Powerful Audio Drama with For The Temple from Heirloom Audio Productions {A TOS Review}

I am thrilled that my first review for 2019 gets to be for the newest Heirloom Audio adventure. It is no secret that my family has loved every single adventure we have reviewed in the past four and a half years. In case you aren't aware, that comes to nine exciting audio dramas, all originally written by G.A. Henty over a hundred years ago. This audio theater series is titled "The Extraordinary Adventures of G.A. Henty" and they sure are "extraordinary"! This newest title is For The Temple, and it's release fits in perfectly with what we have been learning about in our homeschool. 

We received the two-CD set, which, as always, comes in this wonderful fold out case.

What is really cool is that if you were to order this CD set from their site, you would also get instant access to the MP3 Download. And if you are a member of the Live the Adventure Club, you would be able to listen to the story online. Personally, we love to listen to these stories in the van, especially when we are on long trips. Though we also listen to them in our living room during rest times on Sundays (and other days). It is at these times that we utilize the Study Guide, which we received in PDF format, and I use right from the computer. Additionally, the children have gotten to taking audio dramas to their room to listen to while they fall asleep.

Let's take a closer look at this amazing, 2 and 1/2 hour audio drama.

As in all the previous releases, our story begins with Mr. George, who is meant to be G.A. Henty. We love the passion with which Brian Blessed voices this character. This time around, Mr. George is in Vienna, Austria, and meets a completely new person who he gets to share his tale with. If I am not mistaken, this is the first time this character did not translate into one of the characters in the actual story. Though we don't see Ned this time around, Mr. George is writing him a letter as our story begins. Mr. George tells the story instead to Peter Brockhaus, who he becomes acquainted with in the Café Landtmann. During their conversation, he learns Mr. Brockhaus is interested in architecture. It is with this revelation that we segue into the story about the destruction of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem in A.D. 70. 

The adventure actually begins a few years earlier, in A.D. 67. It was quite exciting to realize this story takes place a few years after another Heirloom Audio story we reviewed 2 1/2 years ago, Beric the Briton. In fact, we had pulled that CD set out recently, as we have been learning about Ancient Rome and the beginning of Christianity. While that story shared some history of Britannia and the burning of Rome in A.D. 64, For The Temple is set primarily in Israel. 

First we are introduced to Nero, who is not only dealing with stomach issues, but is frustrated by the rebellion of the Jewish people. He sends Vespasian, along with his son Titus, to deal with the sedition. We then switch to a couple of the other main characters in our story, John and Mary. When we first meet them, they are out in the vineyard where John is teaching Mary to care for some diseased plants. Their vineyard is actually quite well-known, which plays into this adventure more than once. 

These two young people are meant to be married, and they are spending some time together, under the watchful eye of his mother. That is until Mary impulsively pushes off in a boat on the Sea of Galilee and John ends up having to swim after her. It is here that they find themselves in quite the predicament as a storm has been rolling in. Thankfully they are rescued by Josephus, who becomes interested in John joining him and training militarily. Originally John is opposed to this, as all he wants to do in life is to be a farmer. But he realizes these farming skills and his "book" knowledge will not help him if trouble arises with the Romans. So, he agrees to take Josephus up on his offer, which you can imagine, did NOT go over well with Mary. 

Josephus had stated, "The time is coming when every Jew who can bear arms will be needed in the service of his country." John spends several months training to become a man who will be able to come to the defense of his country. But, more than that, he desires to be able to protect the temple in Jerusalem. Over the course of the next few years, the Romans fall upon Israel, destroying cities and killing many many Jews. John and his comrades do what they can to stand against them, but they end up losing friends, some of whom are closer to John than others and are quite devastating. Then John comes up with this idea to cause trouble for the Romans by "harassing" them, catching them off guard to slow them down. He becomes a hero to the Jewish people, almost like a legend as there are tales circulating about his deeds that exaggerate what he and his small band of young men have accomplished. 

It is during this time that John comes face-to-face with Titus, Vespasian's son, while out for a walk. They fight, though Titus is unaware of who this Jew actually is and what he has been doing to the Roman army. John gains the upper hand. He could have killed Titus, but he stays his hand, showing mercy. They end up swearing an oath to each other. John promises never again to take up arms against Titus, and Titus agrees to protect the temple to the best of his ability. 

Of course, if you know your history, the temple of Jerusalem does end up being destroyed. The Romans end up taking Jerusalem, though Titus ordered his men NOT to destroy the temple, honoring his oath to John. Sadly, the soldiers do not listen, and the temple is destroyed, Many, many Jews lose their lives in defense of Jerusalem, and the temple. Those who try to flee are crucified. Truly, it is a sad, sad time for the Jewish people. Additionally, John realizes that it is the actions of three of the Jewish leaders who have really caused all this conflict and destruction. He came to realize they brought it upon themselves, so he no longer had a desire to fight the Romans. He and a friend begin their journey home, but little do they know their adventure hasn't yet ended. 

We had a wonderful time listening to this newest audio drama from Heirloom Audio. It really did help to bring this time period to life for our family, especially because we were able to put it into context with other events we have learned about. It was quite intriguing to hear about the oath between John and Titus, which I admit I have to wonder if such an oath really existed. It also surprised me to learn about the wickedness of the Jewish leaders and the part that played in the Romans destroying so much in Israel. More importantly, we have a couple of brief glimpses of the early Christians, those who were called followers of The Way, and we see how they impacted John and his decisions. 

While we enjoy just listening to these stories, I have to say, having the Study Guide sure helps to facilitate the learning aspect. 

Using the Study Guide while we listen helps us to focus on important points, plus it helps me make sure the children are paying attention. We can make sure we are accurately remembering names and dates, and other details. Each track of the disc has a corresponding page (or two) with three sections. 

