A Review of All 5 Dancing Priest Novels

Bill Grandi is a pastor in Indiana, cyclist, and regular blogger (two blogs, Cycleguy’s Spin and Living in the Shadow). Cycleguy’s Spin is about whatever might happen to be on Bill’s mind, and it’s always worth reading. Living in the Shadow is about his pastoral work, written largely for his flock but applicable to the rest of us as well. He often discusses what he’s working on for his sermons, inviting comment and commentary. 

He also turns out to be a faithful reader of the Dancing Priest novels. 

 

Bill has reread all five of the books, and today at Cycleguy’s Spin he’s posted a summary of each and an overall review. A writer can’t ask for a greater kindness and encouragement than that. You can read his review here.

The Character of Michael in the Dancing Priest Novels

After Dancing Priest was published in late 2011, I received an email from a reader in Seattle. He liked the book. He liked the book so much that he said it should be required reading for young men under the age of 20.  

He said this, he said, because the character of Michael was all about standing firm and true in the face of adversity. “There’s a nobility in the character of Michael Kent that we should all aspire to.” That character is demonstrated in large things, like an Olympic tragedy, and in smaller things, like taking in a motherless eight-year-old boy.

 

By the second Novel, A Light Shining, Michael Kent has become Michael Kent-Hughes, husband of Sarah. He wears his wealth lightly. Finding his family in Italy, instead of doing the legal thing, he does the right thing. And he faces the great personal adversity of any in the five novels, when he nearly dies. In fact, for a significant section of the book, Michael is unconscious, and the focus shifts to Sarah. 

To continue reading, please see my post today at Dancing Priest.

Top photograph by Benjamin Rascoe via Unsplash. Used with permission.

"Dancing Prince" is Published Today

Dancing Prince, the fifth and final novel in my Dancing Priest series, is published today on Amazon.

A mother's last words, a father's final message, and a strange painting: Michael Kent-Hughes faces personal tragedy, one that leads to long-lasting damage to the relationship with his youngest child, Prince Thomas. As the young boy grows to adulthood and the estrangement from his father continues, he finds his own way in life. But in the boy's hands and heart will lie the future of the kingdom. Dancing Prince is the moving conclusion of the Dancing Priest series.

The book includes a novella, Island, that is related to the main text but can be read as a standalone work.

Paperback

Kindle

"I was afraid, Dad"

“I was afraid, Dad,” Jason said, “if I said what had happened, then you or no one else would have wanted to adopt me.”

“My son,” Michael said, “while it may have shocked us to know, I don’t think it would have changed our minds.”

“I think I know that now, Dad,” Jason said, “but I was afraid you’d make me leave.” He paused. “Sometimes I feel I don’t deserve you and Mom.”

-      From Dancing Prophet. 

Photograph by Justin Chrn via Unsplash. Used with permission.

What Was Jason's Motivation?

“I don’t think Jason was setting up a stable of thieves and prostitutes,” Michael said slowly. “I think he reached out to these kids, odd as that sounds. They all needed protection of some kind.” He paused. “And something I found out today, strictly by accident. Jason has the makings of a first-class artist. When I came home at lunch, Sarah was painting, and Jason was sitting there, drawing a picture of her working. And it was incredibly good.”

“These children are full of surprises,” Father John said, “and not just bad ones.”

- From A Light Shining. 

Photograph by Warren Wong via Unsplash. Used with permission.

At the British Museum

An older American couple stood in line ahead of them. “You have a beautiful child,” the lady said, turning toward them.”

Sarah smiled. “Thank you. Right now, I’m thankful he’s chosen to cooperate and just stare at all the pictures.”

The lady smiled and then looked at Michael. “I suppose people have told you how much you look like King Michael.”

Michael laughed. “I think I’ve heard that a few times.”

-      From Dancing Prophet. 

Photograph by Grant Ritchie via Unsplash. Used with permission.

A Street Conversation

“No one’s home,” said an elderly woman standing on the porch next door. “She left early this morning with a suitcase, so she must have been going out of town. Robert and his chum left a little while ago. They should be in school at this time of day.”

Michael said a short prayer of thanks for busybodies. “Did you see which way they went?”

The woman nodded. “To your right, likely for the square at the end of the block. Do I know you? You sound familiar but my eyesight isn’t the best.”

-       From Dancing Prophet  

Photograph by Cristian Newman via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Crisis at the Hospital

Scott knelt before Sarah in the emergency room.

“Sarah,” he said, “Michael’s going into surgery. It’s likely to take a long time. His injuries are serious but he’s hanging on. And I’m not going to mislead you. It’s bad. He’s been shot near his heart and in his shoulder, near where it joins with his arm. His left lung collapsed, and they almost caught it too late. But they caught it. He’s lost a lot of blood.”

“Scott,” Sarah said to her brother, “please save Mike.” She began to cry in great sobbing breaths.

-      FromA Light Shining

Photograph by Piron Guillaume via Unsplash. Used with permission.

"He will not let go."

Canon Martin Land powered on his mobile, punching in a number he knew by heart.

“It’s Land,” he said. “I was watching the press conference.”

“I saw it as well.”

“The king’s involved,” Land said. “He could use this to further his reform cause.”

“You don’t know Michael. He will not use something like this. But if he thinks there is something bigger here, something worse than one boy at a London church, he will not let go.”

- From Dancing Prophet 

Photograph by Nikola Knezevic via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Joining the Family

That evening at dinner, Michael raised the issue. “We have a sixth family, Jason.”

“Yes?” he said, his eyes hopeful but wary.

“Sarah, why don’t you tell him?” Michael said.

“I’ll tell him,” said Jim. “It’s us. We want you to live with use.”

Jason looked at the three of them. “Are you doing this because no one else will?”

“No,” said Michael, “we’re doing this because it took God this long to make us open our eyes and see the obvious. You’re already part of our family. We want you to stay part of our family, if you’re willing to have us.”

     - From A Light Shining 

Photograph by Warren Wong via Unsplash. Used with permission.

From "Dancing Prophet"

“I’ve been going ‘round to churches,” Michael said, “talking about reformation. It was something I felt called to do, even before we left San Francisco. It was as if God was telling me that the reformation of the church was imperative. Now I wonder if I misheard what I thought God was saying. What if He was telling me to help people prepare, not for a reformation, but for the destruction and re-creation? He knew what was happening. He knew the evil that had to be stopped.”

- from Dancing Prophet https://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Prophet-Book-Priest/dp/194971800X/ref=sr_1_1 

Photograph by Linnea Sandbakk via Unsplash. Used with permission.