luckily for the children they have Reya a nursemaid who raises them with much love and care while their father ignores them throughout their early childhood.

As the years move on and the city of Sherbourne grows deeper and deeper into debt. Aletha and Adin who at first think their father has gone mad begin to learn there is more to their fathers unrest and madness than just a broken heart.

THE MAP ACROSS TIME takes the twins on a journey into the past and although Adin with his deformities struggles in his quest, even failing at times, he makes many friends who help him along the way. One thing that never fails is his love for his twin sister, Aletha who never seems to see him as having deformeties and is always there to guide and comfort him. This tale is rich, warm and inviting and keeps you on your toes wandering what will happen next. I true example of what love can accomplish when strangers become friends for life. I have definitely enjoyed the characters and the settings in this book, at times feeling like I was right in the story myself. Lakin has taken inspiring scripture from the bible and used it throughout this book to bring it to life and in the process teaches many lessons throughout this tale. If you should miss the interpretation of some of the Hebrew words inserted throughout the book you can go to the glossary at back for each meaning and a section on discussions. I am hooked and look forward to Lakins next book in the series "The Land of Darkness."

[Beverly Frisby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Blurb:

The next installment in C.S. Lakin’s multi-part “Gates of Heaven” series, “The Map Across Time” introduces readers to Sherbourne, a fairy tale land of mystic and wonder. The king’s teenage children, Adin and Aletha, use a magical map to travel back in time and find the cure for an ancient curse plaguing the kingdom. A sweeping epic of God’s unfailing love and trust, “The Map Across Time” shows how those who feel they are insignificant and unworthy have merit and serve heaven’s purpose, even if that purpose is hidden. Similar to its prequel and other works by fantasy greats like C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, “The Map Across Time” relies on biblical messages of love, trust, and salvation to drive the story and characters.

Readers who read the first book in the series, “The Wolf of Tebron," will remember the introduction to the first sacred site—abandoned at the base of the Moon’s house. In book two, we learn about the significance of the star, its symbolism to the Keepers and are introduced to the second sacred site. Each book will show a different site—a Gate of Heaven.

As in “The Wolf of Tebron,” the setting is a mythical world inhabited by good and evil. The main characters are fighting not only against an evil enemy, but also their own self-doubts and fears. As the story progresses, Aletha and Adin mature and come of age, learning they are capable of more than they ever thought they could accomplish.

Ms. Lakin continues to paint vivid pictures with her words as she moves the characters across majestic landscapes. The characters that Adin and Aletha meet as they fulfill their destiny are as colorful as the landscape.

The use of Scripture and allegory in Ms. Lakin’s series help to draw the reader in as the characters wander through the story. As the characters find their way home, Ms. Lakin hopes the reader finds their way home to God.

"The Map Across Time" also tells of the beginning of the village of Tebron, introduced in the first book. While it is not necessary to read the first book to understand the second, fans of C.S. Lakin's books and fairy tales will want to read the series as they were written. I highly recommend this treasure of a fairy tale to all readers and can not wait for the third book to be released.

**I received a copy of this book from Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists on behalf of the author for review**

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't wait to write this review... totally cool story!

[Maxine Mathew · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ‘Crown of East’ , Sherbourne is falling apart under the greed and compassionless reign of their ruler. Adin and Aletha, the teenaged twins of the King, wish for some miracle to save their beloved kingdom from destruction. Reya, their nursemaid tells them about a curse that was set in motion at the very beginning of Sherbourne under the rule of the first regent of Sherbourne. It is because of the curse that every King of Sherbourne falls prey to evil. Now, guided by the enigmatic hermit, Adin undertakes a perilous journey to the very origin of the curse following a map across time. His motive is to find the cure to the curse, so that he can save his precious kingdom from falling to ruins and also, save his father from the evil that is ailing him.

The Map Across Time may have an underlying concept derived from the Biblical text but it never becomes too preachy or solely depended upon that concept. The book discusses the evil residing in each one of us which, if not fought against can lead us to our doom. The Map Across Time teaches us the basic lessons of life - about love, benevolence and about rising above self-doubts.

While reading The Map Across Time I had a repeated feeling that I was reading an extended version of a children’s fairy tale.It may be because the characters of the book seemed so similar to those in my childhood fairy tales. Aletha is the beautiful and kindhearted princess. She is anguished to see her beloved city being overrun by riots and poverty. Her twin brother, Adin, is sadly deformed and is thus, shunned by the King. In the hope of gaining his father’s love he goes on a quest to find the elusive firebird for his father, but ends up looking for the cure to the curse that assails his kingdom. Jered is the handsome and brave captain of the militia. Both kind hearted and steadfast, Jered might not be the Charming ‘Prince’ but he has all the qualifications for that post. The character one can’t help but love is O’lam. The wise and jolly healer won my heart over from his very first introduction. Though he may be clumsy in doing chores but is an ace in his profession. He is the kind of lovable character who is more like a grandfather. The knowledge and wisdom that he carries is way superior to anyone else’s.

