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Reviewed by Doreen Chombu for Readers' Favorite
Christopher and the Swordsman: How the Christ-Child and the Music Was Saved is a young adult fantasy novel by Mark J. Welch. The story retells the nativity from a young drummer's point of view. After the death of his mother, Christopher (Chris) sees his father struggling, and he plans to give up music to get a job. That night, as he contemplates his plan, he is woken by a mysterious being at the foot of his bed. The stranger introduces himself as Michael. He tells Chris about the power of music and urges him not to give it up. To convince Chris, Michael tells him a story in the form of a dream about the time he joined forces with a young boy and girl to save baby Jesus and the music.
I enjoyed reading Christopher and the Swordsman because it has a unique plot and is entertaining. The story encourages young readers to go after their dreams and highlights the power of music and love. This is a tale of faith, love, sacrifice, and selflessness. I loved getting to know the characters and seeing their emotional growth. I thought Michael was going to be the teacher, but he also learned from Chris. Mark J. Welch creatively retells the birth of Jesus in a charming fantasy tale and adds modern elements to the story. The narration is conversational, the story is fast-paced, and the book does not lag at any moment. The interesting characters and the amazing storyline make this book memorable, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves music, Christmas, and fantasy. Brilliant work.