The "Listening Well" section asks literal questions that we can answer by listening carefully to the story. The "Thinking Further" section asks us to dig a bit more. We need to infer, describe, and do some research. We look at maps and images online. We enjoyed looking up pictures of how Café Landtmann looks in present day Vienna. We definitely spent more time in this section than we have in the past, as the children are getting older and are more capable of spending time doing this. Finally, each page has a "Defining Words" section, which pulls out some harder vocabulary that would have been heard during that track. 

I also enjoy the tidbits of information that are shared in boxes inset on some of the pages. We learned more about such things as "Food in Ancient Jerusalem," "Sabbath & Shabbat," and the "Siege of Jerusalem." Sometimes there are black and white pictures to help illustrate an important event. 

The Study Guide concludes with a list of resources for learning more about the destruction of Jerusalem, three Bible Studies, background information for the story.

Heirloom Audio has produced yet another quality audio theater adventure, and it is one I can highly recommend. We love the sound effects that help to bring the story to life, plus the actors voice the characters wonderfully, as always.

If you are interested in reading my reviews for any of the other adventures we have listened to, you can find them under my Heirloom Audio Productions label.

You can find Heirloom Audio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Don't forget, you can read what my fellow Crew Mates thought about For The Temple by clicking on the banner below.

Epic Audio Drama with St. Bartholomew's Eve from Heirloom Audio Productions {A TOS Review}

Heirloom Audio has done it again!! They have produced yet another epic audio adventure based on one of G.A. Henty's powerful books from history. It is no secret that we have enjoyed every release we have had the opportunity to review thanks to the Homeschool Review Crew. This time around, we had the pleasure of listening to St. Bartholomew's Eve, a tale that takes place in France during the time of the Huguenot wars.

Each Heirloom Audio Productions release helps us live one of the "extraordinary adventures of G.A.Henty" through a two-and-a-half hour audio drama. As with the previous stories we have listened to, we received the 2-CD set.

   

At the beginning of the story, we are reintroduced to a couple of old friends, Mr. George and Ned, along with a new friend named Sebastian who is from France. As with all the other adventures, Mr. George (who is meant to be G.A. Henty) tells the story to a couple of boys, who happen to be the same age as the main characters in the historical tale. Ned and Sebastian were caught "being boys" and skipping the first church service, so they could "experience God outside." Mr. George then reminds them of those who fought and died so they could have the right to worship the way God has placed it upon their hearts to do. Sebastian, of course, understood that Mr. George was referring to the time of the Huguenot persecution and the "French Wars of Religion" that took place in the late 1500's. And from here, we segue into the historical adventure. 

The year is 1567, and Philip Fletcher has traveled from England to be with his mother's family who lives in France. It has been his dream to fight alongside those who have been struggling for the right to worship God, as it is his belief that when any one of God's children are persecuted, we are all persecuted. He spends time with his cousin Francois and his aunt and uncle, the Count and Countess De Laville, visiting and training in their chateau until it is time join in the battle. We learn that he has wonderful sword-fighting skills, though he is hesitant to add a dagger, and finds the thought of using a pistol unhelpful as it takes too long to reload.

Throughout the story we are introduced to the different characters as our brave young men either fight with them or against them. They join Admiral Coligny, Prince Conde, Henry, Prince of Navarre, and others to fight against the tyranny of King Charles and the Queen mother Catherine De Medici, along with the Duke of Guise. The Catholic leaders consider such things as eating meat on Friday and the signing of psalms by the common people, along with having a personal relationship with God, as blasphemy. The Huguenots, or the French Protestants, on the other hand feel they have the right to worship God the way He has placed it upon their hearts, following in the path of others during this time of reformation started by Luther several decades earlier. 

As would be expected, there are multiple battles and lots of intense scenes in this audio drama, including some brutal, heart-wrenching murders (though there are no gruesome details). 

The first battle Philip and Francois participate in takes place in Orleans, which was a Catholic stronghold. Orleans was an unexpected target, and victory here would open passage to southern France, along with encouraging other Huguenots. This battle also contains one of the scenes that was most memorable to Tabitha. Philip had volunteered to watch for the opening of the city gates, but he didn't notice a guard who was shooting an arrow at him. Thankfully Francois had been "watching his back" as he had promised to do, and saved his life. It was also during this time that Philip saw the benefits of having a pistol, as it helped lead to a victory. 

Speaking of pistols, during another battle we discover a unique way that Philip has found to utilize the pistol to his liking, which came as quite a surprise when we were listening, to us and the enemy. 

As is normal during a war, though there are victories (at times even defeat is a victory when they are still alive), there are also defeats. Additionally, there are times when people are taken prisoner. It is during the rescue attempt of a couple of our characters that a new friend is made, a young boy named Argento, who has recently lost his father. Though they have to leave him behind when they first meet him, Argento becomes an important character later in the story. 

Unlike other battles in which Philip and Francois have ridden out with the Huguenots to other locations, there is a time when they must hold the chateau against the onslaught of the Catholic forces. Even though they had held back the attackers for a while, the people had begun to despair, because they knew the Catholics would be coming back, better prepared and with more firepower. During talk of surrender, Argento's voice arose in song, with the first words of "A Mighty Fortress is Our God." As the song continues, more and more voices join in (including our family's), creating a powerful, unified song to the Lord. For me, this was one of the most powerful scenes in this production. The song ended with Argento repeating the final line, and then arose a defiant, "NO SURRENDER!" which was repeated over and over. This led to an unusual, yet effective plan for defense that could only have come from the Lord, an answer to the song. This is actually another one of our favorite scenes; however, I will not share any details, as I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise.

