My Review

A captivating, adventurous tale that weaves fantasy and faith, Charmayne Hafen’s “Indebted” sweeps readers into mid-sixteenth-century Berkshire, England. Princess Wren has been confined to her father’s castle since the disappearance of her mother, alone and friendless until the castle cook introduces her to her son, Aleric. Wren dreams of escaping her insulated world and finds the courage to do so at age 17. However, her dream quickly morphs into a nightmare as a series of events unfolds and she finds herself indebted to a fiendish beast. Along the way, she realizes that she cannot free herself on her own, and that perhaps the answer to her dilemma lies in her fledgling faith.

There are many laudable aspects to this novel. Fantasy is not one of my preferred genres, and so it is always exciting to find a book that I enjoy from this category. In Wren, Hafen brings to life an unconventional heroine who is intelligent but naïve, who carries a heavy burden of guilt on her shoulders and who suffers from abandonment. Yet the tone of this book is hopeful because of Wren’s resilience and even more so because her journey leads her to God, a path that is at times circuitous as she battles her own fear. She is in awe that “Christ promised never to leave or forsake his followers…I couldn’t believe I could talk to God at any time and He would listen. This was more amazing than learning how to sword fight or ride a horse. This was the greatest gift I had ever been given.” When her circumstances become overwhelming, she finds solace in the Psalms, remarking, “I marveled at King David’s passion and depth of sorrow. I felt like he had peered into my soul and put words to my struggles. I was not alone.” As a core theme, the idea of being abandoned and feeling so forlorn hits the mark, particularly for the intended young adult audience. Friendship and running away are also very germane, and the first-person narration drives home the point. The evangelization in the story is strong at a few different parts, and although I tend to favor a less blunt approach, it works here due to the characters.

“Indebted” is in some ways allegorical, with Biblical allusions interspersed throughout the narrative. It can, however, be enjoyed by those who may be unfamiliar with the Bible. The sketch illustrations enhance the story and aid in visualization. I think that there were some anachronistic phrases employed, but these will help younger readers connect with and understand the tale better. There are grammatical errors, but not to the extent of detracting from the writing. All of the elements come together well to form a solid story and to encourage readers, young and old alike, to turn to Jesus, the only One who promises to be with us always.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.