Seventh Son Series

Not to be confused with the recent movie by the same title (not related at all).

This.

Not this.

The latest, consuming-my-free-time book series that I've been reading is the Seventh Son series by Orson Scott Card. I know - when you think of Orson Scott Card, you probably think of the Ender Series and sci-fi. This really isn't in the sci-fi category. It's more frontier America with a fantastical twist. And, fun fact, the life of the main character in the story (Alvin Miller) is loosely based on the life of the Mormon prophet Joseph Smith. So that's definitely been a fun element. I think I've really liked the books because the idea of them is so novel and fresh - plus, as a Mormon myself, I love picking up on the similarities between Alvin and Joseph Smith. But if you're not Mormon, don't worry - this book isn't preachy, nor are you missing anything by not being Mormon. It's just fun to pick up on little extras. And since this book is loosely based on America - with many references to real-life people in American history, some known and some less-known - I have learned much from researching the different characters in the book to try and glean more information about their lives.

One word of caution: I would not recommend this book for teens. The "bad" characters in these books really are evil. And there are some topics that are discussed in the books (such as rape and murder) that are definitely not appropriate for younger audiences. That being said, the "good" characters in the book are so good! You fall in love with them.

Another word of caution: much to my dismay, this series is not yet finished. Six out of the seven books have been published. I'm currently on the sixth, and I've got to admit that it's been hard to bring myself to finish it because I know I'll be extremely frustrated at the end that the series hasn't been finished yet. But seriously, it is such a great series! Check it out!