The Amulet story arc is a six-volume graphic novel series written and illustrated by author Kazu Kibuishi. The story follows two siblings, Emily and Navin, as they embark on a dangerous and magical journey to save their mother. In the first volume, "The Stonekeeper," Emily and Navin move to a new house with their mother after their father's death. While exploring the basement, they discover a mysterious amulet that grants them extraordinary powers. However, they soon realize that the amulet is sought after by dark forces. As the story progresses in "The Stonekeeper's Curse" and "The Cloud Searchers," the siblings learn more about the amulet's origin and its connection to a secret underground world called Alledia.
So what is my point?
My belief in the Father to the fatherless and a God who providentially guided me helped me overcome my anxiety and analysis paralysis and get on with my life. After going to rehab and being clean and sober for a couple of months she bought me my first bible and gently suggested, if I was interested, to read one of the gospels.
As the story progresses in "The Stonekeeper's Curse" and "The Cloud Searchers," the siblings learn more about the amulet's origin and its connection to a secret underground world called Alledia. They join forces with a group of resistance fighters and encounter various creatures and challenges in their quest to rescue their mother, who has been taken captive by the sinister Elf King. "The Last Council" and "Prince of the Elves" further explore the complex political landscape of Alledia, as Emily and Navin get caught in the middle of a power struggle between the Elf King and the Resistance.
Magic feathers and sugar pills
Many months ago Neil Carter, Godless in Dixie, wrote an article about the Evangelical mind warping perspective on Philippians 4:13. (I particularly like the comment about his kids noticing the clock reading 4:13 as apposed to 4:20.) He also uses a cute analogy about Dumbo and the magic feather.
It is his follow on comment that I want to explore further:
In one sense Dumbo never needed a magic feather, but it sure was helpful at the beginning. Maybe the same thing can be said of religion.
I responded by saying that “This kind of sneaks up on you as subtly true.” And over the intervening months this idea has haunted me.
The reason Neil’s suggestion that religion might be helpful in the beginning struck me as true because that was my experience. Right at the time when I was most “lost” is when I became a Christian. That may actually be trite to say. Isn’t that true for everyone? This is going to sound like a religious testimony, but I have a point to make. So bear with me.
I grew up in a nominal Christian home. There were occasional references to God but he was never at the forefront of conversation. So much so, that I was curious about what the adults all seemed to know that I did not quite get. If I can quote Douglas Adams, my position on God as a kid went something like this:
Who is this God character, anyway?
The other pertinent piece of information is that I grew up in an alcohol and drug addicted family, specifically my mom. After years of broken promises and heartache when I was 17 my mom came to me and said, “Jesus told me to stop drinking.” “Sure, mom, whatever,” was my response. But she was clean and sober that day. And the next. And the next. She claimed God had given her a choice, “stop drinking or die,” and she chose to live.
This had a rather profound impact on me, as you can imagine. My mom did not push religion on me. After going to rehab and being clean and sober for a couple of months she bought me my first bible and gently suggested, if I was interested, to read one of the gospels. Which I did. Over the next year, I read it cover to cover.
With mom suddenly acting like an adult, this was my cue to fall apart. This was my junior year in high school. I had already had problems with school, mostly due to skipping class. But I was also dealing with what I now understand was depression and anxiety. I was panicked about projects where I had to speak in front of the class. So I did not go to school. Which made it harder to go the next day. Which made it harder still. The pressure and anxiety snowballed. I felt like I had a mountain of anxiety on my back every day.
So, I dropped out.
This is when I became a Christian. I had just watched my mother transform literally overnight. I had dropped out of high school. I was 17 years old, poor, with no prospects for the future. I had no idea what I was going to do with my life. All while I was reading the bible which was presented to me as having answers. And it claimed there was a God who cared. I needed help. Of course, I reached out to God.
Here is the point where my secular readers are jumping up and down at the manipulative nature of religion preying upon the vulnerable at there weakest. This is, of course, true, but not the main point I want to make. I need you to feel how lost I felt: on the cusp of adulthood, with no education and no plans on how to make a living, nor any hope for a meaningful life. Because the rest of the story gets to the point.
I had the odd experience of reading through the bible before I went to church. Which means that upon arrival at church I was constantly wondering, “Where did they get that idea?” I was 18 and the church had no idea what to do with me. So, the youth pastor asked me if I could help out with their youth group. Turns out not everyone in the church has read their bibles, so I was pretty good at preaching and teaching it very early on.
Here is the critical point in the story. One day the youth pastor says to me, “you should go to bible college.” Now, I was a high school drop out, I had gotten my GED and was playing about at community college with no particular plan. But suddenly, the idea of going to college was not out of reach. At least one person believed I could do it.
I wound up going to bible college and graduated Cum Laude. I met my future wife there. I briefly became a youth pastor. On at least a few occasions, I spoke and preached in front of thousands. This was the same kid who dropped out of high school because he was afraid of speaking in front of the class.
You know there is a rest to the story. This entire blog is the rest of the story. There were dark days for my mom. There were problems with bible college. There were certainly problems with ministry. And ultimately, my recognition that none of it was based on reality.
So what is my point?
I wouldn’t be here writing this today. I wouldn’t have my life. I wouldn’t have my career. I wouldn’t be married to the woman I love (I am still not in my wife’s league but I really wasn’t before college). None of these things would exist had I not been given that little bit of hope when I was at my lowest point.
I was dumbo. I was holding the magic feather of religion. And I could fly.
They face betrayal, danger, and loss along the way, but their determination to save their mother remains unwavering. In the final volume, "Escape from Lucien," Emily and Navin must unite their friends and allies to launch an all-out assault on the city of Lucien, currently under the control of the Elf King. As they confront their inner fears and face formidable enemies, they discover the true nature of their abilities and the role they play in the fate of Alledia. Throughout the Amulet story arc, Kibuishi's stunning artwork brings the magical world of Alledia to life, creating a visually captivating and emotionally resonant experience. The series combines elements of fantasy, adventure, and family dynamics, offering a compelling narrative that explores themes of bravery, loyalty, and the power of love..
Reviews for "The Critical Reception of The Amulet Story Arc"
1. John - ★★☆☆☆
I have to say that I was really disappointed with "The amulet story arc". The whole storyline felt predictable and cliché, lacking any originality. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, which made it difficult for me to connect or care about their journey. Additionally, the pacing was off, with certain scenes dragging on for too long while others felt rushed. Overall, I found it to be quite underwhelming and would not recommend it to anyone looking for a fresh and engaging story.
2. Emily - ★☆☆☆☆
"The amulet story arc" was a complete letdown for me. The plot was confusing and poorly developed, jumping from one event to another without any clear direction. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it hard to believe in the characters' motivations and actions. Furthermore, the world-building was lacking, leaving many unanswered questions and inconsistencies. I struggled to stay engaged throughout the entire arc and was left with a sense of dissatisfaction when it finally ended. I would advise skipping this one and choosing something else to read.
3. Sarah - ★★☆☆☆
I had high hopes for "The amulet story arc", but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The writing style was not very engaging, and I often found myself losing interest in the events unfolding. The main characters lacked development, and their relationships felt forced and unconvincing. The overall plot felt predictable, and I was disappointed by the lack of originality. While there were a few moments of excitement, they were not enough to redeem the arc as a whole. I wouldn't recommend it unless you're a die-hard fan of the series.