The Map Across Time had a clear demarcation between the good and the evil. Though both the protagonists are still in their teens, I did not see even a hint of "teen angst" in them. Reading this book, I had a feeling that the author had written her characters in a manner such that the good will always have good thoughts in their mind and the evil will always think evil. This seemed a bit too hard to digest as all people have their grey sides. However, because of the enchanting and exciting story it didn’t worry me unduly as it might have done with some other books. With its unexpected twists and turns, the book kept me hooked to it till the very end. It raises questions self-doubt, greed and evil that provokes us to ponder. The book tells us how each one of them can lead us to our self-destruction if not treated by us at the earliest. The ancient language or the ‘Law’az’, which is derived from the Hebrew language, adds to the magical and ‘epic’ quality of the book, though it does seem tedious at first to flip to the last page every time we stumble across a new word. By the end everything mysterious or hidden from the reader is revealed gradually and at the right moment.

The Map Across Time may not have been without its shortcomings, but I couldn’t help but give it a 5 as this book is truly original, magical and engaging.

[Rachel Thomson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second book in C.S. Lakin’s “The Gates of Heaven” series follows The Wolf of Tebron with an adventure tale that echoes the tone and tropes of many a classic fairy tale—with a lot of ancient Hebrew and a little Dr. Who thrown in for good measure.

The kingdom of Sherbourne is under a curse. Its broken walls, crumbling since the days of the ancient battle for which they were first built, are an appropriate symbol for what is happening on the inside: the queen is dead, withered away by a mysterious sickness, the king is going mad with greed, and a group of whispering, plotting counselors is taking over.

Adin and Aletha, the twin children of the king, feel powerless to stop what is happening. Aletha is beautiful and passionate, but though she attends meetings of the city council and tries to influence the king’s policies, she has no real voice. Adin, the heir, is marred by a hunched back, a bum leg, and a twisted face—and his father hates him.

Eighteen years of age, the twins’ devotion to each other is all that gives them hope and life—that, and a strange memory of a man who told them, on the eve of their mother’s death, that she wasn’t really dead . . .

When a man stumbles into the king’s path claiming to have been blinded by the beauty and brilliance of the mythical firebird, the king is so obsessed with claiming the creature that he promises Aletha’s hand in marriage to anyone who can capture it. Horrified, Adin sets out to find the firebird himself and so save his adored twin from a fate probably worse than death. But an encounter with a talking pig named Winston and a mysterious, long-haired hermit set him on a very different path—

Through time.

The curse, as his anachronistic nurse Reya has long told him, is real. It began centuries before during the reign of the first Regent of Sherbourne. And only Adin, armed with a painted map that will take him through time and a heart that longs to prove himself, can stop the curse from playing out to its final, destructive end.

The Map Across Time is a fairy tale through and through. The talking pig (in a land where all other animals stay silent, thank you very much), the beautiful princess, the good-hearted but despised son (he’s not a “younger son,” but certainly in spirit he is), the nursemaid who is more than she seems to be—all these elements root this story firmly in the genre of all those stories I read in Classics Illustrated as a little kid. It also has biblical roots, of a sort: the “old language” spoken by the nursemaid and the early inhabitants of Sherbourne is Hebrew, and concepts of sin, atonement, and above all, providence are very much present.

(That’s not to say this is an allegory. There is no straight allegory here; if there was, I would call it problematic, for various reasons. The themes are Christian but don’t have to be—they could easily be made to fit other worldviews. I found this to be true in Wolf of Tebron as well.)

C.S. Lakin’s writing is lyrical, although I found this book lacked some of the beauty of The Wolf of Tebron. The use of Hebrew words struck me as distracting at times, taking away from the narrative rhythm. Still, the story is faster paced than Wolf, and the characters are immediately sympathetic. The climax unfolds with an almost luxurious slowness, but is incredibly satisfying—and fascinating—to watch.

Oh—and once again, the cover art is gorgeous.

[Kat Heckenbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first book in C.S. Lakin's Gates of Heaven Series, The Wolf of Tebron . I'd read Grace Bridges' review and it sounded like something right up my alley--"a fairy tale for adults." It's a great story.

I liked The Map Across Time even better, though!

The Gates of Heaven series isn't a real series in that the books can be read out of order. They take place in the same world, but aren't necessarily chronological.

The Map Across Time is the story of twins, Adin and Aletha. Their mother the queen is deathly ill. Their father the king is suffering the effects of the curse that has invaded their land. Their future is doomed until Adin stumbles across a talking pig who brings him to a hermit's house. And the hermit leads Adin to a map that will take him back in time, where Adin must find the cause of the curse and its cure.

The concept is simple. The execution is not. The story is complex, and rich, and twisty is such a lovely way! Time travel is one of those concepts that makes my brain feel as if it's being pinched. I just can't wrap my mind around the paradox. Lakin, though, laid out a story that wove the crossed-over timeline perfectly. Brilliant.

