Title: Hidden Current
Author: Sharon Hinck
Genre: Fantasy
Series: #1 The Dancing Realms
Publisher: Enclave Publishing
Release date: 28 January 2020
Pages: 340
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About the Book
The dancers of the Order direct their floating world of Meriel with their movements, but are they steering it toward destruction?
Calara spent her life learning dance patterns and seeking to become the perfect servant to her people. When she discovers the work of the Order is built on lies, she flees with a rough-edged herder, Brantley of Windswell. Pursued by soldiers, her journey through the suffering villages of the rim leads her to a forgotten truth that sends ripples through her world-and through her soul.
Calara seeks clues to her forgotten family and discovers newfound courage in the face of danger, while her quest awakens a growing but forbidden affection for Brantley. Yet even his support can’t fully be trusted, since he’d rather destroy the Order than bring reform.
She is a lone woman facing opposition from rim villages and treachery from the all-powerful Order. Can she restore the dance to its true purpose and bring freedom and hope to her people?
Excerpt
Destiny is measured in inches. One move in the wrong direction or one faulty gesture can erase a lifetime of preparation. The weight of that truth tightened my muscles as I lined up for class with the other novitiates. Beneath the taut, hooded scarves covering our hair, we looked alike: wide eyes anxious and alert, cheeks hollow from years of relentless training, identical blue tunics and leggings. We were the remnant, the few dozen women who had endured each level.
I raised my chest against the gravity of my fear. One week stood between me and the pure-white fabric of final acceptance into the Order. This was a time for determination, not doubt. A slight breeze through an arched window cooled my cheeks. Outside, the primary sun lit the tiled courtyard, while the subsun hugged the horizon, painting the stone with pinks and reds.
An attendant opened the studio door. Time for class and another chance to prove myself. I pressed into the floor with my toes, rolling through the tendons of my bare feet, careful to maintain even spacing as I took my place in the vaulted room. Cold marble threatened to cramp my feet, but soon I would be worthy to dance on the warm bare earth of Meriel.
If I passed the pattern test.
If the saltars approved me.
If I made no mistake during the next week.
Saltar Kemp limped to the front of the class, rhythm sticks clenched between arthritic fingers. She studied our silent ranks, eyes narrowing as she sought out flaws. Was I the exact number of inches from the women to either side of me? Did my leggings settle just above my anklebone? Was my spine perfectly aligned?
I held my breath.
Her eventual smile encompassed the room, fine lines bunching on her wizened features. “You must remember to breathe. Such concentration is good, but too much tension is as bad as none.” She tapped a slow beat with her sticks. “Four counts to breathe in. Four counts out. That’s better. Now begin nolana pattern three.”
My heart rose. I loved that pattern. I loved all the patterns. I thrived on the challenge of memorizing them, reversing them, repeating them in endless variations.
We began to move to our saltar’s counts.
Review
In HIDDEN CURRENT, Sharon Hinck has painted an exhilarating picture of what it means to find freedom in Christ. As a musician and a ballet mum, the premise of this series immediately appealed to me, but now having read it I feel like there’s a thrilling in my soul—a deeper realisation of what it means to be saved by grace and not by works, to find our meaning in His purpose for us.
Anyone who has had anything to do with the dancing world knows just how much hard work and discipline is involved, and in HIDDEN CURRENT, ALL of this hard work and discipline is channelled into controlling and regulating every aspect of their world. It’s a picture of legalism at its most deceptively fulfilling, and stepping away from that legalism takes Calara on a journey fraught with uncertainty and danger, yet also brimming with discovery, beauty, and freedom.
What makes this story especially potent is the way in which the reader is drawn into Calara’s emotional journey. It’s as though I experienced, through the microcosm of this story, the full reality of that battle between wanting to control our world and our circumstances and letting go and trusting God—even when things don’t go the way we want or anticipate. Both the story and the writing evoked a visceral sense of joy and wonder as Calara discovered the truth about her world and saw it through new eyes, and I often felt as though my own spirit had the urge to dance for its Maker.
And Brantley’s character rounds out the story so well. He both aids and challenges, forcing Calara to examine herself and her actions and decide when to follow her convictions and when to let them go.
