The Possession (Adventure Chronicles No 7) by Jeffrey Allen Davis

The Possession

A 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). 

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.

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!

To buy or preview this novel, click on the BUY/PREVIEW icon on the image below:

Full Circle: Book Six of the Adventure Chronicles By Jeffrey Allen Davis

Full Circle: Book Six of the Adventure Chronicles

Maria “Star” Gonzales is dead. The autopsy rules it a heart attack but Jamie, Dave, and the others cannot bring themselves to believe that the vibrant, young woman could have died from such natural causes. They decide to attend the funeral and do a little snooping while in Jameston.

In the town of their founding, the team of martial artists find themselves in the middle of a war between their old enemies, the Renegades, and the Japanese organized crime family known as the Yakuza. To add to the chaos, a former assassin for the Waruiyatsu ninja clan now works as a bodyguard for Hiroshi, the head of the Japanese syndicate. Could they be behind the death of Adventure’s friend? Or could Ben Shalley, whose hand is in all of the crime in the state, have faked the autopsy report to manipulate Jamie and the others? More importantly, could this all lead to the explanation of another mysterious death that has already plagued our heroes?

Finally, Yoshi has been talking with the elders of the Funakoshi family about a big decision that could lead her to the fulfilment of the prophecy that was given to her by Elvara Winterbreeze the day that she came to know Jesus. But how will this decision affect her friends . . . and Jamie, in particular?

As the members of Adventure face the past that turned them into a fighting team, they find a surprising ally. Will they now come Full Circle?

The Guru's Review: 

I have never regretted reading this series. Each new volume brings with it an exciting anticipation of what is in store for the Adventure team. This new volume is not a disappointment. None of the others have been either.

Amongst other things, one of the things that I have really enjoyed about this series is seeing Davis's writing and novel construction improve with each novel. This includes the spiritual aspects as well. 

Before I continue, there are slight spoilers ahead. Tried to avoid them, but to describe these spiritual aspects it was necessary. 

Full circle starts off with more vice and corruption that is the trade mark of the Shalley empire. This sets in motion the events that lead to the background to the death of Maria (Star). Jamie and the Adventure team find themselves in a "...war between their old enemies, the Renegades, and the Japanese organized crime family known as the Yakuza. To add to the chaos, a former assassin for the Waruiyatsu ninja clan now works as a bodyguard for Hiroshi, the head of the Japanese syndicate." (to quote the book description) And to add further intrigue, a rival member of the Funakoshi clan from the events in A Family Squabble: An Adventure Chronicles Short Story (The Adventure Chronicles) arrives wanting reconciliation with Jamie and Yoshi. This is more than effective in setting the stage for the pace and suspense for the rest of the novel. It then becomes the quest for Jamie and the Adventure team to find the truth behind Maria's death. 

This novel resonates with all the elements that we are used to in this series. Against the backdrop mentioned above, Davis has consolidated and brought to fruition a lot of the plot lines from previous novels. This makes this novel very satisfying. And it from this angle that this novel is very aptly named. Most readers of this series will agree that the number one plot line here is the relationship between Jamie and Yoshi. Their relationship develops to the level that will please all fans of this series and these two characters. The only spoiler I add here is that it culminates in their kiss! Even Davis admits that he has waited 20 years to develop this! It occurs at such an emotional part of the novel and is very well placed. The events that build up to it, had me in tears. Why did I have to be on public transport when I reached this part of the novel? It is really hard to disguise your tears in public, especially when society does not expect or know how to handle it when a man cries! But that is another social issue for another discussion at another time. 

One aspect that impressed me in this story, was the spiritual aspects. I have commented in previous reviews that Davis has included more and more spiritual and biblical truths in his novels. This started from Book 3: Gateway To Thera. This novel is no exception. In this novel, his redemptive elements are quite powerful. Davis has developed the plot showing not just living out their lives according to the Bible but also having members of the Adventure team willing to sacrifice themselves for others instead of reinforcing the practice of fighting to the death. The fight between Yoshi and Maori is a case in point. Yoshi realises that continuing the fight is worthless and so stops. Not to spoil it for the reader, but Yoshi does something that would only be possible by being led by the Spirit resulting in God's redemptive power being expressed mightily. The same can be said for Hiroshi, who paid the ultimate price for his new found faith. Another spiritual element is the prayer by Shawna quoting a promise from the bible when Jamie is struck down. This is prayed with faith, activating the authority and spiritual power that this verse has.  

It is all these events and more that make Davis's fiction reflective of the spiritual reality that exists in the Bible and what God gives us and wants us to live out in this life. I have also said in previous reviews that I love novels by Pastors/ministers for the Pastor's perspective they incorporate in their novels. We see this not only in these redemptive/spiritual elements but specifically by the character of Buster Goodman. I have wondered while reading this series if Buster is based on Davis? He is, after all, a Minister. Sometimes an author bases one character on himself or on multiple characters. I found out later, from the author, that Buster is based on a guy on one of Jeffrey's friends! Not disappointed with this, Jeffrey's friend has obviously had a powerful impact on his life. Quite an honour to have a character based on him. 