The only--and I mean only--thing that bothered me was the use of the "old language." Where words in italics were thrown in here and there, words that all seemed to have randomly placed apostrophes. I doubt this will bother most people, but it is a pet peeve of mine. I will say that their use thinned out as the book went on, and it never once got even close to bugging me enough to make me stop reading. Every ounce of the rest of the book was enjoyable. And the use of the old language was actually integral to the plot!

I highly recommend the book for fantasy and fairy tale fans.


My Website
Find me on Facebook
My YA fantasy series:
book 1

book 2

[Cheryl Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

TheMap Across Time:Gates of Heaven Series is a fairy tale of the finest kind- full of adventure, intrigue and don't forget to throw in a little time travel! Map Across time is C.S. Lakin's second offering in her "Gates of Heaven series". Her first being the Wolf of Tebron. Those who have read the first book will appreciate a lot of the background given in this book on the history of how the town of Tebron came to be, but you really can enjoy The Map Across time without having read The Wolf of Tebron.
The Map across Time is a truly intricate tale about 2 twins-Aletha and Adin, prince and princess of Sherbourne with many sad predicaments in their kingdom. A dying Queen mother, a completely distracted and greed driven King father, and a dreadful curse that is taking over the kingdom in destructive and all encompassing ways. Adin needs to take a trek across time and return to the past to try and correct mistakes made there, in order to lift the curse that is systematically destroying the Kingdom. Aletha's bond to her twin brother is strong and she finds a way to follow him into the past to help lift the curse. Along the way there are many that help them and a talking pig Winston was one of my favorites.
There are many great proverbs and scripture woven into the story in a really delightful way. The author also used the Old language or law'az, better known as the author puts it as "a liberal derivation of ancient Hebrew". As a tip to the reader, there is a glossary in the back to help with defintions- I just kept a bookmark there for easy reference, but most of the time the context would help you figure out what the word meant.
Yes, I was a lover of Fairy tales as a little girl and this grown up version is just as satisfying as the tales of old. It truly is a wonderful read and I am adding C. S. Lakin to my favorite author's list. Loved it!

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long ago, the fate of the kingdom of Sherbourne was sealed. Somehow, a darkness was let loose and like a plague it continues to spread in the present day. It was this darkness that killed the queen. It is also this darkness that urges the king to foolishly focus on finding treasure completely ignoring his people’s needs. Eventually, the darkness will consume the entire kingdom and Sherbourne will be forever forgotten.

Something must be done to save the kingdom. With the king on the brink of insanity, the responsibility must fall to the King’s twins Aletha and Adin. How can you change the past though? After all, what has happened has already come to pass. Even if you could travel to the past, how would you find the cause of the darkness? How would that knowledge help you in the future?

The Map Across Time adeptly weaves past and present together. Answers lay in both the past and the present (and back again). Meaning and purpose of key information is often uncovered in its own time. At times, you almost need a scorecard requiring careful reading but nonetheless this is a thoroughly entertaining tale.

[Tawallah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes a random pick from your library can unearth a new treasure. This book has been a challenge to read and assimilate until the last hundred pages when it all finally came together.

The Map Across Time is billed as a fairy tale but has heavily influenced by the Bible (mainly Hebrew Old Testament). I suspect this is meant as an antidote to the more popular works that flooded the market at the time. In this tale we follow Aletha and Adin, twins whose life seems far from being a fairy tale. Their mother is dying and life in their town of Sherbourne has been failing apart. The King is distant and becomes consumed by his loss. But the nursemaid Reya is crucial to the future of these twins who have a difficult road ahead of them.

Now I was pleasantly surprised that our main protagonist, Adin is differently abled and Aletha is no princess in distress. And with such a start this book bucks every expected trend that occurs. Whilst it seems to follow the YA trope of the missing/absent parents, just remember appearances are deceiving. By the end, portions are predictable but the setup is far from what you have been conditioned to anticipate. Yes, there is magic but how magic is explored still fits into the Biblical framework. Magic is more of a struggle between good and evil for the most part. But I am aware that this could be divisive even among believers as I had to struggle with content at times. But at the end, I would recommend this story. It is an example of providing Biblical mores without being overly preachy. And it is a well plotted coming of age story.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE MAP ACROSS TIME is an awesome book for creativity and enjoyment. I loved it so much.

It was kind of confusing at first when Adin is going back and forth in time and saw himself doing something he already did then he goes back in time again and .... kind of weird.

A lot of it I didn't understand, but it was fun. And it was a fairy tale and they are always hard to understand, right?

I received a copy free. All opinions are my own.

[Sherrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writer takes you into a fantasy world and will take you back through time to find a curse that changed the world. Adin and Aletha, are fraternal twins and are the prince and princess of Sherborne. They have to travel through time to find the curse that changed the world. This is a wonderful fairy tale of evil and good. It is also the second book of the series. The first book is Wolf of Tebron. The book cover is awesome. It lets your imagination conjure all kinds of things. Do Aletha dnd Adin find the curse and destroy it? You'll have to read the book to find out.

[This is a free review book.]