Sadly, these events are all just leading up to the ultimate horror, the massacres that begin on St. Bartholomew's Day, August 24th,1572. Even sadder is the fact that the Huguenots believed things were getting better for them. Though there was still persecution, there was a tentative new peace, which was supposed to become even stronger with the marriage of the Catholic Margaret of Valois to the Protestant Henry of Navarre. Unfortunately, with a few well placed lies, deceit and hints of betrayal, the Queen Mother was able to influence her son, King Charles, to attack the Huguenots, which led to tens of thousands of deaths. These deaths were made more personal as some of the deaths were of characters we had been hearing about. One in particular hit quite hard. 

Through all the death and bloodshed, through all the years of further persecution, those who continued to fight did so as their duty toward God, the duty to protect and to remain vigilant against tyranny. One of the most important quotes that stuck in my head, which I discovered is also under the insert in the CD set, is "Whom shall we obey? The King of France or the King of Kings?" This is a question that Christians throughout the centuries have had to ask. "Whom shall we obey? The leaders in the government or the King of Kings?" The Bible tells us we are to obey our authorities... UNLESS doing so will require us to disobey the Lord. Though I admit, I am conflicted due to teachings of nonresistance I have learned since becoming Mennonite. Does God truly want us to fight back and cause more bloodshed? Could the Huguenots have relocated as Mennonites did? How far can we continue to relocate if the lands where we move continue to turn against Christians? 

Once again I find myself wondering if I would have had the strength to stand by my convictions in the face of certain death. Once again I am horrified by the slaughters that took place in the name of God by leaders in the church. I had heard about the Inquisition before listening to the first release by Heirloom Audio Productions: Under Drake's Flag, but the story brought it to life and made it more real. However, I had never known of the atrocities committed against the Huguenots. It saddens and frustrates me to realize that those who are to show love through Jesus, could commit such heinous acts. It scares me to see how easy it is to stir up people, and the way people will follow in this mob mentality. However, I am also encouraged to see that people have been able to stand strong with the power of God through Christ.

I highly recommend St. Bartholomew's Eve for your family's audio drama library. Though, if you have sensitive children, I do recommend you listen first to see if you think it will be too intense for them. The recommended age for this production is six and up, and all of my children enjoy listening, though Harold (who is six) admits to not remembering many details, so I am not sure how closely he was listening. This is one reason I really, really wish Heirloom Audio still provided the study guides which we received with most of the other releases. We would use these to review the story, so I could see how much the children were understanding. It also helped us to understand the details of the story which could be missed, and I have to tell you, there are a lot of details that were tricky to follow, especially name of people and locations. These were more difficult than in other stories as they had to be deciphered around the French accent. Granted, you can do as I did and do your own research into the Huguenots; however, the study guides would have been so helpful. 

As always, Heirloom Audio Productions has done a wonderful job bringing history to life. The cast and acting were wonderful as always. The sound effects and music truly do bring us right into the story. Though I have to say, I have never been so drawn into the story as we were while joining in with "A Mighty Fortress is Our God." I wonder how many other listeners have lifted their voices to the Lord while listening to this program.

You can find Heirloom Audio Productions on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Instagram.

If you would like to see my reviews of the previous adventures, I invite you to check out my Heirloom Audio Productions label.

  

Don't forget to click on the banner below to see what my fellow Crew Mates had to say about St. Bartholomew's Eve.

Adventurous Christian Audio Drama with Captain Bayley's Heir from Heirloom Audio Productions {A TOS Review}

It is no secret that our family loves listening to Christian audio dramas. We've been a fan of them for the past three years. So, you won't be surprised to learn that we were absolutely thrilled when we discovered we were going to have the opportunity to review the newest release from Heirloom Audio Productions. To date, we have received and reviewed every single G. A. Henty adventure that Heirloom Audio has developed, and we love them all. Captain Bayley's Heir was no exception. 

We received the physical 2-CD set of Captain Bayley's Heir, along with access to the Live the Adventure Club which gave us the opportunity to download the Study Guide along with some other wonderful extras. 

As usual, the inner CD case has some wonderful artwork, plus there is an insert with a listing of all their audio dramas.

Included in the bonuses that are available with the Live the Adventure Club membership are the following:

• Captain Bayley's Heir Adventure Playlist (online or download as zip file)
• Captain Bayley's Heir E-Book (listen online or download as a pdf file)
• Official Soundtrack (listen online or download)
• Downloadable Printable Cast Poster (pdf file)
• Study Guide and Discussion Starter (read online or download as a pdf file)
• Inspirational Hymn Poster (download as a pdf file)
• Desktop Wallpaper Download (download as a jpg file)

The Live the Adventure Club also has a wealth of information, which I will go into after sharing about Captain Bayley's Heir. 

So, what is this newest release about?

This story takes place during the 1800's, during the gold rush era of American history (which we had learned a bit about with our core curriculum a couple of years ago). It was cool to have a story set in this time period. What was different about this story was that the action was split between two settings. In addition to the events that happen in America, the story also takes place in England. Which is actually where Mr. George's story begins. 

Oh wait, I didn't introduce you to Mr. George yet, did I. Mr. George is the narrator of all the Extraordinary Adventures of G.A. Henty releases from Heirloom Audio Productions. He is meant to be G.A. Henty himself, telling the story to young men who he happens to meet at the beginning of the CD. The most popular duo are Ned and Gerald, though Mr. George has also told his stories to Dan and Vincent, as well as others. In fact, during the opening scene, Mr. George is writing a letter to Ned and Gerald, and he talks about Dan and Vincent, the boys who were the focus of the other American adventure, With Lee in Virginia. It so happens that the story always includes main characters with the same name as the people Mr. George is speaking to. In this story, Mr. George has met up with a young man named Frank who is on his way out west. 

