 | The fate of the Dragon Lands are at play. The knights of the Lightraider Order disappeared nearly two generations past. Now, the Keledan have withdrawn behind their barriers, and the Dragon Lands of bordering Tanelethar are overrun with dark oppression. The people are living in disobedience to the Rescuer who freed them long ago. A shepherd boy, Connor Enarian, and four young initiates rekindle the fires of the Lightraider Order in the hope of striking out across the mountains into Tanelethar to destroy a portal and stop an impending invasion. Once in the Dragon Lands, Connor learns that the key to success lies with a missing Lightraider spy and his lifelong companion, a talking silver wolf. Can Connor and his friends find the spy before the portal grows too large to destroy? Or will a local young woman--or Connor’s own family history--betray them? |
The dangers and secrets of Tanelethar test both trust and loyalty, and to save his homeland, Connor may have to sacrifice his innermost dreams.
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release date: October 26, 2021
Release date: October 26, 2021
Click here to get your copy!
My Review
Life is about to change for a simple shepherd boy...
Enclave has been seriously putting out some good fantasy, sci-fi, and speculative books over the last few years and to date I've never read one that I didn't like. Part allegory, part fantasy, and all adventure Wolf Soldier was no exception.
This first novel in the YA Lightraider Academy series is, quite surprisingly to me, based on a 1980s Christian roll playing game. I was quite impressed by James R. Hannibal's skill at bringing this fantasy world so vividly to life from a game that, quite honestly, came out before I was even born. His fantasy realm with all of its diverse characters was well constructed and I was pretty caught up in the story only a few pages in, that only increased as the Lightraiders went out on their quest.
One of the things that I really appreciated was reading James R. Hannibal's author note at the end of the book. I've always had trouble drawing all of the correct parallels while reading allegory and I loved how James R. Hannibal said that we shouldn't get too bogged down with the allegorical part and instead use it as it was intended, to point to the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
On the simpler and easy to read side, Wolf Soldier would also make the perfect read-aloud with your kids. From personal experience I can tell you that having a parent or parents read to a child makes a world of difference to them, and to the parents as well.
From a new-to-me author, Wolf Soldier was a great start to the Lightraider's Academy series. A book that entertained while introducing kids to spiritual warfare and teaching other important faith lessons. I liked the book and wouldn't hesitate to read book two whenever it releases.
Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Wolf Soldier by James R. Hannibal a 4 Bark rating.
Enclave has been seriously putting out some good fantasy, sci-fi, and speculative books over the last few years and to date I've never read one that I didn't like. Part allegory, part fantasy, and all adventure Wolf Soldier was no exception.
This first novel in the YA Lightraider Academy series is, quite surprisingly to me, based on a 1980s Christian roll playing game. I was quite impressed by James R. Hannibal's skill at bringing this fantasy world so vividly to life from a game that, quite honestly, came out before I was even born. His fantasy realm with all of its diverse characters was well constructed and I was pretty caught up in the story only a few pages in, that only increased as the Lightraiders went out on their quest.
One of the things that I really appreciated was reading James R. Hannibal's author note at the end of the book. I've always had trouble drawing all of the correct parallels while reading allegory and I loved how James R. Hannibal said that we shouldn't get too bogged down with the allegorical part and instead use it as it was intended, to point to the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
On the simpler and easy to read side, Wolf Soldier would also make the perfect read-aloud with your kids. From personal experience I can tell you that having a parent or parents read to a child makes a world of difference to them, and to the parents as well.
From a new-to-me author, Wolf Soldier was a great start to the Lightraider's Academy series. A book that entertained while introducing kids to spiritual warfare and teaching other important faith lessons. I liked the book and wouldn't hesitate to read book two whenever it releases.
Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Wolf Soldier by James R. Hannibal a 4 Bark rating.
(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
More from James
Wolf Soldier: Origins
Did you know Wolf Soldier is set in a fantasy world created for a 1980s tabletop game? DragonRaid was an “adventure learning system” designed by Navigators author Dick Wulf. It used elements of choose-your-adventure stories and roleplaying games to teach Scripture memory and application. The game immersed players in the fantasy world of EdenAgain, where their hero characters applied Scripture to solve puzzles and battle “dark creatures.” Using God’s word in these allegorical challenges engaged the mind to increase understanding and retention.
