Kirjahaku

A lyrical novel with a fairy-tale plot, this fresh presentation of the enduring quest story is a fascinating literary introduction to Western mystical thought. "Drawing on rich and eclectic sources, Mary Mendenhall has produced a memorable tapestry of great power and beauty," a London reviewer commented of the first edition. "How can someone be blessed and cursed at the same time?" An unpaid debt. A cursed king. The chilling reminder, "There is a power greater than yours," when his wife dies in childbirth, his daughter is lost, and his kingdom crumbles. Sensing that all is not right, the forgotten princess embarks on a journey of self-discovery alone, misunderstood and confused, wandering in search of home...and then she meets Michael, a craftsman craving fulfillment. But the Ice Princess is not like the fairy-tale figures of the Snow Queen, North Wind, or the White Witch: she is a flesh-and-blood woman with a quest of her own. Reminiscent of the storytelling styles of Elizabeth Goudge and George MacDonald, Michael and the Ice Princess offers an ideal 'bedtime story' in the old oral tradition. Suitable for older youth and anyone who craves spirituality tucked within a fairy tale, it's an enchanting journey through the world of sages of long ago who still have something to say to modern souls. Praise from readers: "It really is a journey inward, taking the reader into his own depths"-Elizabeth Sherrill, author"Extremely beguiling and imaginative"- A.E. Rawlinson, London "A charming tale. The tensions of warm and cold, fire and snow, male and female, rich and poor, dark and light, good and evil all give your tale a texture which delights the eye and the heart."-S. Tobias, Episcopal Priest"Hey, it's got pictures AND music in it WooHoo " -- a young fan of medieval fantasy Winner of 2 Literary Awards: Book Excellence Award finalist for Christian Fiction and Maincrest Media Award for Fairy Tale/Mythology.

In the late 1970s, self-assured Stephen O'Connell escapes small-town culture to seek a new life elsewhere where fresh ideas-and people, like the brilliant anti-feminist Madeleine Benson, musical genius Bryce, and earthy Julie-pull his soul in opposing directions. 'By chance' he prevents the murder of a Ugandan refugee, catapulting him irrevocably into a world of both need and danger. Black-and-white thinking is of no help to Stephen when he encounters the blood-red reality of violence in East Africa as a project developer some years later. On the edge of the Rwandan genocide, he must confront the demons of tribal violence and his own checkered past. When a case of mistaken identity nearly destroys his career, he must start afresh in a 'civilized' place where safety remains elusive. It is not the events themselves, but a healing relationship that moves Stephen from despair to hope, and gets him past the 'wrong side' of eternity. The Wrong Side of Eternity offers a deeply personal view of how people with very different perspectives respond to and deal with suffering. Comparable to books like The Poisonwood Bible and The Constant Gardener, Mary Mendenhall's sweeping passion narrative depicts grim reality without giving in to hopelessness and despair. Winner of 4 literary awards: Pinnacle Achievement Award for Historical FictionBest Book Award + Book Excellence Award: finalist for multi-cultural fictionMaincrest Media Award for Multi-Cultural Fiction Reviews: "This story empowers us to connect." -- M. Tudor, artist "Masterfully written and well-conceived, The Wrong Side of Eternity is an important, thought-provoking novel with staying power. Mendenhall skilfully layers powerful dramatic details into this emotionally-stirring tale. Both the setting and complex characters are vividly drawn and believable, making for an engrossing read. Mendenhall definitely knows how to write."- NY Literary Magazine "This novel offers a paradigm of struggle between faith and the secular world... A demanding but rewarding religious story." -- Kirkus Reviews Ranging from the African continent's blazing sun to the wave-caressed shores of America's West Coast, two different worlds and the people who sometimes occupy both are explored in this novel's examination of relationships, religion, and life. Author Mendenhall weaves the disparate stories of these souls together inventively as they share the highs and lows of life. From triumphs to tragedies, their private thoughts and public behaviors are revealed dramatically through the author's use of engaging prose and believable dialogue. While she unspools her characters' physical fate, she also illuminates each of her major player's particular relationship with God and the role belief has in guiding one's life instead of merely coping with it. This is not the kind of novel one finds a lot of these days, making it the kind of novel worth finding. - Joe Kilgore, The US Review of Books