Book cover of Arena

Book description

A Repackaged Award Winner From Karen Hancock

Callie Hayes is living a life of fear and disillusionment when she volunteers for a psychology experiment that promises to turn her life around. As her orientation proceeds, Callie becomes frightened by the secrecy and evasion she encounters. When she demands to be…

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Why read it?

2 authors picked Arena as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Karen Hancock does a masterful job of taking readers on an adventure in a faraway world but with moral lessons for the here and now.

This book represents a quintessential battle of good versus evil and offers a vivid warning about what happens when we follow our own devices instead of walking by faith.

The book delves even deeper and explores what it means to live a peaceful, purposeful, and meaningful life.

This was probably the next book that confirmed the concept of portal fantasy for me. It’s an allegorical story of a young woman’s fight against evil and evil forces, but starts out on Earth before moving to a parallel fantastical realm. I remember reading this as a teen and being fascinated by the idea of moving back and forth between worlds. At this time, I wasn’t even aware of the term “portal fantasy” or the subgenre, but Arena developed my interest in it. 

From Sarah's list on portal fantasy adventures.

If you love Arena...

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The High House by James Stoddard,

The Victorian mansion, Evenmere, is the mechanism that runs the universe.

The lamps must be lit, or the stars die. The clocks must be wound, or Time ceases. The Balance between Order and Chaos must be preserved, or Existence crumbles.

Appointed the Steward of Evenmere, Carter Anderson must learn the…

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