I was one of the DragonRaid’s teenage fans. But the game vanished after only three years, buried by a ranting televangelist who created a campaign against it in a failed attempt to distract the world from his nefarious activities. Even worse, when the game vanished, it left us all on a cliffhanger—The Moonbridge Raid Campaign, Part One of Three.
I was one of the DragonRaid’s teenage fans. But the game vanished after only three years, buried by a ranting televangelist who created a campaign against it in a failed attempt to distract the world from his nefarious activities. Even worse, when the game vanished, it left us all on a cliffhanger—The Moonbridge Raid Campaign, Part One of Three.
| Years later, with budding teens of my own, I sought out an old boxed set. When we ran out of the original stories, I wrote some of my own, and after playing these new stories with my little group, I sent them to the man who’d sold me the box. He sent them on to Dick Wulf, the original creator of the game. |  |
Long story short: Dick, who had been given only a short time to live, asked me to take over the fantasy world and carry the game forward under the banner Lightraiders, including the task of novelizing the world.
That’s where Wolf Soldier came from. And I’m so excited to see where the characters and the Lightraider Order will take us. Dick went home to Heaven on July 6, 2021, but you can find the encouragement of his foreword inside Wolf Soldier.
By the way, I didn’t forget about the cliffhanger. Before turning in the novel, I completed Parts Two and Three of the Moonbridge Raid Campaign using drafts Dick Wulf wrote. Funded by a donor, our burgeoning Lightraiders game company matched the grand style of the original 1980s adventure guidebook, maps and all. Whew! What a relief to finally scratch that 35-year itch!
That’s where Wolf Soldier came from. And I’m so excited to see where the characters and the Lightraider Order will take us. Dick went home to Heaven on July 6, 2021, but you can find the encouragement of his foreword inside Wolf Soldier.
By the way, I didn’t forget about the cliffhanger. Before turning in the novel, I completed Parts Two and Three of the Moonbridge Raid Campaign using drafts Dick Wulf wrote. Funded by a donor, our burgeoning Lightraiders game company matched the grand style of the original 1980s adventure guidebook, maps and all. Whew! What a relief to finally scratch that 35-year itch!
 James R. Hannibal | Former stealth pilot James R. Hannibal is no stranger to secrets and adventure. He has been shot at, locked up by surface to air missiles, has hunted insurgents with drones, and was once chased by an armed terrorist down a winding German road. James is the Carol Award winning author of the Clandestine Service series and a three–time winner of the Silver Falchion Award for Juvenile Fiction for his Section 13 series. |
It's Time For A Giveaway!
To celebrate his tour, James is giving away the grand prize package of
a signed Wolf Soldier Limited Edition Hardcover, Starlots Gem
Dice 7-Color Set (Hand-Inked), and a $100 Amazon Gift Card!!
a signed Wolf Soldier Limited Edition Hardcover, Starlots Gem
Dice 7-Color Set (Hand-Inked), and a $100 Amazon Gift Card!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!
Blog Stops
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Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 31
Blogging with Carol, October 31
deb’s Book Review, November 1
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, November 2
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 3
Texas Book-aholic, November 4
Artistic Nobody, November 4 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
For Him and My Family, November 5
Guild Master, November 5
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The Meanderings of a Bookworm, November 6
Rebecca Tews, November 7
Through the Fire Blogs, November 7
Locks, Hooks and Books, November 8
Labor Not in Vain, November 8
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, November 9
Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 10
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, November 10
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, November 11
By the Book, November 12
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, November 12
Simple Harvest Reads, October 30 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 31
Blogging with Carol, October 31
deb’s Book Review, November 1
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, November 2
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 3
Texas Book-aholic, November 4
Artistic Nobody, November 4 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
For Him and My Family, November 5
Guild Master, November 5
Mypreciousbitsandmusings, November 6
The Meanderings of a Bookworm, November 6
Rebecca Tews, November 7
Through the Fire Blogs, November 7
Locks, Hooks and Books, November 8
Labor Not in Vain, November 8
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, November 9
Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 10
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, November 10
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, November 11
By the Book, November 12
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, November 12
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