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Map Across Time by C.S. Lakin
Review by Kara Grant

An ancient curse plagues the kingdom of Sherbourne, and unless it is stopped, all will fall to ruin. The King, obsessed with greed, cannot see the danger. But his teenage twin children, Aletha and Adin, know they must act. A hermit leads Adin to a magical map that will send him back in time to discover the origin of the curse. Once back, Adin must find the Keeper, who protects the Gate of Heaven, but all he has is a symbol as a clue to guide him. Unbeknown to Adin, Aletha follows her brother, but they both arrive in Sherbourne’s past at the precipice of a great war, and there is little time to discover how to counteract the curse.

One unexpected disaster after another forces the twins to make difficult choices. Adin’s only hope to correct the past is to return to the future to manipulate events so his quest can succeed. Through his trials and failures, Adin learns that nothing can stop heaven from accomplishing its goal, and that all events work for the good of those who trust heaven. An epic fairy tale with surprising twists, embracing the enduring power of love and faith (from Christianbook.com and back cover).

This book has 25 ratings of an average of 5 stars on amazon.com.

http://www.familyfiction.com/magazine... please see page 36 of this magazine for a 5 question interview with C.S. Lakin in the Feb/March 2012 issue

My review: When the story begins Adin and Aletha’s mother, the queen of Sherbourne, is dying. Since this book is all about the twins and their journeys, we know nothing about the queen yet I was touched by her death and it leads to profound consequences in the plot. The first thing I noticed was that Adin and Aletha are very close and every decision they make is to protect one another as well as their kingdom. They are 10 years old when the book starts, but by the end of the story they are both well along in age. I found this story to be very precious as I have two younger brothers that I adore and feel just as protective about. This story reminded me of The Lord of the Rings, without the ring :)

The Queen’s dying words to the nursemaid, Reya, are ‘Love is as strong as death.’ This is repeated throughout the story, “Set me as a seal upon your heart. Love is as strong as death.” I was very encouraged by this biblical reference (Song of Solomon 8:6-7) and it reminded me of the song by Misty Edwards and Jesus Culture, You Won’t Relent. Here is the link to that song on youtube.com: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFdeOT...

What do you and your sister do when your mom dies, the king’s three councillors are evil, the king himself is under a wicked enchantment, and there is an ancient curse over the kingdom threatening to destroy all hope and order within the land? You go on a quest to find the cure for this curse and you don’t yield until your destiny has been reached. I really enjoyed that whenever Adin and Aletha were separated that their hearts ached for one another. They were connected much deeper than their DNA and that bond was part of their journey.

After the queen dies the king sinks deeper into bitterness, anger, and arrogance. He detests Adin and he believes the lies his councillors feed him making him more detached and resentful. Adin is finally faced with a dilemma and that prompts him to go on a quest. He was born with a hunched back and other physical deformities yet his heart is honorable. His body is constantly weary and sore. He is continuously amazed at the revelation that he is chosen to bring justice to his kingdom with all his physical weaknesses yet there is a calling he cannot deny. Adin and Aletha have the gift of sight, which to me meant they could see in the spirit enabling them to find answers and understand what was going on.

Even though this was a fantasy novel, there was wickedness that had to be fought. This was the violence dealt with in the story:
*one scene where a man get his throat slit and blood goes everywhere (blood is important to the story)


*one scene where a group of ravens attack one of the main characters and his face and body are damaged from the attack


*I was uncomfortable with the way the king looks at his daughter at one point, but he is under a spell and she retreats before anything happens


*one of the main characters has a disturbing dream before going to battle

*Adin helps the wounded at one point and there is lots of blood
None of these incidences take away the enjoyment or the magic of the story, but if you want to share this book with kids then be aware of those instances. There is a lot of value in this book, but it’s realistic about the existence of evil.

This story is divided into 5 parts, it has discussion questions and a glossary is included. There are also several biblical references including the stories of Cain & Abel, Moses and the parting of the sea, and Jesus walking on water. They are briefly mentioned as the reasoning for magic and its existence. The scriptural references are listed in the back of the book, but you recognize them throughout the story if you’re familiar with the Bible.

Here is an excerpt that gives insight to the story:
“Aletha looked deep into O’lam’s eyes and, like the first time, she lost herself in their inky depths. A powerful feeling swept her along, that huge pull of destiny calling her. Behind O’lam’s eyes, a vision materialized…Tears poured down Aletha’s face, but she did not wrest her gaze from the healer’s eyes. There was more. She watched herself riding in a carriage, Jered by her side. A team of horses heading west, and the Sawtooth Mountains rising before them in splendor. Trunks full of clothing, and gifts from the regent, piled behind the seat. A cottage nestled at the foot of giant trees, with smoke rising from the chimney. A baby in her arms, and Jered cooing over him. Aletha gasped in joy.”