Frank is also one of the main characters whom we meet early in the story that Mr. George is telling the American Frank. We also meet his cousin Fred and a young lady named Alice who is like a cousin though she is no relation. Frank and Alice live with Captain Harold Bayley in his estate, and Fred visits often. We also meet a young man named Harry who lives in a poor section of London with his parents and his dog Flossy. These characters become acquainted early in the story when Frank saves Flossy from drowning in the icy waters of the lake in Hyde Park. 

Though Frank is a young man with Christian morals, he does find himself drawn into doing things that he knows he shouldn't be doing, such as going with his Westminster friends to a meeting where he ends up getting into a fight and breaking another man's nose. This other man threatens to go to Frank's headmaster if he doesn't pay him ten pounds, and he can't ask his uncle for help, or he would have to admit he was out of bounds from the school and in a fight. Even with his friends' help, he doesn't have near enough money to pay off this extortion. However, he ends up coming by the money anonymously. Sadly, this bank note was stolen from the head master, and Frank is accused of stealing it. Faced with expulsion, and thinking his uncle doesn't believe his innocence, Frank flees to America, on the advice of his cousin Fred. Thus begins his adventure to try to clear his name as he makes a way for himself in the new land. 

While he is off in America, we also follow the story of Captain Bayley, who now figures Frank is definitely guilty because he fled. Included prominently in this part of the story are Fred, Alice, and Harry. Intertwined in this tale is the mysterious whereabouts of Captain Bayley's missing daughter, who disappeared years ago, after having a fight with her her father over her choice of fiance. 

As the story progresses we follow Frank's adventures in America where he deals with such events as surviving a storm while working on a boat, finding his way to the wild west, fighting indians, going prospecting for gold, and gets fatally injured while protecting people from robbers. All the while he has been learning about God's grace. 

Back in England, new revelations reveal an amazing discovery about an heir of Captain Bayley. While they are enjoying their lives, there is still shadows hanging over their heads: What happened to Frank? Is he alive? Was he guilty of the crime he was accused of? 

Throughout the story we wonder: Will these family members ever be reunited? Will Frank's name ever be cleared? Who actually framed him? These are all questions that remain unresolved until almost the end of the 2 1/2 hour tale. And no, I refuse to give any of that away. The suspense of these dilemmas is what make this adventure so intriguing. 

We absolutely enjoyed Captain Bayley's Heir. As usual, it was full of adventure, plus historical and spiritual insights. As you follow along with the drama, you get caught up in the story thanks to the sound effects, music, and wonderful acting. Captain Bayley himself was a man with a really quick temper and would go on tirades which we found quite amusing. He is played by John Rhys-Davies, and there were times I could just see Gimli (from Lord of the Rings) in my mind while he was off on one of his rants. We enjoyed learning more about American History, having a story that took place in a time period we glanced over a year and a half ago. We definitely appreciate that they are sharing Christian values, and that the song "Amazing Grace" played a prominent part in the story. 

Now I would like to take some time to talk about the Study Guide and Discussion Starter. 

The 38 page study guide is organized the same way the study guides for recent, previous releases have been organized. It begins with an introduction section which includes a list of the crew and cast, an introduction to the actual study guide, plus information about G.A. Henty and Heirloom Audio Productions. Then we get into the actual guide. 

There are three kinds of questions for every track:

• Listening Well
• Thinking Further
• Defining Words

The "Listening Well" questions are the easier questions, which are the ones I use with my young children. These questions are usually asking for literal facts that can be pulled straight out of the story. 

The "Thinking Further" questions require the student to dig deeper, to be able to delve into details, make inferences, and even do some research. We usually skip these questions. 

The "Defining Words" section shares words that are mentioned in the story. In the past we have used these words for searches on Google or in a dictionary, to try to figure out what they mean.

Some of the pages even have black and white pictures depicting scenes from the story.

Additionally, there are seven "Expand Your Learning" sections. Here you will find more information related to the story, such as: Victorian Money, Manifest Destiny, different aspects of living in the gold fields, and information about routes by sea from Europe to California.

Next you will find a list of books to read for more information about Victorian England and the American West. The actual Study Guide concludes with three Bible Studies. They are titled:

• God's Grace
• Becoming a Christian
• Honoring Your Parents

Each starts with a paragraph explaining the topic, and then there are points to study with Bible verses to look up. 

The remaining pages are dedicated to Heirloom Audio Production's previous releases. 

Now I wanted to share some more details about the Live the Adventure Club website. 

When you first log into your account, you would come to your dashboard. From there you could navigate the site using the tabs at the top of the screen, or links on the sidebar or throughout the bottom of the page. In order to get to the bonus material for the CD's that you have purchased you would go to "My Library" at the top, or "View Adventure Library" on the side.

From your "library" you can access any of the adventures you have purchased (or in our case, received for review). You can listen to the adventure online or go to your bonuses. These bonuses are what I mentioned earlier in the review. However, there are even more goodies. You can listen to each track individually, following along with the actual Read Along Script, and then you can take a quiz. The quiz has questions like the "Listening Well" section of the Study Guide, but it is given in multiple choice format. The "Thinking Further" questions are also included, as are the "Defining Words." A benefit of using this section for the "Defining Words" is you can hover over each word to see the definition. 

Clicking on "Kid Activities" is another way to get to the adventure you would like to listen to as mentioned above. All of the releases can be found on this page; however, if you have not purchased a specific CD, you will be directed to a page on which you can do so. On this page you will also find coloring pages for all the stories which you can print or download. There are also Word Searches for each adventure. These can be printed or completed online. If you choose to complete them online, they will be timed, which is sort of cool. There are also fun activities that correspond with the different stories. For instance, you could make shortbread or create Ancient Roman Coins. 

