Daughter of Axiom Book Review

(Disclosure: This book review may contain affiliate links. To learn more about what that means, check out this affiliate disclosure page)

Quick Review

Long Review

I came across Mike Diener on Instagram while bemoaning the lack of male, Christian authors in the comments section of another male, Christian author’s video. I decided to risk 99 cents on his book, and was rewarded with story that left me wanting more.

The story opens on Carolina, our female protagonist, who is just trying to finish high school and make the volleyball championship. However, it all changes when a strange boy shows up at school…

I should say that this took a while for me to really get invested. The first part is a lot of movement and changing scenery/settings. After a while, it settles and that’s when I found it hard to put down.

From the start, my favorite character was Alex, Carolina’s no-nonsense, authoritative best friend. So I was disappointed when Carolina went through a portal without her. That disappointment aside, there still an incredible cast of characters to meet and fall in love with.

Something that Diener does really well here is depth of character. A reoccurring theme is that what is visible may not always be what is true. Some of these events veer toward tropehood (which I won’t list so as not to spoil the story), but they’re executed well and, most importantly, work within the world and setting Diener has created.

On the topic of world-building, there’s a nice blend of character driven exposition and leaving the reader (and character) in the dark. Some books fall too far on either side – you end up either knowing too much or unable to connect with the world. That doesn’t happen with this book. As it’s in the first-person perspective, the reader knows as much as Carolina – some of which may not be what it seems.

The world created is classic imagination fantasy, with creatures, vegetation and perils that don’t exist anywhere else. Along with this, each one has a purpose and appears (or is referenced) several time in the narrative.

Going back to character depth, Carolina is very much a flawed hero, trying to do her best, but refusing to acknowledge that her actions have consequences. Throughout, she is impulsive and often reckless, traits that lead to events that can’t be undone. By the end, we’ve seen her grow through it, though I have a feeling there’ll be more character growth in book two.

I won’t get into the rest of the characters, but I will say Kaliak and Selah are my favorite characters as a whole, and Arcus has my favorite character reveal.

All in all, this feels like the books I read and loved as a child by Wayne Thomas Batson, Christopher Hopper, Donita K. Paul and others. A strong comparison could be made to the Berinfell Prophecies by the first two mentioned, but whereas it was fairly clear-cut good vs. evil, Daughter of Axiom handles the moral gray of a war that the main character wants no part in.

Likewise, it deals with the harshness of a world at war without shying away from the horrors that come with it, or brushing over them. Carolina is faced with the death of allies and friends, and Diener holds no punches when it comes to the emotion that comes with it. I made the mistake of listening to quiet instrumental music during parts of this, and let me tell you – the feels were feeling.

Technical Notes

As a Christian, it can be difficult to write a representation or allegory for Christian themes without making them a direct picture of Christ. There’s nothing wrong with doing that – Wayne Thomas Batson does this with his Door Within series, and of course, there’s the C. S. Lewis parallel in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – but Diener is going for something else here.

First, an establishing premise: Within this world, the punishment for murder, considered the most heinous sin, is to have a shackle placed on the offender’s wrist.

Diener uses this to illustrate a Christ-like forgiveness. Carolina witnesses the family member of a murdered individual put the shackle on their own wrist, instead of that of the responsible party. It’s such a stark visual, just like the black shackle is a stark burning – the one who has been hurt bears the scars and symbol of the deed done against them.

Now, it could be argued that Christ not only takes the shackles, but breaks them and does away with them. Regardless, the imagery of truth is still there. We don’t need to wear the shackles of our misdeeds – Christ has taken them for us. Likewise, as we forgive others, we don’t put shame back on the one who’s wronged us.

The reason I love this so much is that, if I were not a Christian, I would not point to that and say that it was a Christian ideal. I would be able to just enjoy a story. But, as a Christian, it becomes all the more powerful seeing the allusion, and likewise, becomes an example that Christians and non-Christians alike can connect with.

The other Christian-tangential idea that appears is the difference of following divine authority vs. choosing to go our own way. The dichotomy and conversation surrounding it is set up really well, and leaves you thinking. I won’t bore you with my thoughts on it, I just appreciate the use of the countries of Axiom and Locus to express it.

After finishing, I was left with some questions about the plot, especially the beginning. Diener has been a very gracious author and answered my questions as I asked.

Some readers may also find the writing to be less polished than they’re used to, but as anyone can see by this website, I’m not one to talk about perfect writing.

Also, as I’ve continued to re-read some of my childhood favorites, I’m realizing that more important than perfect grammar or sweeping sentences that leave you breathless, the point of a book is to tell a story.

And in Daughter of Axiom, Mike Deiner does just that, taking us on a ride alongside Carolina as she grows from start to finish.  

Readers Beware!

Like I said, there are heavy emotions in this book. Young adult readers should be fine, and some more mature juvenile readers might also be okay.

Diener doesn’t dwell on graphic violence, but he also doesn’t shy away from writing about it.

There’s a crush subplot, but it doesn’t turn to romance, at least not in this book.

Final Thoughts

Overall, this book made me think, it made me smile, it made me gasp and feel vicarious pain for what Carolina was going through. If you’re looking for an escapism Christian-authored fantasy that doesn’t feel like a Christian-centered fantasy, this is the book for you!

Where to Buy or Read

The easiest way to read this book is to buy it on Amazon. You can find it here. You can also support him buy requesting your local library to purchase it!

(Some of these links are affiliate links. Learn what that means at our affiliate disclosure page. If you’d like to request a book review, just let me know!)