While it is always my intent to write and publish clean, God-honoring fiction, I recognize that not every reader – or every Christian – holds the same convictions and sensitivities about the standards of media they consume. Transparency is especially important when writing for children. I want parents to be fully informed before handing my books to young readers.
This content disclosure is exhaustive on purpose. I based the format and level of detail on Plugged In Movie Reviews (notorious for writing reviews that include minutia like “violent content: a monkey bites a man’s nose.”) As ridiculous as that sounds, I find that I have always appreciated going into a story knowing that I will not be blindsided by questionable content. I would rather be overly-warned than underprepared.
That said, read on at your own discretion; minor spoilers ahead for all of my books.
GOLDWATER RIDGE
Content breakdown coming soon. (I need to re-read the book first because it’s been a while.)
Recommended for readers ages 8+. Movie rating equivalent: PG for action and peril
SILVERSTONE VALLEY
Violence: some punching resulting in a few bloody noses; one gunshot wound, not described. Characters talk about old shootouts and robberies, and reference a house fire that resulted in the death of one character and burning of another.
Romantic content: light hand-holding, a few hugs, and one kiss on the cheek between teenaged protagonists; an implied growing romance between two adult characters. One character references a past romance that ended badly.
Language: Use throughout of light exclamations: “heck, darn, shoot, etc.” No variations on God’s name are used.
Peril: Characters find themselves in perilous situations throughout the entire book. Danger runs the gambit from wolves to blizzards to falling off cliffs to kidnapping to avalanches. And, of course, there’s peril from outlaws. Classic Old West danger. Some sensitive readers may struggle with the constant danger our heroes end up in.
Recommended for readers ages 8+. Movie rating equivalent: PG for action and peril
CHASE THE LEGEND
Violence: A character finds a letter that explains the details of a past traumatic injury (factual but not graphic.) Several instances of characters being threatened at gunpoint. A character suffers burn damage and blunt-force trauma in an explosion. Several sequences of dragon hunting action (dragon blood is mentioned.) A character is described as having self-inflicted cuts on his arm, one of which bleeds in a scene. A character confesses to having made plans to kill himself in the past.
Romantic Content: One character incorrectly assumes that a romantic interaction has occurred between two other characters. A married couple is depicted as living separate from each other. One character tells another that babies should not be born at sea and that “that sort of thing” should wait until a voyage is over.
Drug and Alcohol Content: A character is seen smoking a pipe. A character drinks spiced wine. Pain-killing drugs are both talked about and used; a character’s dependence on the drug is implied. A character is shown using dragon oil as a drug. Adverse effects of the drug use is shown. Addiction is heavily implied, but not graphically described.
Language: One use of “bloody”. A few stand-in exclamations (“by the tides,” “oh stars” etc.) No variations of God’s name are used as oaths.
Religious and Spiritual Content: A biblical Christian worldview is heavily implied in the story’s worldbuilding. Characters attend a chapel service where a psalm is quoted. Characters speak of and pray to a God they call “the Creator.” There is mention of false religions whose adherants are referred to as “cultists” and “cursed.” A character makes predictions about the future, referred to as “foresight” and “prophecy.”
Fantasy Elements: Several major characters are members of humanoid races that are not strictly human (traditionally referred to in fantasy literature as elves, Goliaths, halflings, etc.) Several fictional creatures are depicted or mentioned (dragons, winged rabbits, firebirds, etc.) Dragon oil is described as having “unique biological properties” and its uses include making ships fly, regenerating wounds, and giving characters dragon-like qualities and abilities. A gemstone contains the cower of a mythical creature that is released when the stone breaks. The world is flat.
Recommended for readers ages 15+. Movie rating equivalent PG-13 for heavy thematic material.
THE FISHERMAN WHO STOLE THE STORM
Violence: a few fistfights. A shark attack victim’s wounds are briefly described. One intense sequence of attempted sexual assault (no explicit description.)
Romantic content: some hand-holding and hugging. One kiss between a married couple described in light detail.
Language: a few uses of mild oaths (“bloody”; “devil”) and some mentions of fantasy gods used as oaths (“by Typhos”; “oh gods”).
Fantasy elements: The story is based on gameplay from a Dungeons and Dragons campaign. Strong thematic use of magic and magical beings; references throughout to fantasy gods, other planes of existence beyond the material world, and nonhuman races. The protagonist uses magic throughout the story, and much of her arc revolves around trying to find out her magic’s source and purpose.
Recommended for mature readers ages 15+. Movie rating equivalent PG-13 for an intense sequence of attempted assault.
If you have further questions about any of my books, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Hannah Kaye 