In addition to resources to facilitate your time with the audio adventure, there are a slew of resources for the parent. In the "Education" section there are such treasures as the study guides, plus information on how audio learning may increase your child's I.Q.. There is a "Crash Course on the Constitution" with components that can be watched, listened to, and read online. Plus there are a variety of textbooks that can be read online. There are texts on American History and World History, Biographies, and readers for different grade levels. 

Under "Resources" you will find articles and podcasts on many different subjects. The "Inspiration" section brings you daily devotionals and inspirational stories of the day. On the sidebar you can click on a link to see past inspirations. Plus there is a "Quote of the Day" and a "This Day in Henty History." I'm quite intrigued by this "Day in Henty History" facts. They share different events that happened on this day, stating which G.A. Henty Adventure they would have taken place during. 

Last, but definitely not least, there is a wonderful community message board where you can discuss the adventures, plus other topics of interest, with fellow parents. 

Right now you can sign up for access to this wonderful resource and you will get a 3-month free trial, in addition to being able to receive Captain Bayley's Heir for just $1.

As always, I can highly recommend this new adventure from Heirloom Audio Productions. While you can just purchase the CD set and enjoy the adventure, the bonus resources really do help to expand the enjoyment of the story. I would highly suggest trying out the free trial of the Live the Adventure Club so you can have access to these resources. 

You can find Heirloom Audio Production on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Google+.

Don't forget to click on the banner below to see what my fellow Crew Mate had to say about Captain Bayley's Heir.

Thrilling Audio Adventure with In the Reign of Terror from Heirloom Audio Productions {A TOS Review}

We had the wonderful opportunity of reviewing the newest release from Heirloom Audio Productions. We have loved all of the audio dramas they have put out in the past, and frankly we were giddy with anticipation when we discovered a new adventure was available. When we found out we had been chosen to review In the Reign of Terror, we were just about jumping for joy. We couldn't wait for the first chance to get in the van so we could start listening to the story. 

We received the two-CD set, plus were given access to the Live the Adventure Club website in order to access all the bonus material that comes along with it. I'll be talking more about the bonuses later; first, let's get into the story because I just can't wait to share it.

This two and a half hour story begins in a similar fashion as all the Extraordinary Adventures of G.A. Henty adventures have, with Mr. George meeting up with someone with whom he is going to share his story. Mr. George is actually supposed to be G.A.Henty, the author of the book. In this adventure Mr. George meets up with a new character named Harry who lives here in America. They meet while looking at the graves in Arlington National Cemetery, and get into a discussion comparing the American War for Independence and the French Revolution. This comparison continues as he gets into his story, and we meet another young man named Harry Sandwith, the main character of this tale. 

Harry is 16, the same age of the other Harry that Mr. George is telling his story to. This is a common thread in all of these audio adventures, having the main character(s) be the same age and name as the person (or people) Mr. George meets up with. We first meet this Harry while he is with his father traveling by carriage to the sea. Harry is on his way to meet up with a packing boat so he can travel from England to France. Harry is interested in becoming a soldier because of stories he has heard of the heroes of the American War of Independence. Though his father, a doctor, would prefer for him to pursue a safer career in medicine, he respects Harry's decision to follow his dream. He is on his way to France to work for a marquis and his family, teaching the boys English, while hopefully gaining expertise for a military career. 

The problem is, it is not the best time to be traveling to France. There is a lot of unrest in the country as it is the time of the French Revolution. Fortunately, for a time, the unrest was more behind closed doors, though bad times were coming. A servant named Monsieur du Tillet provides a bit of comedy while taking Harry to the marquis's chateau. The children, okay fine, the entire family enjoyed the hilarious language bungles that Tillet made with his English in an attempt to make Harry not feel so bad when he messed up his French. Definitely not a major plot point, but a favorite part nonetheless.

We are then introduced to the Marquis de St. Caux and his two sons (Ernest and Jules), three daughters (Marie, Jeanne, and Virginie), and the Dowager Marquise de St. Caux, his mother. At first Harry has a hard time because as much as he would like to be a part of the family, the children can't overlook the fact that he is not of noble birth. It takes a life threatening event, in which Harry is the hero of the day, to change the children's thoughts toward Harry. After that he truly is like a member of the family. 

Sadly, these good times are not to last, as the san-culottes, or the commoners, are taking over, making new laws against the nobility and upper class. The marquis tries to fight along with others in defense of the king and queen, yet the king refused to take up arms against his country, and is eventually taken to prison. Slowly more and more of the nobility are also taken prisoner, until finally, the marquis and his family are in mortal danger. Harry escapes with the girls and is in charge of getting them safely out of the country. The brothers go off in another direction and sadly are captured quite quickly. The Marquis and the Dowager did not fight and were also taken into custody. 

It becomes a story with many dangerous twists and turns, quite suspenseful as we don't know for sure how many of the family, or their friends, are going to escape and how many will perish. In fact, even those who do eventually escape do not do so unscathed. During the second half of the story, there are many lives lost, as we discover the horror that was the French Revolution. 

As with all the previous Extraordinary Adventures of G.A. Henty Audio Theater releases, I highly recommend this adventure. It is a great way to learn about what life was like during the French Revolution. The story keeps you on the edge of your seat, wondering what new twist is coming next. 

That said, I do want you to be aware that some of the content may be a bit too much for younger listeners. While there was more actual on-air violence in some of the other stories, especially the ones that focus on war, this one does have quite a bit of gruesome detail mentioned. Even though we don't actually hear all the deaths, there is a lot of it. And some of them can be very emotional, especially considering who is being killed. There is some detail mentioned about how some of the executions are carried out, though they take place "behind closed doors" so to speak. 

