Book Review: Wolf Soldier by James R. Hannibal

I’ll admit I had my doubts when I started listening to Wolf Soldier on audiobook. James R. Hannibal was not being subtle in the slightest when it came to including Christian values in his story. The main character is a shepherd boy who joins an academy to become a Lightraider, a servant of a god very much like my own who sent his son to die to save his people. I recognized many Bible verses woven into the story and I struggled to see how this story could be accepted by people.

I discovered Wolf Soldier by James R. Hannibal by attending the Realm Makers Christian Writing Conference last summer. It’s been going on for years and I didn’t know about until 2023 when a literary agent I pitched to suggested it to me. Before Realm Makers, I had a lot of discouragement. I researched on my own on how to get published and queried over 100 literary agents because that’s what I read online that you needed to do. You needed a literary agent to get published. All those agents I queried rejected me. I continued my research and searched for an agent that would be my story’s perfect fit, but all I found was agents that wanted LGBT+ or underrepresented writers. They wanted risky. They wanted dark. They wanted stories that pushed morale boundaries. I remember the Zoom calls I had with a couple agents that I pitched to. When I told them I was a Christian writer, I lost some of their interest.

Fast forward to January 2025 and I’m listening to Wolf Soldier by James R. Hannibal on audiobook. Here is a published author with so many parallels to the Bible in the story that I lost count of them all. Here is a story with scripture stamped within it. A story that has thrown subtly so far out the window that it might as well be lost in space. The more I listened to Wolf Soldier, the more I loved it. The story paints a great picture of what it means to be a Lightraider, a Christian, and it made me want to be more of a Lightraider too. Through the actions of the characters, you see what it means to hold scripture in your heart. To have faith and to not be afraid. You see how important it is to look out for one another and why even your enemy deserves grace.

Wolf Soldier restored a lot of hope for me. Hope that I finally found a place were my own novel can fit in. Maybe it’s with the “cool kids of fantasy” as that agent called them, at Realm Makers. The more I progressed through Wolf Soldier, the more I started to notice some parallels to my own novel. I believe I can use Wolf Soldier as a comparison novel to my manuscript for when I pitch to publishers again. Lord willing, my own story can make an impact on someone like Wolf Soldier did for me. Wolf Soldier is a part of the Lightraider Academy series. Bear Knight is the second book. Unfortunately for me, my library does not have Bear Knight, yet. Somehow, I will get my hands on it.

I want to thank James R. Hannibal for his story and the hope it spreads. If you are a Christian reader, I strongly recommend reading it.

What Does Time Say About You?

They say what you give your time to reflects what you care about. Family, hobbies, work, you name it. So, what do you give your time to? Is your time focused on yourself? On others? Do you give too much of your time by overcommitting and not providing yourself with self-care? What does your time say about you?

I’ll admit that when I look back at how I spend my free time these days, I’m not proud of what I see. I’m guilty of being slothful on the couch at the end of the day. I’m guilty of not representing the best attitude at work. It’s something I want to work on. I want to be able to look back at these moments in time and like who I was. Someone passionate. Someone bold enough to pursue her dreams. Someone who didn’t waste time.

How about we work on improvement together? Pick one thing each day that you want to see yourself grow toward. Whether it’s taking five minutes for yourself or disciplining yourself to accomplish more each day. How do you want to improve? What do you want your time to say about you?

The Pounce

What is something simple that gives you inexplicable joy?

For me, it’s a cat’s pounce. Domestic, exotic, big or small, it doesn’t matter. Something about a cat about to pounce makes me smile and start giggling. I have to cover my mouth to stay silent.

Take my kitten, for example. She loves her wand toy with curly ribbons on the end. When she gets tired from chasing it through every room, she starts hiding behind her other toys or boxes to stalk after it like a tiger in the jungle. I love watching her. She’s not at all hidden by whatever she crouches behind, so it’s a good thing her hunting skills are just for play. I can always tell when the toy gets her attention. Her eyes grow as round as the new moon, then she drops down into her hunter’s crouch. When she’s tired, I have to go slow with the toy, inch it along like it’s a little mouse. Then, comes the best part. Her little butt wiggles with the shifting of her paws as she’s judging distance, obstacles, and the perfect moment to strike. This is the part where I start giggling and have to cover my mouth to not ruin her hunt.

