Rescue on The Techno Scholar Chronicles

Book Review: Island of Legends (The Unwanteds #4)

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 11:05:00 -0500

Alex feels the weight of responsibility for everyone in Artimé on his shoulders as its mage. As we learned in the previous book, Sky’s mother is alive but enslaved by pirates on the Island of Fire. Alex has committed to rescuing her, but he wants to do it the right way, through careful planning and with the right people. Although several storylines unfold throughout the book, the rescue operation drives the main story. At the same time, Alex’s burden of leadership takes a personal toll, particularly on his relationship with Sky.

Book Review: Island of Fire (The Unwanteds #3)

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Island of Fire improves on the first two books in the Unwanteds series. In the earlier books, the story sometimes felt slow, and I did not always have a clear sense of where everything was going. We learned about Artimé and Quill, and there were battles and struggles to survive, but I never quite felt that there were heroes yet. That changed for me in Island of Fire. In this book, Alex and the other Artiméans have lost much, and they have had to step up and be brave. I see them becoming heroes and leaders. They are not just a people; they are family and friends to each other. And that is the biggest difference between Artimé and Quill. As we learn in this book, it is also the difference between Artimé and Warbler, also known as the Island of Silence.

Book Review: At the Speed of Mind (Book #3 of the Astral Alliance series)

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 19:42:00 -0500

Megan says, “I’m always troubled when I hear about people dying.” This is one of the reasons I love this book—and the Astral Alliance series—so much. At the Speed of Mind takes on the evil of child trafficking with love, mercy, and resolve. Megan is determined to fight for the kids without compromising her moral compass. This third book brings fast-paced action, deep strategy, and a lot of heart.

Throughout the series, Megan and the other kids grow into a strong team. As captain, Megan earns loyalty through love and sacrifice. Her teammates follow her freely because she helped free them. Yet, she’s often reckless, doing what they call her “hero thing.” That begins to change in this book. Crystal has a hard conversation with her, insisting Megan needs someone to watch her back—“on her six.” Megan listens, and Crystal repeatedly saves her, helping her grow into a better leader.

Book Review: The First Starborn (Book #2 of the Astral Alliance series)

Sat, 19 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0500

This is another good book and a very enjoyable read! I must say, I’m perhaps even more hooked on this series now than when I first started it. The story is pretty action-packed. You know that saying about real-life events where all you can say is “You can’t make this stuff up!”? Well, that’s exactly how this series feels right now. These books are like a mystery that has to be unraveled and discovered piece by piece. The plot thickens in ways that really keep you engaged.

Book Review: Across Astral Realms (Book #1 of the Astral Alliance series)

Sun, 09 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0600

This story takes place in space and weaves an intriguing narrative around the main character, Megan, who is branded a pirate. She fights for survival and strives to do what is right, especially after learning about child trafficking and making it her mission to free the enslaved children. Although still a child herself, Megan was raised by her parents—both branded as pirates—and taught a sense of moral right and wrong, even if they didn’t always practice it. She dedicates herself to living by the principle that all life is sacred. This principle becomes her moral struggle as she fights oppression, rescues enslaved children, and faces numerous life-and-death situations in which she must defend herself and others. I’m reminded of the Bible quote where God says, “Vengeance is mine,” which suggests that we should not seek revenge, but leave justice to a higher power. Megan shows mercy several times, and we witness a sense of divine justice unfold.