Davis illustrates one very good spiritual aspect in the plot line and character of Ben Shalley. In the final confrontation between Jamie and Ben, this latter character expresses all the motives and reasons for his vendetta against Jamie. It illustrates how hardened one's heart can become towards God and His Gospel when one allows the power of bitterness, hatred and jealousy to overtake them. It definitely paves the way for evilness to take root in the affected person's heart and leads them further away from redemption. 

Just before this final confrontation before these two characters, I was getting concerned that Davis was not going to be able to wrap up everything relating to the murder of Star (Maria). I was not wanting to finish this and find out that it would be continued in the next novel. Sometimes when this happens, it becomes very frustrating to be left hanging on such a thread waiting for resolution in the next novel. But, true to Davis's form and style, everything was tied up at the end. And also not rushed or hurried.

The entire plot that leads up to this ending, paves the way for the remaining books in this series to be taken to the next level of mystery and intrigue. It seems to me that this novel is pivotal for the remainder of the series. I will be saddened by the end of this adventure that Davis has created with these nine books. I am just glad that I have 3 more to anticipate and enjoy. What next for me then? Well, while Davis is creating more worlds for me to inhabit, I could read all these over again! 

Highly Recommended. 

World Building 5/5

Characterisation 5/5

Story 5/5

Spiritual Level 4/5

Enemy Spiritual Level 4/5 

Overall Rating 4.6/5 Stars 

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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 Full Circle contains elements of the criteria of what constitutes Christian Redemptive Fiction outlined in this booklet, I award Jeffrey Allen Davis with

The Reality Calling 

Redemptive Fiction Award

Congratulations, Jeffrey!

To buy or preview this novel, click on the BUY/PREVIEW icons on the image below:

The Quest for Yoshi: Book Four of the Adventure Chronicles (Volume 4) by Jeffrey A. Davis

The Quest for Yoshi: Book Four of the Adventure Chronicles (Volume 4)

For two months, Shawna’s nightmares have kept her confused and exhausted. Visions of empty graves, cursed amulets, and old friends fill her thoughts at all times, leaving her friends and boyfriend perplexed. Jamie, still mourning the loss of his clan-sister, has struggled to come to terms with having left leadership of the Funakoshi clan in the hands of the violent Shakato family. So now Shawna’s strange visions are drawing her back to the world of Thera. The last time that they went there, a cursed wizard killed Yoshi. What will happen this time?

The Guru's Review: 

This comes to the last (of the published series so far) of the Adventure Chronicles. Davis has continued his new standard of writing and world building that debuted in the Gateway to Thera, and I would say the spiritual aspects are more evident and deeper as well. Again, he has used a Bible event to base his world building and again it takes place in the world of Thera and this plot line adds to and further develops the world building and fantasy elements that he created in Gateway to Thera.

The action is faster is this instalment. The pace never lets up and this is one roller coaster ride compared to the first two instalments. This plot line follows on very nicely from the previous one and it seems that we may not be leaving the world of Thera in a hurry. I loved the spiritual warfare aspects and these adhere to biblical standards very strictly. This is what I have come to appreciate in this new standard of Davis' writing. In this story, he has the demonic based on what you find in the story of Baal and its worship, the use of intercessory prayer and the use of the name of Jesus to defeat the demonic with the Christian characters boldly and confidently claiming these promises and principles having recognised that their power comes from the Spirit and that it is very real.

I have stated many times before in other reviews and in this review blog, that Christian fiction should not just entertain, but edify the reader, educate in biblical principles and honour God. Davis very much does this in this instalment on all points except one.

It is here that I am very disappointed. While I accept that Christians will sin due to our fallen human nature (our physical body is not regenerated upon salvation but prone to sin), I was disappointed that no repentance or godly remorse for the sinful act of one if its main characters was not described by the author and the consequence of this it comes across as if this is normal and of no consequence, but from a Biblical/Christian point of view, this is just not true. This lack of repentance comes across very much comparable with the attitude of secular humanism, and as Christians, we are not to adhere to those standards but only God's concerning what he says about our behaviour and sin and why He died on the Cross. I am not saying that Davis adheres to this secular humanistic attitude, but his omission of the biblical side of it has great potential to lead an unbeliever or new or undisciplined/undiscipled Christian astray or give an incorrect message about this type of behaviour and God's view of it. As stated in my blog page, Why Christian Fiction? concerning why I review Christian genres, I sometimes discuss issues like this with the author to see why they treated this aspect of their novel the way they did so I can better understand their motive and mindset. I did so with Davis and as a consequence, I am confident that he will attend to spiritual matters like this biblically in future novels as this will definitely make him a better author and represent honourably the God who has called him to write on His behalf.

I am very excited to see Davis research completely the biblical side of this novel and its predecessor. He is definitely adding more depth of spirituality and biblical principles in these last two novels. As I said in my review of the Gateway to Thera, Davis has taken this series to a new level and it is paying off. I appreciate his commitment to this and honouring God in the process. The first two showed a weaker marriage between being a Christian and martial arts while these previous two (books 3+4) show how this marriage is a strong one and one that is compatible and God honouring. The discipline required in both (martial arts and being a Christian) complement and strengthen each other. This shows in the attitude of the Adventure team members towards each other and in their relationship with Christ, specifically living out disciplines of supplicating prayer, spiritual warfare and healing prayer.