I really appreciate the lesson that is imparted in the story. As is mentioned at various times throughout the adventure, the horrors that happened during this period of time, were due to people turning away from God, instead of what happened in the American War of Independence, where the people were seeking God and his favor. Our American forefathers sought independence, as opposed to revenge and bloodshed. 

Now, let's take a look at the bonus material.

As in the past, we were given access to some wonderful bonus material to help us enjoy our adventure.  This time however, there is a brand new website called Live the Adventure Club which we were given access to. From my dashboard on this site I made my way to my "Adventure Library" where all of the audio adventures' bonus material can be found. However, we do only have access to the bonus material for In the Reign of Terror, which makes sense. All I had to do was click on "Bonus Content" to see all we had access to. From there I was able to download the Study Guide.

Also available in this section are the following:

• In the Reign of Terror Adventure Playlist (listen to the adventure online)
• In the Reign of Terror Original E-Book
• Official Soundtrack
• Printable Cast Poster
• Inspirational Verse Poster
• Desktop Wallpaper Download
• Official Script Download

The Study Guide and Discussion Starter is a great resource to facilitate our learning.

It is organized in the same way the study guides have been for the past several releases. First it lists the Crew and Cast, and then their is an Introduction to the Study Guide. There is a short biographical section which focuses on a few people who are relevant to this story: G.A. Henty, Maximilien Robespierre, and Marie Antoinette. Each track of the adventure has one or two pages devoted to study questions. 

There are "Listening Well" questions and more in-depth "Thinking Further" questions. Additionally there is a list of "Defining Words" for each track. Included in the "Defining Words" section are both English vocabulary and French words. 

Interspersed throughout the study guide are "Expand Your Learning" boxes. You can find out more about such topics as 18th Century Architecture in Paris, Estates (or classes) of France, The Guillotine, and Health & Medicine During the French Revolution. There are also a couple of recipes shared: No-Knead French Bread and "Let Them Eat Cake" Simple Brioche Recipe. A few of the pages even have pictures depicting scenes from the track featured on that page. 

At the back of the Study Guide you will find a list of additional resources for the French Revolution, three Bible Studies, and the Historical Background for the story. 

We usually utilize the Study Guide after we have listened to the entire adventure at least once. During our rest time on a Sunday afternoon, I will put the CD in the DVD player while the children rest on the floor. After each track, I will pause the playback and ask the children the "Listening Well" questions. As the children are still young, we don't really dig into the "Thinking Further" questions. The children do a great job answering the questions. After a while, when I am convinced that the children are actually listening and understanding, I will allow them to listen without having to answer questions. I actually asked a lot more questions this time than I have when we listened to previous adventures. 

I also take time to Google some of the defining words and information in the "Expand Your Learning" boxes. The children were also interested in learning more about what a rabid dog would look like, as there is one in the story. I also asked if they could translate some of the French words. As Bastille Day came during the time of the review, we also looked up a bit about the Bastille. 

We don't go too in-depth with the Study Guide at this point, as they are still young. I use it more as a gauge to see how well they are listening to the story. I also enjoy reading the information for my own knowledge. I have to say, I have learned a lot more about the French Revolution than I ever knew. 

Now, remember I mentioned that these bonus resources are available on the new site called Live the Adventure Club? Well, I have spent some time perusing the site, and I am amazed at what is available there. In addition to these bonuses, there are Kid Activities where children can extend their learning and have fun. 

There is a section where you can listen to one track at a time, following along with the script if you would like, and when you are done, take a multiple choice quiz. 

Once all the quizzes have been taken, an Adventure badge and printable Award Certificate can be earned. 

Also available are coloring pages for all the audio adventures released so far, word searches (which can be completed online or printed), and other fun activities related to the stories, such as building a sugar cube pyramid and making a ship in a bottle. 

Additionally, there are resources for parents as well, such as reviews of popular movies with points that parents might want to know before allowing their children to see them, Live the Adventure Radio  podcast episodes on topics of interest for parents, articles on different topics for parents, and articles related to the importance of G.A. Henty's works being shared in today's world. There is also a Live the Adventure Club Community, a forum for parents to connect with one another. 

I have to say, I love the name of the new club website. When using the resources provided, you really do get more into these adventures, like you are living the adventure. I would highly recommend checking out this club site. They are currently offering an incredible deal too. You can sign up for a free (yes free) 3-month trial and receive the newest release, Captain Bayley's Heir, for just one dollar! Just click on over to the Live the Adventure Club.

The new club website is a wonderful feature. It really has enhanced our time with this Heirloom Audio Productions product. And, In the Reign of Terror is a thrilling addition to our G.A. Henty collection. If you would like to see what we thought of the previous releases, I invite you to check out my other Heirloom Audio Productions Reviews.

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Don't forget to click on the banner below to check out the reviews of my fellow Crew Mates. 

Intriguing Audio Drama with The Cat of Bubastes from Heirloom Audio Productions {A TOS Review}

We recently had the opportunity to review the newest release from Heirloom Audio Productions, another beloved tale titled, The Cat of Bubastes. We have enjoyed every audio drama we have received from Heirloom Audio Productions, and this one is no exception. All of these stories were originally written by the great G.A. Henty over a century ago. To tell you the truth, I had never heard his name before we reviewed Under Drakes Flag. Since then, I have had the chance to review every new release, and have been amazed by these intriguing stories from history. 

The audio dramas we first reviewed, all took place in relatively recent times, at least compared to The Cat of Bubastes. The eras in which these previous stories have taken place range from the 9th century (in Dragon and the Raven) to the 19th century (in With Lee in Virginia). A couple of months ago we reviewed Beric the Briton which took place in the 1st century. There was even the mention of Paul (or Paulus) from the New Testament in that story. However, we are now going even further back in history, to the time around the Exodus in the Bible. In fact, Moses has a cameo in this tale that takes place primarily in ancient Egypt. 

