I dug into this book so fast after finishing the first in the series, and I don’t regret it at all. For those of us new to the series, This Life of Mine is Book 2 in the Elira Chronicles. It actually breaks the mold of following the same main characters from book 1, as now a side character takes precedence, but it works very well. This Life of Mine follows Marcus as he goes to the border to help refugees fleeing a tyrannical kingdom.

Ratings: This Life of Mine

Story: 5/5
Worldview: 4/5

The twists in the story were few but they worked well. The dual POV was engaging and each perspective had so much more to explore. Both characters, Marcus and Dilara, face trauma and difficult situations and ask God why. They wonder if they can ever be healed, be considered worthy or wanted, and I know that’s a question I’ve struggled with myself.

Worldview is on point for the same reason as above. Scripture and faith are interwoven with the characters’ struggles and triumphs. Also, Marcus has a disability with his hip and needing to use crutches. Despite that, he doesn’t curse God, and he holds onto his faith and his purpose.

One character has a wolf that suddenly becomes tame and looks over them. I can believe that God would turn the mind of an animal to care for a person, but there was a snag. Some characters went as far as to say it’s a “guardian angel” or an “angel in disguise,” and that’s pretty funky to me.

Content advisement: slavery, abuse, rape, and miscarriage (all handled carefully)

Overall thoughts

In any case, I loved this series so far and with the sneak peek of the last book, I am sorry ready to read The Lost Rose!! If you’re interested in checking out Book 1, you can see Once I Knew here.