So Many Books...

The second book in Chuck Black’s “Wars of the Realm” series, Rise of the Fallen follows the angel, Validus. The last angel created by God, Validus often finds himself on the sidelines of major events, until he chosen by the archangel Michael for a special task.

The novel starts with Validus in the present day, but soon goes back to 4,000 years before Christ. Time goes back and forth through the past and present, until Validus meets Drew Carter, the main character from book one, Cloak of the Light. From that point on, the present day events coincide with the events of book one. Only now we see them from Validus’ perspective.

Where book one took place mainly in the physical world, or the Middle Realm, the events of book two take place mostly in the spiritual world, or the Upper Realm.

While I found a lot of the detail of fighting technique and battle strategy to slow the pace, I still loved this book. All of the action is still there, and the characters are still very well developed. I look forward to the next book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Blogging for Books in return for an honest review.

    What does the Bible really say about Jesus? What role does He play in our salvation and faith? Was it the act of the Cross, or is there more to it? What does it mean that Jesus is the same “yesterday, today, and forever?” In this book, Ferguson illustrates why Christ alone is sufficient for our faith by taking a look at scripture and what it says about Jesus.

     Organized into topical sections, In Christ Alone can be used for Bible study. The chapters, however, are short enough that the book could be read daily as a devotional to stay centered on Christ each day. Scripture is clearly cited when used or discussed, and it remains the main focus through the entire book. If you’re looking for a book that explains what the Bible says about Jesus, this is it.

     There were times where the flow or tone felt a little off to me, style-wise, but that could easily be a personal preference, and it doesn’t reduce the value of the contents at all. But it’s the reason I give it 4 out of 5 stars instead of the full 5.

     I was given a free PDF copy of this book from Reformation Trust in exchange for an honest review.

     Set in the deserts of the ancient Near East, A.D. 30 follows Maviah, the daughter of a powerful Bedouin sheik. An outcast from birth, Maviah lives the life of a slave until her people are attacked by a vicious enemy, and she is called upon to protect them. On her journey she has Saba, a skilled warrior, and Judah, a Jew looking for the future king of his people.

     His name is Yeshua.

     If you’ve been around my blog, you will know that I am a Dekker fan. Books like this are the reason. Ted makes you feel like you are really there, alongside Maviah and her companions. The characters are real. Relatable and flawed. The insertion of Maviah’s journey into the historical events of Yeshua’s life is brilliantly done.

     It is quite possible to learn through fiction. After all, Yeshua himself taught with parables. Those teachings are used in this book, and I think we can really see how to put them into practice when combined with Maviah’s story.

     Dekker has created more than a story here. It’s a learning experience. I haven’t been this moved by a novel since the Circle series…. also by Dekker.