Lorehaven (2025)

22/08/2025

"The truth, beauty and goodness starts not in the books or our expectations for them, [but] with the culture of reading."

Christian parents want books for their kids that don’t have unhealthy things like “Agenda” or “Wokeness.”

We have good zeal to keep such bad and poisonous content OUT of books. But might we miss our children’s more important need to enjoy good, nutritious content IN our books?

In this week's new episode of Fantastical Truth, the weekly Lorehaven podcast, cohosts Zack Russell and E. Stephen Burnett realize there are still good songs about rainbows.

Listen on Spotify, Apple Music, and beyond. Full notes at Lorehaven.com.

https://lorehaven.com/podcast/276-how-parents-find-books-arent-just-not-woke-actually-good/

19/08/2025

From E. Stephen Burnett:

My sister used to love "Jack and the Beanstalk." *

* ... Slightly modified by my father as follows.

Original version: "Fe, fi, fo, fum / I smell the blood of an Englishman." 🫢

Dad version: "Fe, fi, fo, fum / I smell a little boy." 👍🏻

To say nothing of that classic giant threat:

(caution: violent language ahead)

"Be he alive or be he dead
I'll grind his bones to make my bread."

For centuries parents have tried to protect their kids from bad ideas in books. That makes sense!

And these days, Christian parents especially want books for their kids that don’t have things like “Agenda” or “Wokeness.”

But in our zeal to keep bad, poisonous content out of books, might we miss our children’s more important need to enjoy good, nutritious content in our fantastical fiction?

Define terms and discern wisdom in today's new episode of Fantastical Truth, the Lorehaven podcast. Listen on all podcast streamers!

EPISODE SPONSORS
1. Winter's Chill by Morgan L. Busse from Enclave Publishing
2. The Waymaker's Foresight by Dan Megill
3. The Pop Culture Parent by Ted Turnau, E. Stephen Burnett, and Dr. Jared Moore from New Growth Press

https://lorehaven.com/podcast/276-how-parents-find-books-arent-just-not-woke-actually-good/

15/08/2025

What are you reading this weekend?

For today's weekly review, Heidi Worley enjoyed Illuminary, this year's fantasy release from author Chawna Schroeder :

"Intrigue and secrets abound in Chawna Schroeder’s richly painted retelling of A Little Princess."

We rank ILLUMINARY as best for teens or young adult fans of classical retellings and/or fantasy tales with steampunk twists. Full review waits at Lorehaven.com with Discern tips!

https://lorehaven.com/reviews/illuminary/

12/08/2025

We’ve just seen the end of this year’s summer blockbuster movie season, such as it was.

Most of the drama was about the movies rather than in the movies.

Fans debate whether stories should be lighter, focusing on “fun” with simple virtues, as opposed to heavier stories with “serious” ideas.

Right now it seems Team Light Stories is winning over Team Heavy Stories—and yet nobody is really winning at the box office.

How can Christian fans engage stories that are light versus heavy?

🎭 What's your choice? Team Light? Team Heavy?

Don't miss the new Lorehaven podcast episode on all the players.

EPISODE SPONSORS
1. Winter's Chill by Morgan L. Busse from Enclave Publishing
2. The Waymaker's Foresight by Dan Megill
3. Above the Circle of Earth by E. Stephen Burnett

https://lorehaven.com/podcast/275-why-do-fans-debate-light-stories-vs-heavy-stories/

08/08/2025

"Julia has died twice. Now she’s looking for somewhere to belong. The circus in town seemed like a perfect fit, before the fire changed everything."

Now that's a rollicking start to this week's new fantasy novel review.

"Amy L Sauder's novel successfully juggles not a heroes-versus-villains tale, but flawed characters who make good and bad choices."

Read the rest today at Lorehaven.com.

https://lorehaven.com/reviews/unfixed/

08/08/2025

"AI doesn't have a story of its own."
—Zack Russell

Big topics in this week's new episode:

(1) Can AI dishonor human creators?
(2) Does it dishonor faithful Christians?
(3) What about potential lies and theft?
(4) Won't AI help "democratize" art?
(5) What does "AI assisted" mean?
(6) Who on Earth decided yesterday that this ✨ means "AI wuz here"?

