After I had read The Path of Destiny, I knew I had to know how the story goes on. I liked this book even more than the first volume, but maybe that's due to the fact that the ending wasn't as open as that from the first volume. Sure, there are enough things I want to know, and there is a third volume waiting for me, but it felt more -- finished.

I had my suspicions about a specific character right in the first volume, and I was right. That's always nice, if you speculate and then find out you were right.

Darius, Kelln, and Christine have some tough decisions to make, and they're not always lucky in their choices. However, friendship and love help them through all the bad, and there is hope for the realm.

I like the characters, and the world, and I'm keen to get to know more places of the realm. ( )

The Path of Decisions is the second book in Mike Shelton’s series The Cremelino Prophecy. When I reviewed the first book, I pointed out how the story felt a little rushed, or almost abridged for a fantasy novel. I will say this one has a lot more meat on it’s bones. It still is a very fast paced book for a fantasy and pretty lean, but I suspect there are many people who don’t like fantasy because of the bloat, and would really enjoy these for being streamlined.

Darius is young, and filled with confidence after his success dealing with the the ‘invading’ army from the south. The King has summoned him back, and since the real reason for the summoning was not given to the messenger, he didn’t realize the urgency of the command. As a matter of fact he resents being commanded home. So when he also hears about the troubles being stirred up by the Preacher and his ‘supposed’ army, he decides to take a detour on the way home and ‘deal’ with the upstart.

Christine snapped after her father died from the arson, and decided to take matters into her own hands, since the town folk treated the people who grew their food with such disdain, then they obviously didn’t need to eat. She started raiding every wagon trying to deliver food, an angel of vengeance.

Kelln had a very trying time, first in the dungeons and then escaping, and escaping and escaping. He is a better friend than most of his friends deserve. Darius needs to learn humility, Christine needs to learn forgiveness, and the Kingdom needs to do a better job of keeping its prisoners locked up in the castle dungeons.

Overall, I do feel the writing was good, and the characterization of our heroes was actually a very reasonable one for teenagers put into those positions. They all had growing up to do and it was well done and kept the story moving right along. ( )

The first book in the Cremelino Prophecy series, The Path of Destiny, is a story of seeking your identity, The Path of Decisions is a story of finding your identity. In the first book, Mike Shelton gives us a long character development story with little adventure. Fortunately, The Path of Decisions sees the characters solidifying their identities and it moves us into the adventures, intrigues, magic, and good versus evil found in a solid fantasy, adventure, sword and sorcery fiction novel.

I find that the books of the Cremelino Prophecy series are teen friendly. There is definitely violence but the protagonist Darius seeks conflict resolution positively, attempting not to take lives when pushed into battle. He uses some serious tactical skills and his growing magical ability to accomplish his objectives. Darius also has the gift of uniting people. Here is more that is good for teen readers:

- The Path of Decisions is a clean story; there is no bad language and no sexual content.
- Shelton encourages virtues such as bravery, integrity, honesty, loyalty, willingness to admit and seek restitution when you are wrong, and so on.

There is a hitch for Christian parents…

Mike Shelton definitely includes religion in this series. I’m not exactly sure where he is going with it but I would not classify it as Christian. Here are a couple of quotes:

Kelln continued. “I have even found the peace of God.” “You found what?” “I found out that what we are inside is what makes us who we are, Darius.” Kelln continued in all seriousness. “That is the only way I can deal with everything that has happened to me.”

“I don’t know him well. Alas, maybe that is also why I must give away my kingdom now. But there is someone out there, Richard. Someone that directs us toward good. I have felt him before, when I am doing the right thing.”
King Edward

I’m going to let the quotes speak for themselves but the main component of the religion and philosophy Shelton writes is that of love and doing the right thing.

God is loving but that is far from His most defining characteristic. We cannot begin to understand what is right in God's eyes before we have been redeemed or saved because of Christ's sacrifice. The Bible tells us that an unbeliever cannot please God. We are wretched sinful creatures that a mighty and wrathful God has chosen to show mercy upon. This mercy is where the love of God is shown. It is through the gift of the Holy Spirit, time spent studying the word of God, fellowship with other believers, and a sincere willingness to be a disciple that the “Someone” Shelton introduces us to in the second quote above, someone that I call God, “directs us toward good”.
Romans 3:10-20

As long as your teen is spiritually discerning this is a book that I believe they would enjoy. I did.

For all of my reviews visit my blog at http://www.blessedandbewildered.com ( )