Embracing the Outcast – Book Review

Title: Embracing the Outcast

Author: Nadine C. Keels

Genre: Historical, Fantasy, Christian, Royalty, Fiction

Synopsis: They can only experience beauty if they dare to behold it…
Now that Princess Eunice of Diachona has come of age, she has much more to study, and a new weight sits on her compassionate shoulders. Her late mother was an admirable ruler, but Eunice can hardly see herself thriving in the political arena. In fact, she doesn’t think many people see her at all, especially not would-be suitors who often bypass quiet Eunice to pursue ladies they find more attractive.

So when Eunice meets a serious, gifted artist who expresses his desire for her company, she isn’t sure if his interest in her is romantic or simply artistic. And why does this young man seem to be as saddened by Eunice as he is drawn to her?

My Review

This is the second time I have had the pleasure of reading a book by Nadine C. Keels. It is book two in her Crowns Legacy series titled Embracing the Outcast; it can be read as a standalone, although I still recommend reading the first book. After reading the first book in the series I was not quite sure what to expect of the second book (as just how many follow up books are as good as the first?). I had high hopes for this second book when I started reading and it ended up being so much more than I imagined it would be.

In this story, Nadine C. Keels has such a way with putting words to emotions and feelings that I’ve rarely seen, and she does it subtlety as you get sucked into the character’s lives. I Loved learning about something I was totally unfamiliar with, it was a good learning experience for me. Nadine covers it in a very no-nonsense way and tries to help her characters understand why God does this sometimes. Which I truly found interesting. My favorite quote I think gives a glimpse as to the depth of Nadine’s characters:

“Perhaps it is not given or preferable for everyone to see. They may not all notice or rightly recognize what’s in front of them, but beauty is experienced by those with the capacity to perceive and behold it. Those without the capacity or the will to behold beauty are the ones who miss out, and they’re the poorer for it.” -Pg. 115

Nadine C. Keels created characters that had such vivid emotions, and she covered some very difficult topics. Which in the end gave a beautifully written story about how everyone is special and is used by God for His glory. I give this story 5 out of 5 stars for the creativity and research put into making this such a well-crafted story, for the characters I could relate to, and for helping me see things from a different perspective. I highly recommend this book/series and I am so excited to see where Nadine C. Keels goes next with this series.

*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.

About the Author

Nadine. A French name, meaning, “hope.”
With her lifelong passion for life-enriching fiction, Nadine C. Keels enjoys reading and writing everything from short stories to novels. Her fiction works include Love Unfeigned and The Movement of Crowns Series, and select pieces of her lyrical poetry can be found on her spoken word album, Hope. Lyricized. As the founder of Prismatic Prospects, her communication company, Nadine has served as editor for a number of titles, and through her writing, from her books to her blog posts, she aims to help spark hope, inspiration, and genius in as many as she is privileged to reach.

You can find more information about Nadine Here