The PossessionA shadow is stalking the students of a Christian high school in the St. Louis suburb of St. Charles, MO. Two beings in one, the killer seeks out the hypocrites who live the days in the sun and ignore their God at night. The goal is the death of ten. Shawna Weston has graduated at the top of her class from a college in Texas and has settled in as the History teacher at this same school. The shadow knows of her. It knows of her gifts. It knows that it has more to fear from her than the FBI agents who are investigating the murders . . . or Shawna’s ninja friend who has been brought in to help. Though the killer may not be able to send her to the same eternity of torment to which the students are being tossed, at least the Woman of Prayer can be eliminated and put out of the way of the Dark Master’s future plans. Shawna is not a teenager anymore. And it is now time that she steps up to be the hero that God wants her to be.
The Guru's Review:
I received an advanced reader's copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. This is book 7 of this Adventure Chronicles series and I would for it to not be the last. After reading this instalment, I am hoping that this is not the last one. If I remember rightly, Davis is aiming for a 9 novel series so I find it comforting that there are two novels yet to be developed. This would make sense as there are at least two plot arcs that are left unfinished in this new instalment that involve a continuing story arc that involves Jamie and Shawna.
This new novel is a short read. It took me a few hours to read. Due to this shorter length than most of the series, there is not as much suspense and mystery or action, no surprise there, but there is enough to keep your interest to keep you reading. None of the other Adventure ninjas are involved in this plot, only Jamie. And despite him being one of the two main characters, his part is not as involved as Shawna's. But this novel is focused on Shawna, so this makes sense. Davis stated a few books ago that this would be the case in relation to Shawna. Despite this shorter length story, it fits in well with the rest of the series and continues some of the demonic story lines from the events of the plot arcs from Gateway to Thera (Book 3 of the Adventure Chronicles).
This new novel is a short read. It took me a few hours to read. Due to this shorter length than most of the series, there is not as much suspense and mystery or action, no surprise there, but there is enough to keep your interest to keep you reading. None of the other Adventure ninjas are involved in this plot, only Jamie. And despite him being one of the two main characters, his part is not as involved as Shawna's. But this novel is focused on Shawna, so this makes sense. Davis stated a few books ago that this would be the case in relation to Shawna. Despite this shorter length story, it fits in well with the rest of the series and continues some of the demonic story lines from the events of the plot arcs from Gateway to Thera (Book 3 of the Adventure Chronicles).
Again, Davis has continued the themes of spiritual warfare and walking in the Spirit. He shows specific examples of Shawna doing this in everyday activities that are simple acts but have a deeper meaning. They show how doing this allows the Christian to be God's hands and feet and a willing vessel of His Spirit to use for whatever He has planned and in this case, spiritual warfare. It also illustrates how the Christian's obedience and submission to the Spirit show God's Sovereignty and how the battle belongs to Him. The spiritual warfare is Biblically based and a no holes barred account about how it is executed in the demonic attack on Shawna. Again, Davis portrays the importance of this in the life of the Christian. It is not preachy, overdone or super-spiritualized. Just stated as it is outlined in the Bible and how we are to engage these principles. I appreciated Davis showing that it is not by faith or in our strength that we are to use these principles but by His Spirit. It comes down to the verse in Zechariah 4:6,
So he answered me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by strength or by might, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of Hosts.
I always find it refreshing that showing the truth of spiritual warfare and dealing with this as depicted in the Bible and embedded in a storyline that it adds credibility to the suspense, action and mystery of the scenes that are affected by this. In this way, not only does fiction entertain but spiritually uplift the Christian reader, instruct and encourage them in this important Christian/Biblical issue and practice and for the non-believer, it gives them a view of the lies of demonic bondage and how freedom can be found in the saving Grace of God. This is especially relevant if and when they are beginning to question the evilness of this world or when God is calling them to Him. God places authors is prime positions here to be used by Him in their writing and I can say that Davis is one of many I have reviewed who has accepted this mandate from God to be used in this way and for His Glory.
I would like to see Davis show Jamie, Yoshi and other Christian members of The Adventure team exercise more of these spiritual warfare principles and not just have Shawna being the only consistent one. In a spiritual reality sense and as encouraged by the Word of God (Bible), the example of Shawna in these novels is how all Christians are to be, living and walking in the Spirit and in obedience and submission to the Spirit of God.
It is in depictions like this, that I pray encourages or even convicts a Christian reader to be more like Shawna. I applaud Davis for showing it like this and not watering down the Gospel or showing God as being less than He is. Davis does not undermine God as Omnipotent, Omniscience and Omnipresent and of course, Sovereign. It is just as important that he also shows the demonic for what it is, its forces unable to overcome God or the power invested in Christians by His Spirit or showing Christians as weak and powerless over demonic forces that so many non-Christian authors, non-believers of the public and of course, Hollywood portrays.
Highly recommended.
I would like to see Davis show Jamie, Yoshi and other Christian members of The Adventure team exercise more of these spiritual warfare principles and not just have Shawna being the only consistent one. In a spiritual reality sense and as encouraged by the Word of God (Bible), the example of Shawna in these novels is how all Christians are to be, living and walking in the Spirit and in obedience and submission to the Spirit of God.
It is in depictions like this, that I pray encourages or even convicts a Christian reader to be more like Shawna. I applaud Davis for showing it like this and not watering down the Gospel or showing God as being less than He is. Davis does not undermine God as Omnipotent, Omniscience and Omnipresent and of course, Sovereign. It is just as important that he also shows the demonic for what it is, its forces unable to overcome God or the power invested in Christians by His Spirit or showing Christians as weak and powerless over demonic forces that so many non-Christian authors, non-believers of the public and of course, Hollywood portrays.
Highly recommended.
World Building 5/5
Characters 5/5
Spiritual Level 5/5
Story 5/5
Enemy Spiritual Level 5/5
Overall Rating: 5/5
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Spiritually, based on my review and on the following reference booklet,
A Spiritual System for Rating Books by David Bergsland, and that The Possession contains elements of the criteria of what constitutes Christian Spirit-Filled Fiction outlined in this booklet, (click on the title below to see what this is based on), I award Jeffrey Allen Davis with the
Reality Calling Christian Spirit-Filled Fiction Award
Congratulations, Jeffrey!
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