As always we received the 2-CD set of the production along with the downloadable bonus features that are included in the Family Four-Pack. 

Here is a list of all the bonuses we were given access to:

• The MP3 Set of The Cat of Bubastes
• The Cat of Bubastes E-Book (this is G.A. Henty's original story with new colorful graphics.)
• The Official MP3 Soundtrack (by Emmy Award-Winning Composer John Campbell)
• Printable Cast Poster
• Study Guide and Discussion Starter
• Inspirational Verse Poster (this is a larger, printable version of the image pictures above, in the center of the CD case.)
• Live the Adventure Letter
• Behind the Scenes Video

This is a tale of people learning of the one, true God, and learning to trust in him. Our main characters are all from pagan lands, from societies that worshiped other gods. But through the power of God, they were brought together and learned about Him. There is also a theme of it being "the duty of all men to give happiness to those around him if it is in his power" and treating others with respect, no matter what their station in life, as you never know what your future hold for you.

The story begins after two of our main characters have been captured, along with others from the country of Rebu, and find themselves being taken as slaves to Egypt. Because Amuba realized the importance of learning Egyptian, he and his protector Jethro, are chosen by the high priest of Osiris, Ameres, to be slaves in his home. Amuba, whose father was the king, now finds himself servant and companion to Chebron, the son of the high priest, while Jethro is the servant to the high priest's daughter Mysa.

Amuba and Chebron (along with Jethro) become close companions as they spend time together on a hunt, saving a young Israelite lady named Ruth, unveiling a murder plot, and accidentally killing the sacred cat. It is through Ruth and her father Simeon that they learn of the one, true God. After her father dies, Ruth is brought into the household of Ameres as Mysa's handmaiden.

As the story moves along, the main Egyptian characters are seen questioning the logic of their being different sacred animals for different areas of Egypt. I have to say, I was intrigued to have the Egyptian beliefs clarified, explaining the difference between the worship of the "gods" and the sacredness of the animals. With the death of Paucis, Mysa's cat who had been chosen as the next sacred cat of Bubastes, we also see that Ameres, the high priest, has also questioned the beliefs for a while.

As with all the "extraordinary adventures of G.A. Henty" this program is filled with adventure, suspense, and action. We were drawn into the story as we listened in the van. The descriptions of the Egyptian buildings were quite detailed, and the sound effects helped draw us into the story as it moved along. As always the acting was superb, with Brian Blessed returning as Mr. George (G.A. Henty) narrating the story.

I admit that I don't recognize near as many of the actor's names as I have in the other adventures. However, I was tickled to learn that the eccentric priest from Bubastes, Permotep, was voiced by Anthony Daniels who played C3P0 in Star Wars. Another returning actor who I recognized quite well was John Rhys-Davies. Even though I didn't recognize the actors, that does not change the fact that the acting was superb.

We usually listen to these dramas in the van on long trips, seeing as they are a couple of hours long. The first time we listened to The Cat of Bubastes, we had to listen to it in parts, as we didn't have a long trip coming until this past weekend. Finally, on the way to and from the hockey game, we were able to listen to the entire story in one day. I do prefer to listen in long, uninterrupted stretches so we don't forget what part of the story we had been up to.

We also usually find time to listen in the living room during a Sunday afternoon rest time, so I can also ask the children questions from the study guide. This time, I took my tablet with us in the van, and pulled up the study guide, and asked the questions while hubby drove down the road. I was amazed at how well the children were able to answer the questions. Even Hannah piped up with a correct answer.

The study guide for The Cat of Bubastes is similar to the study guides of all the previous releases. After a listing of the crew and the cast, there is an introduction to the study guide. There is a bit of biographical information for G.A. Henty and Moses, followed by a little snippet about Heirloom Audio Productions. The next 30 pages are devoted to the actual study guide questions.

Each track on the CDs is a section of the story. On the top of the page you will find the title to the chapter along with which track it is and where to find it on the disc. There is a Listening Well section, with literal questions that the children can answer just from listening to the events in the story. There is also a Thinking Further section that is a bit more difficult and involved. Finally, each page has a Defining Words section.

A feature that was started in Beric the Briton, has returned with The Cat of Bubastes. There are "Expand Your Learning" boxes where you will find further information, notes, a map and even a recipe. You will find these spread throughout the guide, not on every page.

After the study guide question section, you will find a list of addition resources. Then there are 3 Bible Studies: "God Meant it For Good," "The Knowledge of God," and "Idolatry and Tyranny." The guide concludes with historical information to help put the story in perspective.

Well, they have done it again. Heirloom Audio Productions have created a wonderful listening adventure, one I can highly recommend. Whether you are studying ancient Egypt or learning about Moses and the Exodus, this would be a wonderful supplement to your learning. Or, like us, you may just enjoy historical dramas, and would love to add this to your collection. I love having these in our CD library, as they are wonderful for listening to on long journeys. I also know, that down the road, we will be studying ancient times, and I plan on bringing this CD out again. The children will be older, and may even be able to use the Study Guide more. In fact, we just finished learning about the Civil War and I was able to pull out With Lee in Virginia. Listening to it again, while we were learning about the time period, really helped to put things into perspective for the children. 

The Extraordinary Adventures of G.A. Henty from Heirloom Audio Productions are wonderful resources for your homeschool. I truly appreciate how they bring history to life!

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Dramatic Audio Adventure with Beric the Briton from Heirloom Audio Productions {A TOS Review}

We had the wonderful opportunity of reviewing the newest release from Heirloom Audio Productions. We have enjoyed every audio drama we have received from this company and were so excited to be chosen for the review of Beric the Briton. 

