Once I Knew was spectacular. We follow Violet as she takes in and helps an injured Kingman at the threat of her and her Granny’s lives. This book was such a beautiful reflection of Christ that I was left in tears.
I ordered the series (book 1 and 2) in the Eliran Royalty Book Box, which included a few candles. (You can see my favorite candle here!) If you haven’t heard of Once I Knew, here’s a quick blurb from Goodreads:
Violet lives her quiet little life in her sleepy village. Trying to remain as dead to the politics that are threatening their world as possible. She follows the rules, stays out of trouble and does her best to remain out of sight of the dreaded and overbearing Kingsmen.
With the new regent on the throne, the country has been thrown into a turmoil. Unlike the kindly king before him, the new ruler is overbearing, frightening and tyrannical in his rule. Taxes are bleeding the people dry and without the money or goods to pay, they have been forced into penal servitude and imprisonment by the Kingsmen, who know no mercy. The despair and fear that has taken over their lives has ruled out any level of hope.
When Violet stumbles upon an unconscious and injured Kingsman in the woods, despite the consequences, she cannot help but take care of the injured man. When he wakes and has no memory of who he is, she takes the only precaution that will keep her and her grandmother safe; she destroys the evidence of his past life.
If Violet’s lowly Kingsman regains his memory, will she be able to live with the consequences? And will the Kingsman be able to live with his past life?
Goodreads, Once I knew by Victoria Lynn
Ratings: Once I Knew
Story: 5/5
Worldview: 5/5
The story is amazing. It never lags or loses pace even in moments that span weeks or months of time. Violet is strong and reserved as kind and she is such a good role model. Knowing this was a series, I thought it would cut off before the resolution of the main plot but it didn’t! The whole story is stretched out and so wonderful to read.
Worldview is 5/5 because of how characters reflect the love of Christ. It is undeserved and generous, and this book captures that and refracts it in a million little ways. Some characters come to salvation, which is always so important to me when I read. I can’t go into more details without spoilers, but I highly recommend!! I also loved that in this novel, unlike a lot of Christian fantasy novels, God is God and Jesus is Jesus. There’s no hidden allegory, and it just makes the novel that much more touching when I can see my Jesus here.
Overall Thoughts
Overall, I am so excited to keep going! This was the last read of 2023, and I have This Life of Mine ready for my first ready of 2024! If you like Christian fantasy, you would also like a few series by the Phillips sisters, like The Guild of Thieves.