I almost feel bad for enjoying her pounces too much. Cats. These mighty hunters are simply too cute when they’re about to pounce.

Mush

Sitting. Staring. Got nothing for the page.

What a week, I think. Full of tears, frustrations, and rage.

A surprise high, an immediate low. Efforts wasted and we question where to go.

The brain is mush and the pen is weighed. It’s that kind of week where you just feel hated.

A bit of sleep. Time to rest. You think that’s all you need.

A night or two, a day with nothing to do, but it’s gone before you can succeed.

A deep breath and a heavy sigh. Your muscles feel like thin little fries.

A big ol’ yawn. A cat on your lap.

Yeah. That’s it. It’s time for a nap.

Just a Reminder

Because sometimes we need it.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” ~ Jeremiah 29:11

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” ~ Ephesians 3:20

“The light shines in the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it.” ~ John 1:5

“I love you, Lord, you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, my savior. My God is my rock in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.” ~Psalm 18:1-2

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” ~ Philippians 4:6

Day After Tragedy

The day after tragedy feels like the hardest.

Silence takes the room when you enter.

You don’t look up, but all eyes are on you.

They know that you’re grieving.

They don’t know what to do.

You try to smile. Say it’s okay.

You try to act like it’s any other day.

Condolences are then given.

Kindness brings you to tears.

But you almost wish you had deaf ears.

You want to move on, push through what happened.

You don’t want to acknowledge that your heart is saddened.

You play it over and over.

You wonder what went wrong.

Was there something you should’ve known all along?

But the heavy truth is that it’s done.

Somehow you have to find a way to move on.

And this day after tragedy has its own say.

When something you didn’t know you wanted passed away.

Happy February!

Happy February! Did you make it through the first month of the year okay? Did it fly by or drag out? I felt like it dragged out, but I’ve been dealing with the frigid temperatures that decided to plow on through.

We made it, though! Well done! How’s your New Year’s resolution holding out? Did you make one? I sure didn’t, but I do have my dreams for the year. It’s terrifying to think they might not happen. That rejections may be stalking in the shadows this year, but I’m trying to hold onto hope. Hold onto the knowledge that there’s a plan and know that the timing isn’t up to me.

I’m trying to hold onto hope this year. That things will get better. That dreams will come true. What about you?

Have you got big plans? Big hopes and dreams you want to happen this year? I want you to know that I’m in your corner. I’m rooting for you.

So, even if you had a rough start to the year, there’s still plenty of time to turn things around. Don’t give up hope.

Happy February!

A Curious Kitten

Her earliest memories laid sealed away.

A darkness she didn’t want to awake.

On her own, she grew.

The snowy mountains were all she knew.

She survived. She played.

But, from society, she stayed away.

She didn’t understand the way that they spoke.

Or their buildings, karts, or roads.

She only knew nature and the way of the hunt.

As for money and morals, she knew not.

Then came the adventurers who entered her cave.

To return the fish she had no right to take.

They laughed and welcomed her on their adventure.

But to keep eyes on her, they had to remember.

A curious cat, she liked to wander off.

And see all the things that she had not.

A shiny trinket here. A fascinating thing there.

The good hearted adventurers had to beware.

The curious kitten didn’t know how to pay.

The guards often wanted to take her away.

A handful, the adventurers decided,

Is what this girl is that they had acquired

But out of her cave, and no longer alone.

This curious kitten believed she found home.

Passion’s Depleted

What do you do when passion’s depleted?
When looking at the days ahead fills you with dread?
The monotony of what you once dreamed now makes you impatient and mean.
What do you do when there’s no hope for change?
When the days all remain the same?
When you realize your passion isn’t this way.
What do you do to fix the day?
How do you fight back the tears?
When what you’ve been praying for, for years
Ends up sinking you in fears?
How do you hold back the rage,
When you’re efforts don’t bring change?
What if you’re told something
And found out it’s a lie?
You thought things would be better
But it led to a new problem altogether.
How do you find the strength again,
When struggle is always around the bend?

Beware the Writer

Beware the writer

They hit the pen hard

They draw out their tears

Each line is a scar

Beware the writer

For this is their release

Put it all on the page

Help the pain cease

Beware the writer

With pages of wrong

A way to escape

To help them move on

Beware the writer

For the pen can’t erase

The heart may forgive

But it’s still on the page

Beware the writer

And how you act

For those pages could come back