We received the 2-CD set of Beric The Briton along with the downloadable bonus features that are included in the Family Four-Pack. 

Here is a list of all the bonuses we were given access to:

• The MP3 Set of Beric the Briton
• Beric the Briton E-Book
• The Official MP3 Soundtrack
• Printable Cast Poster
• Study Guide and Discussion Starter
• Inspirational Verse Poster
• Live the Adventure Letter
• Behind the Scenes Video

I have to tell you, we were not disappointed with this newest release in the slightest. In fact, this has become my husband's favorite story from Heirloom Audio Productions. In case you are unaware of the previously released CD's, these stories are all dramatizations of the books written by the masterful storyteller G.A. Henty. We have had the pleasure of reviewing all of these stories so far: Under Drake's Flag, In Freedom's Cause, With Lee in Virginia, and The Dragon and the Raven. 

Each of these stories is from a different period in history. When I first received Beric the Briton, I admit, I wasn't exactly sure which time period it was supposed to fit into, especially because I don't have much knowledge of the time of the Roman empire or the history of England. I knew this story had to do with a man named Beric who was a chief from one of the clans in Britannia where the Romans were invading; however, it took listening to the CD to realize what the actual time period was. This story actually takes place during Biblical times. At first I thought it was supposed to take place a century or so after. However, we find out that one of the characters is the centurion who had transported Paul (or Paulus as he is called by the Romans) to Rome. 

However, I am getting ahead of myself a bit. Let me share more about the story and the characters.

Beric is the son of Parta, the chieftainess of their tribe in Brittania. Early on in the story, Beric comes of age and is made a chief alongside his mother. At this point in history, Rome is occupying their land. Beric had spent several years as a captive in the city of Camalodunum and had a good relationship with a couple of Romans, Caius and his daughter Amelia. However, he was now back with his tribe and there was talk of revolt. The people were not happy with the Roman occupation, with the taxes they were made to pay. However, it wasn't until the King had died and Queen Boadicea suffered the indignation of being beaten by the Romans that fighting actually broke out.  

At this time both the Romans and the tribes from Britannia are pagan. The Romans still worship the Roman gods and the tribe members are considered by the Romans to be barbarians who believed in spirits and gods who could be all around them and easily manipulated by what the Druid priest wanted. For instance, the Druid priest says that it is the gods who want them to attack the Romans; however there are those who can tell it is the will of man and not the gods.

Due to the fact that Beric had lived among the Romans, and knows their ways, he tries to convince his people that they need to fight differently in order to win against the Romans. They need to learn discipline and not just rely on their bravery, which had caused their previous defeat. He wants to teach them what he has learned from his time among the Romans. Unfortunately, only men from Beric's clan were trained in this way, which leads to the eventual defeat and capture of Beric, his friend Boduoc, and his men. They are then taken to Rome where they are to become gladiators.

It appears that this story shows how Christianity made its way to Britannia. While on the way to Rome, the ship carrying Beric and his fellow captives was struck by a storm and shipwrecked. The son of their captor is almost lost, but Beric convinces his men to help the boy. Their captor questions why Beric would help instead of trying to escape. Beric states that he has given his oath that he would not try to escape. Beric is found to be trustworthy and noble. His actions also speak to another, Julius, the centurion who had transported Paulus. He wondered if Beric had heard of Christus (Jesus Christ) because of the way he helped his enemy. Of course, he hadn't, but later he hears the stories of Christus and his teachings and followers. He learns that their are those who teach that their is one true, almighty God. He and Boduoc become friends with the Christians while training to become gladiators, and through a dramatic chain of events, end up becoming a Christian and eventually sharing Christ with his people in Britannia.

Now, let's take a look at some of the other resources that are available.

Like all the other CD's from Heirloom Audio Productions, Beric the Briton has a bonus Study Guide and Discussion Starter. In this amazing resource, you will find background information about G.A. Henty, Emperor Nero and Queen Boadicea.

Each track on the CDs are a section of the story. In the upper corner of the page you will see where on the CD this part of the story takes place. There is a Listening Well section, with literal questions that the children can answer just from listening to the events in the story. There is also a Thinking Further section that is a bit more difficult and involved. Finally, each page has a Defining Words section.

Something new this time around are these "Expand Your Experience" boxes where you will find further information, notes, and even recipes. You will find these spread throughout the guide, not on every page.

In the back of the Study Guide you will find a list of books that share more information on the Britons and Romans in the 1st Century. There is also a page of historical background for Beric the Briton. Then there are 3 Bible Studies.

• Bible Study I: The Importance of Studying History
• Bible Study II: Thou Shalt Not Kill
• Bible Study III: One Way

Finally, there is a section on The Significance of the Colosseum in Christianity

One of my favorite bonus resources besides the Study Guide is the Behind the Scenes video. I enjoyed watching the actors talking about the story and getting some inside details. 

While my husband has stated that Beric the Briton is his favorite story from Heirloom Audio Productions, I have a hard time choosing my favorite. It is however right up there with a couple of my other favorites. I appreciated that there weren't a ton of battle scenes in this story as there have been in some of the other G.A. Henty stories. And my husband and I both got a kick out of the running gag involving Boduoc. The fact that this story takes place during the time of Nero who was emperor during the time of the apostles had a way of making the truths from the Bible even more real. To know what was going on in another part of the world (Britannia) during this time was quite intriguing.

Once again, I can highly recommend a product from Heirloom Audio Productions. The quality of the story is again top-notch with amazing voice actors. The sound effects really help to draw you into the story. 

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There is also a Facebook page specifically for Beric the Briton and one for The Extraordinary Adventures of G.A. Henty.

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