With Map Across Time, the journey is just as important as the destination. Throughout the journey is when you learn what you’re capable of, what your purpose is, and what it will take for your faith to increase. I also learned that even though you understand your calling does not mean you will know each step in advance, it does not mean that you are in control, and it does not mean that you will be fearless. During the journey, your task is to obey and surrender even when you make mistakes. It is repeated during Map that nothing can stop the will of Heaven; not evil, not weakness, not failure.

This book is filled with adventure, good versus evil, family, restoration, beauty and mystery. There is lots of symbolism in this story and faith plays a big role. I recommend The Map Across Time to anyone who enjoys a good story filled with biblical wisdom without religion or preaching. You will be encouraged, you will be inspired, but mostly you will learn that finding your way will cost you everything, but it will lead you home.
*Lakin has two websites for writers: www.livewritethrive.com with deep writing instruction and posts on industry trends.
*Her site www.CritiqueMyManuscript.com features her critique services. *http://www.gatesofheavenseries.com (to learn more about the series) *Follow her on Twitter: @cslakin and @livewritethrive and Like her Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/C.S.Lakin.Author

I want to thank C.S. Lakin for sending me a copy for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Lois · Rating 5 out of 5]

C.S. Lakin writes the following of The Map Across Time: A Fairy Tale: “I know it sounds arrogant, but it is my favorite book in all the world and it is comforting, inspiring and moving. And because there is so much in there about me and my struggles in life, my dreams and hopes, it is a part of me I wouldn’t want to be without.”

The second tale in the Gates of Heaven series, The Map Across Time: A Fairy Tale contains many of the elements that are also present in the first tale, The Wolf of Tebron, and then some more. Both tales are set in a mythical world that is permeated with a sense of both good and evil—a world in which the leading protagonists are required to battle not only external forces that seem to be beyond their control, but also their own inner demons of fear, anxiety and self-doubt. The tales are most definitely coming of age novels, in which the well-rounded characters come increasingly into their own as they both literally and metaphorically navigate their way across a landscape that is lovingly, though at times fearfully, depicted. C.S. Lakin may be a writer of fantasies, but she is also, at heart, very much the realist, who is fully aware of the complexities of living in a diverse world. Her sensitive appreciation of all things both natural and supernatural resonates throughout her work, in which she not only shows her heightened appreciation for the tangible aspects of our existence, but also her sustained awareness of matters transcending our mortal coil. Lakin expresses a deeper intent with the series, which she voices in a statement regarding her broad purpose in writing this series of adventure tales for adults: “Although these books are clearly future-based and involve Scripture and allegory, my mission is to reconcile a lost world to God, for as my characters wander lost through the pages of my books, my readers wander with them, until they find they are home.” Coming home to self and to the microcosm of the wider world that surrounds one is, thus, pivotal to both The Wolf of Tebron and The Map Across Time. Both works, in addition to being inspiring and deeply moving, are also highly accessible, on no matter which level you read them.

Ideal for the general reader, who does not need to be faith-based to enjoy it, The Map Across Time: A Fairy Tale can be read on its own, as, although the themes and part of the story have some bearing on the earlier The Wolf of Tebron, the story can also be considered to be self-contained and capable of standing on its own two feet. For any avid follower of fantasy, I would most definitely recommend investing in the whole series as it appears—you will most definitely not wish to miss out on any of the tales, and I look forward to the day when the Gates of Heaven series comes to rival other, much less meritorious, works of fantasy that have so come to dominate the mass media market in recent years.
 

[Ashley Wahlert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the most well written book. There are at least two bad transitions between points of view that mad it hard to follow. This book was infuriating at first, but the longer I read it the more I realized that the message was more important than the quality of the book.

There was also the intermingling of words based off of Hebrew which just felt wrong at times. If you have the word brother, why would you use another word such as, ach? What language do they speak, "English " or law'az?

I waited almost three years to read this book, after having read the first one. I find it ironic that I am reading a book about God's timing and destiny at a time in my life when I am actually trying to commit my life to God and his plans for me. I may have enjoyed it as a high schooler, but reading it now I have a better understanding of the content than I would have then.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great time travel/split infinity fairy tale! I loved it!

[Rolena Weber · Rating 4 out of 5]

The foreshadowing was amazing! Middle part was a little slow but the last half has some great reveals that are a little mind blowing!

[Fred Warren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evil hovers over the kingdom of Sherbourne as its dying queen summons her children to her bedside for the last time. She gives her son Adin and his twin sister Aletha matching lockets, inscribed with mysterious words written in a lost language.

The next day, a strange man emerges from the shadows of the royal garden to offer comfort–and an incredible message: “Your mother lives!”

The twins aren’t sure how to interpret this, but they press on with their lives and try to cope with the grief of their mother’s passing. Their father the King descends into depression and a dark obsession with capturing exotic beasts. Adin, rejected by his father because of his crippling physical deformities, decides to make one last effort to prove himself and save his crumbling family. He sets off on a quest to find the legendary Firebird, a magical creature that is the focus of the King’s obsession.

