**Disclaimer: I was given a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review from the publisher.**
I’d like to begin by thanking The Fantastic Flying Book Club and the publisher for choosing me to be a part of this tour. Please check out the other stops along the tour for other reviews, playlists, and other fun posts about this book and the author, Maggie Platt.
Check out the full tour schedule here!
GIVEAWAY
Prize: Win a signed copy of KINGDOM ABOVE THE CLOUD and some swag (US Only)
Starts: 14th May 2020
Ends: 28th May 2020
Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d9681b86502/
Title Kingdom Above the Cloud (Tales from Adia Book One)
Author Maggie Platt
Release Date April 17, 2020
Publisher Ambassador International
Description from Amazon
What if the nine Fruit of the Spirit and the Seven Deadly Sins were locked in a battle for control?
Abandoned as infants, Tovi and her twin brother were raised by an eclectic tribe of warm, kind people in a treehouse village in the valley. After her brother’s sudden disappearance Tovi questions her life and her faith in an invisible King. Ignoring her best friend Silas’ advice, she decides to search for her brother in the kingdom on top of the mountain.
Above the cloud, the Council of Masters receives their orders. Tovi and her brother are the objectives. King Damien has a plan and Tovi is the key. The Council of Masters want her, but will she remain unscathed?
Amidst the glamour of the kingdom above the cloud Tovi is torn between her own dark desires and unanswered questions. It starts with a snake and a crown. When the ring is complete, will her life be over?
Initial Thoughts
I thought the concept of this story sounded really interesting. The tag line “What if the nine Fruit of the Spirit and the Seven Deadly Sins were locked in a battle for control?” was what really sold me.
Some Things I Liked
- Allegory. It’s been a while since I read a good allegory and I really loved that this book represented a story that I was familiar with. I read tons of retellings but this was so much more than that. Maggie Platt brought new life to the idea of the Seven Deadly Sins as well as core concepts of Christianity. I also loved that while this book is considered Christian Fiction, it’s not overbearing in the religious element.
- Multiple POVs. I also really enjoyed the fact that each chapter starts with a different character. There are tons of moving parts to the story and several characters are keeping secrets from each other or just aren’t able to interact. I loved the complexity in the plot that these POVs offered.
- Personifications of the Seven Deadly Sins. I thought this was a really unique spin. I loved that instead of just representing temptation, each sin was brought to life quite literally in the form of a Master who showed Tovi “what she was missing”. I also thought the idea that other “Masters” could exist on the Mountain. There are more than just seven sins out there and I thought this was a clever way to represent that.
One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About
- Right before I read this book, I looked it up in GoodReads and saw it was tagged as “Christian Fiction”. The only Christian Fiction I was familiar with was The Chronicles of Narnia. So, I think I got inside my own head and was trying too hard to “find the Bible story” within this one. Narnia is an allegory of the story of Jesus’s resurrection so I was looking too hard for a direct parallel to a story I already knew. My recommendation: don’t let descriptions or tags mislead you. This book was a Christian based book, but the message and allegory were so much more than a retelling or direct parallel.
Series Value
I would continue with this series. The world is rich and the characters are all interesting. I am also curious about the scene at the end that gave me Noah’s Ark vibes and I want to know more about that.
Final Thoughts
I totally got inside my own head and tried to overthink this book. I thought it sounded interesting when I applied for the tour, looked it up in GoodReads and was a little confused by the Christian Fiction tag, but discovered a book that I really enjoyed. This was a strong start to a series with both familiar and unique elements of concepts I already know a bit about. I’m excited to keep reading.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommendations for Further Reading
- Defy by Sara B. Larson – if you liked the concept of Twins and are looking for interesting world building as well as a YA title suitable for younger audiences, try this series by Sara B. Larson.
- Silent Kingdom by Rachel L. Schade – the world building is super similar in this series and there are certain characters who parallel each other. I can’t say who without giving spoilers, but, if you liked Kingdom Above the Cloud definitely try Silent Kingdom.
Author Bio
Maggie Platt is a writer, traveler, cancer survivor, and dreamer. Her greatest joys are being Auntie M to her amazing nieces and nephew and sitting with students and friends over cups of coffee and deep conversations. She works at her alma mater, Anderson University in Indiana, and she lives in a cozy little cottage nearby where students come to sit on her couch just to laugh, cry, and talk about life.
BOOK LINKS
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51699438-kingdom-above-the-cloud
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2RZzvN4
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/kingdom-above-the-cloud-maggie-platt/1136789758?ean=9781620205884
Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Kingdom-Above-the-Cloud-Maggie-Platt9781620205884
Google Books: https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Kingdom_Above_the_Cloud.html?id=tPmUzAEACAAJ&redir_esc=y
AUTHOR LINKS
Website: https://maggieplatt.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20053285.Maggie_Platt
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_maggie_Platt_
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_maggie_platt_/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMaggiePlatt/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.es/maggie_platt_/
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I’ve been hearing a lot about this one, sounds good!
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