So the Restorer is about Susan Mitchell, a relatively average mom of four who's battling with depression and just a general feeling of uselessness. While getting some alone time up in the attic she is transported to a fantasyish parallel world. This world is similar to the time of the Judges in the Old Testament and Susan discovers that she is a Restorer, a hero come to save the chosen people of God ("The One").
What? Soccer mom goes to parallel world and fights with swords? A bit of a strange premise I know. But Sharon Hinck has done a fabulous job with this book. To start with, Susan is a very believable and sympathetic heroine, I found myself identifying with her even though her life is nothing like mine. She also wrote a world that was interesting and unique, with a blend of swords and technology and hints at a very interesting culture. Normally I hate (haaaaate) fantasy stories about normal people being whisked off to faraway lands, but it didn't even bother me in this book, which I guess is the power of good writing.
The best thing is that she managed to inspire me spiritually without being preachy. That is success in christian literature.
(And hooray, two more books still to come!)