He hasn’t traveled far before he’s detoured onto another quest, a dangerous journey across time and space that may hold the answer to the mystery surrounding his mother’s death–and to unlocking the sinister curse that holds Sherbourne in its grip. Aletha discovers her brother’s disappearance and is drawn into a quest of her own–for her destiny, and Adin’s, and the past, present, and future of the kingdom of Sherbourne, are woven together in a way no one could ever have imagined.

And it all begins with a talking pig.

The Map Across Time, the second book in C.S. Lakin’s The Gates of Heaven series, is an epic fantasy much broader in scope than the first volume, The Wolf of Tebron, which I reviewed here a few months ago. It’s a beautifully-written story full of warmth, joy, hope, and courage.

There is Judeo-Christian allegory here, but as in The Wolf of Tebron, it’s better experienced and absorbed via the storytelling than by detailed analysis. Some obvious connections are made with the wisdom literature of the Bible, particularly Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, and the story is sprinkled with epigrams from those sources. The ancient language of Sherbourne, imbued with a magical power all its own, is derived from ancient Hebrew.

As the title of the book implies, Adin’s and Aletha’s quests involve time travel, and I thought Ms. Lakin did a good job negotiating the inevitable twists and paradoxes that accumulate with each trip backward or forward in time. She uses the final paradox to good advantage as an illustration that “happily ever after” doesn’t necessarily mean getting everything we’ve ever wanted. Actions that seem unimportant become pivotal to the ultimate success of Adin’s and Aletha’s quests, a powerful reminder that the journey is just as important, if not more so, than the destination. Although noble actions and wise choices are rewarded in the end, notably after perseverance through extreme hardship, our heroes still must make sacrifices along the way. Even in well-doing, there is a cost, and it is not insignificant.

There is plenty of conflict in The Map Across Time, but there are few physical battles. This story is about seeking and finding, and the real battles are fought within the hearts and minds of our heroes. The forces of evil are subtle and disguised, and the effects of their machinations are not immediately apparent. Allies of good are not always obvious and often much more engaged and active than they appear to be. Adin must grapple with his own feelings of insignificance and inferiority as well as the physical limitations of his painful handicaps.

I’ve quibbled before about whether these stories are fairy tales, and while there are certainly elements of that sort of storytelling here, with some clear nods to classic folktales, The Map Across Time reads even more like a conventional fantasy with modern sensibilities than did The Wolf of Tebron. Some themes are similar–the power of love, the importance of family, redemption and reconciliation, and the getting of wisdom, but in this story, Lakin also wrestles with the meaning of destiny, how our fate is shaped by the choices we make, and how the call to service is intertwined with the preparation to fulfill it. Where The Wolf of Tebron was more focused on the relationships between husband and wife, and father and son, The Map Across Time portrays a strong, loving, mutually-protective relationship between brother and sister, and this relationship is the engine that drives the story.

I enjoyed The Map Across Time very much and would recommend it to anyone looking for an absorbing fantasy adventure. It would be a fine choice for family reading around the fireplace. I look forward to the next volume in The Gates of Heaven series.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

The kingdom of Sherbourne is in dire straits. The King is consumed with greed and self-centeredness. The councilors are well aware of the King's status and are using it, feeding it, and perverting it to their own nefarious ends, and meanwhile, the citizens are suffering through worsening conditions with uncaring counselors and an oblivious monarch. But not all of the King's family is oblivious. His twin children, Princess Aletha and Prince Adin are heartbroken by the state of the kingdom. They try to get through to the King and outmaneuver the evil councilors, but they just can't get through, and worse, the King is becoming convinced the Prince is conspiring against him. Adin hopes to win his father's approval by finding the elusive firebird (the latest of the King's obsessions), but his quest changes after he runs into a talking pig and a strange hermit. They set him off to find the Map of Time which will allow him to go back to the start of the kingdom and find out the cure to the ancient curse set upon the land that is now twisting his father and sending the land to ruin. Aletha, unable to do anything at home, and concerned about her brother (who has a deformed back and leg), follows his footsteps back in time. There, the two find themselves integral in the battle for the Kingdom's survival, while still separated and trying to find the answer to the curse and each other. And I really can't tell anymore without spoiling some major points in the plot. And I'm not going to even try and explain because there are several time paradoxes that become involved, and the end of the book requires a bit of concentration to follow. But it does have a good ending.

Lakin does a great job of weaving an engrossing tale that has plenty of adventure, a touch of romance, and humor that obviously took a lot of mastermind plot building with all the convoluted time travel touches. (That said, I wouldn't read the last third of the book when tired. It could be a little hard to keep straight which character you're following and when. For the same reason, I'd peg this as better for upper middle grade students and above. Any younger, you may need to do it as a read-aloud to help them keep thing straight.) There is a subtle link to The Wolf of Tebron in the book, but primarily this is an entirely separate plot that happens to take place in the same world. You don't need to have read the first book in the series to enjoy this one. Adin and Aletha learn some subtle important lessons along the way, but the book does not bash people over the head with Christian teachings. Many Bible verses, primarily Proverbs, are woven into the story as wise sayings from the original regent of Sherbourne. Lakin is at the top of the game as far as Christian fantasy for children goes. Few other modern writers can pull off a story that doesn't feel like second rate writing or a cheap rip-off of a secular series. I greatly appreciate her contributions to the book world. They are original and refreshingly well-written.

Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content beyond a kiss, though the way the King starts treating his grown daughter is a little creepy. There are a couple battles in the book, so there are people wounded in fights with swords. A person is stabbed. Another person is attacked by birds, and one man is practically beheaded.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, you can’t help but love an author who writes under the initials C.S. especially when they have the fortuitous last name of Lakin. But while that might earn the book a grin and maybe even get you to pick up a copy, it is the quality of the books themselves that will keep you coming back to The Gates of Heaven series.

The Gates of Heaven are probably best described as mythic faerie tales. Events tend to take place at a high spiritual level than most faerie tales, but there is definitely a hint of each story being a popular folk tale handed down through the generations. An observant reader will realize that this is specifically a review for The Map Across Time, which is technically the second book in the series. However, while there are nice moments when the different stories cross paths, each book is a standalone title. The Map Across Time happens to my favorite and, in my opinion, the best of the series.

Why? Well, it’s a time-travel fantasy book. The twins Adin and Aletha’s world crumbles around them after the death of their mother the queen. Evil advisers and his own grief are unbalancing their father, and the twin both begin to fear for themselves and for each other. When the king offers Aletha’s hand in marriage to whoever captures an elusive Firebird, Adin, though badly crippled from birth, sets out to catch the bird and spare his sister from a forced marriage. However, his journey leads him not across the kingdom, but across time itself.

Time travel is one of the top plots that authors seem to struggle with. Most time travel tales require massive suspension of disbelief on the part of the reader and don’t hold up well to people poking at them for plot holes. Once you get over the concept of time travel itself, Mrs. Lakin does a superb job handling her tricky subject. I poked at it just for fun and found it held up very well. Gushing over the complexities that came together so neatly in the end would, of course, give too much away, but I think even people who prefer science fiction to fantasy would enjoy how perfectly the time travel elements work for this story.
As with all The Gates of Heaven books, Mrs. Lakin uses an older form of writing similar to that of George MacDonald. Once again succeeding where many fail, her prose remains remarkably consistent throughout the book, never once sounding like an actor who can’t remember which accent to be using. She constantly drops words and phrases from an older high tongue, but there’s never any doubt about what they mean, and they provide depth instead of confusion. Like MacDonald’s books, The Gates of Heaven series would make wonderful read alouds for younger kids who can’t quite parse the older sentence structures yet, but, also like MacDonald, there are some very dark elements at times which certainly enhance the story but might prove a bit too dark for some children.

Reblogged from my site: www.myrdan.com
My thanks to Living Ink Books for providing me with a copy of The Map Across Time via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest opinion of the book.

[Michelle Brock · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've read and enjoyed quite a bit of juvenile and adult fantasy over the years, including both excellent and adequate Christian fantasy.

Any good fantasy (Christian or otherwise) must be true: people (and other characters) may have unusual, other-worldly appearances or qualities, but their motives and reactions and personalities will be recognizable and traceable. People act in certain ways for a reason, and the best authors of any world view show a keen understanding of people as they write about them.

In the Map Across Time, although the people are quite likable characters, they do not always ring true. They seem simple, and their actions often spring up inconsistently or abruptly from their thoughts or experiences. For example, there's little evidence of any internal truth or strength that the disabled protagonist holds that would provide protection from the hatred of his father. He feels unworthy, but he snaps right out of his downtrodden frame of mind when given a quest.

These problems aside, as a generic fantasy, it's a nice story, with a bunch of random elements that fantasy readers enjoy.

As Christian fantasy, the story fails more seriously. To be truly Christian, the rules of the fantasy world should have a unity that is based strongly on the truths of the Bible. These truths are not always stated explicitly, but they will be consistent with the normative fantasy world and characters. Characters in a Christian fantasy world fight evil in a way that mirrors the Bible. The nature of man should be the same in a Christian fantasy as it is here on earth. Most Christian fiction has a broad evangelical protestant worldview. There's room for differences, but in essentials there's a remarkable amount of agreement. Map Across Time isn't a Christian book in this sense. Yes, the characters quote proverbs that give them hope and help them make good decisions. Yes, there are reflections of the one true story, but all stories to some extent show glimpses of this reality. In spite of the proverbs and the Hebrew vocabulary, I found my biblical world view repeatedly opposed. The king is not evil, we are told. Evil has corrupted him so that the good in him is unable to fight for supremacy. In this way, man is not culpable for his wrongs. In fact, once the curse is lifted, the good nature comes immediately back in its entirety and purity. In another example, a protagonist is told to use his second sight to study evil so he will recognize it. Actually, students of the Bible find far more emphasis on studying what is true and right. These are not insignificant departures from Scriptural principles. Ultimately, Lakin isn't coming from a theological framework that I recognize.