This is such a unique and wonderfully realised story world, and I can’t wait to continue the series.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.
More From Sharon
Have you ever felt that nothing you do is ever enough? Not good enough? Meaningful enough? Do you ever think that if you could be more perfect, all your problems would be solved? In my new novel, I explore a character whose entire culture tells her that she must achieve perfection – and that answers to her world’s problems rest solely on human effort. Set in an imaginative fantasy world, I hope her journey will ring true for readers in our world.
I’m so excited to finally be able to share my new novel, Hidden Current, with readers. Can you see me Snoopy dancing?
And speaking of dancing …
What inspired this new series?
Years before I wrote my first novel, I worked as a dance teacher, choreographer, and artistic director of a Christian dance company. So, when my agent and I were discussing ideas for my next book, he said, “In all your other novels, you’ve never drawn from your experience in dance. I’d love to see you create a brand-new fantasy world and utilize dance in some way.”
I began mulling the idea, and within days, a character had come to life.
In my new novel, Hidden Current, the dancers of the Order direct their floating world with their movements but are steering it toward destruction. One lone dancer fights to overcome opposition from rim villages and treachery from the all-powerful Order and bring a forgotten truth to her people.
Is this part of a series?
Yes, but this is a stand-alone story. That means that although I’ve written more books with these characters, you don’t have to wait for the series to release, fearing an unresolved ending to book one. The story is complete of itself, with just a hint of the next adventure to follow. I’ve already done my revisions on the second book and have finished writing book three. 🙂
Why should I order soon?
This is being released in limited edition hardcover. That means when it’s gone, it’s gone.
Is this similar to the Sword of Lyric books?
Yes and no. It’s not a “portal fantasy” – no modern-day character visits this world. However, like my other fantasy series, the book was inspired by spiritual themes, delves deeply into the heart of a character that many of us can relate to, and paints a unique story world full of both beauty and dangers. I’m so excited for its release!
About the Author
Award-winning author of the ground-breaking Sword of Lyric series, Sharon Hinck is a wife, mom, and recent grandma, has an M.A. in communication, and has served as the artistic director of a Christian performing arts group, a church youth worker, and a professional choreographer, and an adjunct writing professor.
Connect with Sharon: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Sharon is giving away to two winners each the grand prize of a gift box full of goodies including: a Hidden Current book bag, a selection of other books by Sharon Hinck, Tsalla tea from Adagio (the tea they drink in the novel), chocolates, a packet of “star rain” (also from the book), an artistic book mark, and autographed book plate!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/f52f/hidden-current-celebration-tour-giveaway
Blog Stops
25 January
Inklings and notions
26 January
Texas Book-aholic
27 January
Library Lady’s Kid Lit
28 January
Artistic Nobody (Author Interview) | Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations,
29 January
Fiction Aficionado
30 January
janicesbookreviews
31 January
Emily Yager
1 February
For the Love of Literature
2 February
Wishful Endings (Author Interview) | Mia Reads
3 February
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy
4 February
Blogging With Carol
5 February
Tell Tale Book Reviews
6 February
Worthy2Read
7 February
Pause for Tales
Your review of the book is great. How you talk about both the plot & the characters makes the story even more appealing & intriguing. A must read!
Thank you! And yes, definitely a must read!
Fantastic review! You really captured the essence of Sharon’s writing.
Thank you!
Thanks for the great review! Sharon is phenomenal at weaving spiritual themes into lovely stories.
Enjoyed the excerpt.
Wow! Your description of your experience of the book is EXACTLY what I hope for! That while going on an adventure with a character, our own contemporary struggles with things (in this case the desire for control) will come into the light. Thank you so much for sharing about the book and inviting me to your blog today!
Thank YOU! ❤️
So excited about this book!!
Yay! It’s a fantastic read 🙂
I loved your review!
So excited for Sharon.
Thank you!
What a superb review! I can tell you really loved it. Your enthusiasm is infectious! I’m going to have to check this book out asap!
Thank you, Nicole! Definitely check it out 🙂
Your review is so wonderful.
Thank you 😊
Katie, Thank you for your wonderful review! This one sounds like a must read!
I love the review, and the book! Hidden Current was amazing!