About the Book

Book: Taming the Dragons

Author: Brenda Wilbee

Genre: Christian Living / Women’s Interests

Release Date: May 12, 2020

Are you overwhelmed, in despair, heartsick, or in danger? Not sure which way to turn? Whom to trust? Once upon a time . . . the raging dragon . . . a damsel in distress. It worked out well in our fairy tales, but what about real life?

In this highly creative approach to problems all women face today and in varying degrees throughout their lives, Wilbee identifies six choices women have when beleaguered by conflict and challenge. She partners six biblical women with characters from The Wizard of Oz, naming choices for Innocent, Orphan, Pilgrim, Martyr, Warrior, and Wizard. She then skillfully weaves in characters from other stories and tales, accounts of women from history and today, and experiences from her own life to illustrate how these choices empower women in difficult times, moving them from want to abundance—for themselves and others.

Beginning with Eve the Innocent, Wilbee asserts that while some of us might want to go back to the garden of Eden, where innocence dwells, no one can. It’s only by making choices to tame our dragons—and by walking the metaphorical yellow brick road of our inner journeys—that we can, and do, find the happily ever after of our fairy tales and the abundant life Jesus promises us all.

Each chapter concludes with a motivational section that includes journaling pages, “Something to Ponder,” and prayers for courage and hope.

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MY REVIEW

I like the unique way the author wrote this book. My favorite movie of all time is The Wizard of Oz. I watched that movie every time it came on. The author intrigued me and I had to see how she would incorporate this iconic movie into a book. She also uses fairytales to get her point across about the dragons in our lives. I did like the references to several women from the Bible who stood up and took the battlefield in spiritual warfare. It is not taught a lot in some churches and I have to wonder why these women are not studied more.

Each chapter is straight forward and uses examples to help readers understand the author’s points . I liked the part about how we each have choices. Eve had a choice to eat the forbidden fruit or turn away from it. In her choice she opened the door to evil . Temptation is hard to fight sometimes , but if we allow ourselves to listen to God’s voice, He will direct our path.

In one of the first few chapters the author talks about the Innocent. I found this one chapter to be very profound. We can choose to stay as a victim or fight the dragon and become stronger. Our journey may be difficult but as we fight the dragons in our lives, we are able to overcome that which the enemy meant for harm. Just like Dorothy we have to make a choice whether to follow good or evil.

Each chapter is geared toward helping us understand how to conquer our dragons by God’s truth. I liked how the author used several people from the Bible to show us how they went through tough times. Several women in the Bible were rejected, abused or forgotten about. In those moments they knew they were not alone. Jesus was there just like He is for us as we face difficulties in our lives. Reading the different examples the author uses, I felt more empowered and able to stand up against the evils of this world. I appreciate the personal stories the author used and helped me to see how spending time in the Word and having a deep relationship with God can help us over the dragons if this world.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion,

About the Author

Brenda Wilbee is passionate about helping women in their everyday lives. The author of over 10 books with more than 700,000 copies sold, Brenda is a long-time contributor to Guidepost’s Daily Devotionals. Her work appears in Zondervan’s Women’s Devotional Bible, Inside Religious Publishing, and Guidepost’s Best Loved Stories. She holds an MA in professional writing, with an emphasis on myth, fairy tale, and folklore. She divides her time between the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, and the Canadian Yukon.

More from Brenda

Author Brenda Wilbee wrote Taming the Dragons to help Christian women understand that they have choices when up against conflict and challenge. In this highly creative approach, she partners six biblical women with the characters from Wizard of Oz, naming choices for Innocent, Orphan, Pilgrim, Martyr, Warrior, and Wizard. She then skillfully weaves in characters from other fairy tales and stories, accounts of women from history and today, and experiences from her own life to illustrate how choice empowers women to tame the many dragons they face. She contends that by walking the metaphorical yellow brick road of learning choice, women find inner healing and restoration.

She begins with Eve the Innocent, asserting that even though we might like to go back to a garden of Eden, where innocence dwells, we can’t. But by making choices to tame the dragons we encounter as either Orphan, Pilgrim, Martyr, Warrior, or Wizard, we can, and we do, return to the happily ever after of our fairy tales and the abundant life Jesus, in John 10:10, tells us is ours.

Each chapter begins and ends with narrative to first explain a choice and to then offer the caveat. An Orphan asks for help, but by doing so she learns self-reliance. A Warrior fights to save herself and those she loves but has to be careful lest she become like her enemy. Each chapter concludes with journaling pages for personal thought, a study guide with Scripture to consider, and questions to ponder.