All humans are welcome to explore this week's podcast episode 274 on all players: Why Shouldn't AI-Generated Content Replace Human Stories?

https://lorehaven.com/podcast/274-why-shouldnt-ai-generated-content-replace-human-stories/

07/08/2025

Fans are smashing new record viewing numbers for K-Pop Demon Hunters.

Marian A. Jacobs reviewed the movie not long ago. And we get to republish her original review at Lorehaven.com:

How does K-Pop Demon Hunters compare with biblical spiritual warfare?

"Is there enough common grace in a film about demon hunting to make it watchable? And more importantly—should you let your kids watch this flashy, animated musical? Let’s dig in!"

Get the full article at Lorehaven.com!

https://lorehaven.com/k-pop-demon-hunters-pits-singing-heroines-vs-monster-idols/

05/08/2025

Last month at the Realm Makers Expo, we met many skilled Christian creators. They're making amazing stories in books, games, and the visual arts.

Yet some people believe all this stuff is outdated and will soon be replaced by so-called “AI art.”

Are they right?

Will computer-generated content outpace art made by humans? And is such a belief even biblically defensible?

EPISODE SPONSORS:

1. Enclave Publishing : Winter’s Chill by Morgan L. Busse
2. The Waymaker’s Foresight by Dan Megill
3. Above the Circle of Earth by E. Stephen Burnett

https://lorehaven.com/podcast/274-why-shouldnt-ai-generated-content-replace-human-stories/

04/08/2025

This month, enter the Lorehaven Guild through The Time Door.

We're book-questing through Shannon McDermott's novel, which transplants the seeds of political thriller into the soils of near-future sci-fi.

How to join? Three simple steps:

1. Subscribe free at https://Lorehaven.com.
2. Look for your welcome email.
3. Click the secret Guild link.

And then, hey-presto! You've portaled into our castle in the cloud on Discord. New book quests every month: clean conversation, curated titles, Christian heroes. See you in the Guild!

01/08/2025

Whew, it's hot out there.

But it's cold in Morgan Busse 's new upcoming Nordic Wars novel, WINTER'S CHILL. So cold, in fact, that two armies get a break from fighting while they warm up for a return to war.

Lorehaven reviewer Ticia Messing says of this Enclave Publishing release:

"Slower pacing favors this Viking-inspired, character-driven tale whose setting and style evokes hot beverages and epic music by a blazing hearth."

❄️Find the review today at Lorehaven!

https://lorehaven.com/reviews/winters-chill/

01/08/2025

From our publisher E. Stephen Burnett ...

My top three moments from today's episode with animation stars Tony Bancroft and Tom Bancroft :

🔊 telling them about a broken commandment(?),
🔊 apologizing to them personally for a '90s thing,
🔊 confirming whether Disney will restore 2D films.

Bonus: not-quite-Warburton impressions of Kronk.

Behold today's new episode of Fantastical Truth, the Lorehaven podcast! Get this animated conversation on any podcast player. Or head to Lorehaven.com for the ep and bonus notes.

EPISODE SPONSORS:
1. Enclave Publishing : Winter's Chill by Morgan Busse
2. The Company: Kingdom Writers, World Changers
3. Above the Circle of Earth by E. Stephen Burnett

https://lorehaven.com/podcast/273-could-jesus-redeem-2d-animated-films-light-of-the-world-with-tom-and-tony-bancroft/

31/07/2025

Urban explorer Halley and video game tester Roscoe are both enjoying their normal-sounding jobs. Until now ...

Molly McTernan has her debut review:

"Lauren Smyth’s debut Warsafe combines intrigue-filled action with hard questions and two fully rendered heroines. Stakes rise and worlds clash, leading to reader satisfaction with this standalone contemporary sci-fi."

(Published last week, shared this week)

🎮 Full review at Lorehaven dot com!
🎮 Subscribe for new weekly reviews
🎮 Lorehaven's mission: to explore fantastical stories for God's glory

Enclave Publishing

https://lorehaven.com/reviews/warsafe/

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