I wanted to enjoy this book, but I didn't.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This truly is a "modern" fairy tale (not in the sense that it takes place in modern times, but that it is a modern book). Don't go into it expecting any more, or any less.

C.S. Lakin weaves a wonderful tale that deepens as the story progresses. Bear with the beginning--there's a bit of "information dumping" at times, but this dissipates as you delve farther into the story.

Adin and Aletha are both wonderful characters that I grew to love by the end. Although I was disappointed that a couple questions did not get answered and I thought that some sub-plots were not happily wrapped up, I thought that the ending was satisfying.

I also loved the way Ms. Lakin constructed the idea of time-travel in a fantasy realm. It was original and intriguing, offering nice foreshadowing without giving away the entire story.

I also enjoyed the tie-in to the first book in the series The Wolf of Tebron. However, it is not necessary to have read the first book to understand the second--they are entirely separate stories.

I would recommend this book to any Christian who likes fantasy and fairy tales who enjoys a strong moral to the story. Although there is some romance, I would say that those who don't like romance in their stories will still enjoy it. Good job, Ms. Lakin! I look forward to reading more of your books in the future.

[Lori Twichell · Rating 3 out of 5]

C.S. Lakin’s fantasy adventure of siblings racing back and forth through time to save their kingdom was more than just an enjoyable ride. It was fun, fascinating, and a highly recommended read for anyone who enjoys fantasy or time travel for that matter. With plot lines that twist, turn, do loop de loops and characters that are delightfully tromping through past, present and future all at once, this book was reminiscent of some of the adventures one might find in Narnia. Bible verses firmly planted throughout the story keep it grounded in truth while the characters live out their faith through daily journeys that hearken back to The Pilgrim’s Progress.

I thoroughly enjoyed this adventure and would recommend it as a good read for parents with their tweens or teens. There are lots of conversation starters that could lead into good dialogue about daily hardships or trials.

Lakin has also built into this adventure some mind bending twists that are sure to delight anyone who is a fan of science fiction or time travel.

A wholly delightful adventure packed with perfectly crafted reminders of faith, core values and Biblical truths, this book is a great read that makes you wonder what Lakin may have up her sleeve next.


Review copy provided by Phenix and Phenix – thank you!

[Brittney Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book was a great installment to the Gates of Heaven series, continuing the strong pace set forth by the first installment, The Wolf of Trebron. However, there were a few miscellaneous things that added up to it being knocked down a star.

There was some major editing flaws, which is not the fault of the writer, but of the editor. However, they did get rather annoying and because I felt the compulsion to fix them, they took me out of the stream of the narrative and messed with my enjoyment a little. Also, the interacting threads of the story were kind of hard to keep track of and sometimes I would get a little lost and fall out of the story. Finally, she gave no sign when she was switching perspectives and I would get a little confused. Some sign or symbol would have alleviated this problem, and would have made the book more beautiful, especially if designed well.

If you just base my love of this story on the narrative itself and not the small mistakes, then I think this book is a solid 4 to 4.5 stars, and I am looking forward to reading the next installment in this series.

[Pegg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable tale with more twists and turns than your small intestine. Okay, that's a little graphic, but you get the picture! A classic fantasy romp through a kingdom - and through time - involving all the usual elements of wizardry, good-vs-evil, men swinging swords, and at least one pretty princess. Some rather unusual elements make their way into this one as well, like a talking pig and a map that pulls the holder through time.

The characters are good and diverse, some an open book, others with an air of mystery. The setting is very well done. The tension is in all the right places and keeps the reader flipping the pages. My only complaint is the overuse of words that mean nothing... in English. There was a glossary in the back but it pulled me out of the story to stop and look them up, so I just ignored them and missed the meaning most of those words.

I highly recommend this one to folks who enjoy a complex tale of daring-do!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series has become one of my all-time favorites. The world of these books is guarded at key locations by gatekeepers who protect gateways to heaven. In each book, a gateway is threatened by evil forces that want to destroy all that is good and beautiful. The characters change in each book, but this theme ties the books together.

This story has a fascinating device, a map which leads the main character through time as he walks the path set before him. I found myself breathless as I waited to discover whether the brother and sister would find each other, following their parallel stories. Even more than the first one, I found this book hard to put down.

When I read the first book in this series, I had long despaired of finding a modern Christian fiction author to compare to my favorites, C. S. Lewis and George MacDonald. I feel that I have now discovered new fantasy books that are really worth reading.

[J.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story. It was slow at the beginning, and the constant Hebrew-ish words thrown in, while they were interesting in a way, became distracting and occasionally irritating. However, once I got about a third of the way into the book, I was hooked and kept reading in every spare moment. The intricacy of the plot is excellent. . .though I still can't wrap my mind around the very odd resolution. It seemed more Dr. Who than fairytale (I don't want to write a spoiler, but read the book and you'll understand). But then it was also quite cleverly done. . .
Dr. Who-ness aside, I will recommend this book to other fantasy lovers. It is fun and intriguing, and I would like to read further books in the series. They do seem to get better as they go, as I liked this one more than Book 1.