I am looking forward to seeing more novels in this series. I don't think Davis is finished with the Adventure team yet.

Highly Recommended

World Building 5/5

Characterisation 5/5

Story 5/5

Spiritual Level 4/5

Enemy Spiritual Level 5/5

Average Rating 4.8/5

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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 Quest for Yoshi contains elements of the criteria of what constitutes Christian Spirit-Filled Fiction outlined in this booklet, while taking into account the one flaw that I outlined above that the author is aware of and I believe will be avoided in the future, I award Jeffrey A. Davis with

The Reality Calling Spirit-Filled Speculative Fiction Award

Congratulations Jeffrey A. Davis!

To read a preview of Gateway to Thera, click on the Preview button below: 

Gateway to Thera: Book Three of THE ADVENTURE CHRONICLES (Volume 3) by Jeffrey A. Davis

Gateway to Thera: Book Three of THE ADVENTURE CHRONICLES (Volume 3)

Half of our heroes are missing. After a warehouse explosion, Jamie, Buster, Yoshi, Shawna, George, Deck, Max and Alex are presumed dead, leaving a more ruthless and brutal ADVENTURE to hunt down the street gang who was responsible for luring them there. But Steve Adams was in the warehouse, too. And he knows the truth. His brother and friends are not dead. They stepped through a gateway to another world, where they have their own battle to fight. Can the genius figure a way to convince Dave and the others that their friends are alive and that they need to retrieve the two coins that open the portal to bring them home?

The Guru's Review: 

This is the third instalment in this series and I have enjoyed every one of them. However, I enjoyed this one the most for a number of reasons. 

Firstly, it shows that Davis has matured in his writing, plot development, and characterisation and also in the Christian/biblical themes. He has become bolder in all these aspects and I especially found it noticeable in the latter aspect. There is more instances of prayer, and more of the characters, especially Jamie, seeking God's help and guidance when he realises that his circumstances are out of his control and the only one that can help is God.

Secondly, Davis has introduced a fantasy element to this novel and while I thought it would not fit into the existing plot after the previous two novels, it really does fit well and it is this that takes this series to the next level. The world building for this fantasy world that the Adventure team enter is simple but has been constructed to give the illusion that there is a lot of depth in its creation. What I absolutely loved is the mythology on which Davis bases this world  and it is very successfully founded on the Bible and some of its events, characters and doctrine. This is very clever and I feel an ingenious move on his part.

These bible elements really do make this novel and enhance everything that Davis has created in the previous two. For me, this instalment takes this series down a well deserved path where both the author and this series comes of age and into their own.

Davis has successfully created two adventures previously but the adventure in this instalment is much more involved and more of a challenge for Jamie and his Adventure team. It is in this story that Jamie becomes a better leader and his team becomes more cohesive, both those in the world of Thera and those left on Earth. The developing romantic involvements of Jamie and Shawna, George and Yoshi, and a new romance is done very well and this latter romance I was really pleased with as I was rooting for these two as the story unfolded.

Davis also balanced well the dual stories of that on Thera and that on Earth with each half of the Adventure team maintaining the objectives of the Team. The pacing of both kept you guessing what was going to happen next, which environment was the next chapter and of course, what every reader craves for and loves an author for, that "cannot put this book down" experience.

Davis has developed the violence that we have come to expect from this series (or any ninja novel for that matter), but on one instance he has taken it to the next level where it affects one of the Adventure team extremely negatively and it reduced me to tears. It was well positioned in the novel and leaves the reader wanting more from the next novel to show how the Adventure team copes with this tragedy and does this strengthen or weaken the Team?

I am really impressed with this novel and the path that Davis now takes us on as associate members of the Adventure Team (by the very fact that we are readers of this series!).  

I now look forward to the next instalment, Quest for Yoshi much more than I have with the previous two.

Highly Recommended. 

World building 5/5

Characterisation 5/5

Story 5/5

Spiritual level 4/5

Enemy spiritual level  3/5

Average rating 4.6/5

Spiritually, based on my review and on the following reference booklet,

A Spiritual System for Rating Books written by David Bergsland,

and that this novel has elements of the criteria of what constitutes Christian Redemptive Fiction outlined in the previously mentioned booklet, 

I award Jeffrey A. Davis with the 

The Reality Calling Christian Redemptive Fiction Award 

Congratulations, Jeffrey A. Davis!

To read a preview of Gateway to Thera, click on the Preview button below: 

Klandestine Maneuvers (The Adventure Chronicles, Book 2) by

Klandestine Maneuvers (The Adventure Chronicles, Book 2). 

The invasion of the Warui ninja was the biggest event that had ever happened in the small town of Sera, Missouri. Now, in the summer of 1992, something even more defining is happening. A group of racists has moved into the town, and they will use threats, extortion and violence to further their hate-filled agenda. To this end, they have targeted the Robertsons, the only black family in the tourist town. What they haven't counted on is young Louis Robertson's friendship with the members of "Adventure." 

Jamie, Yoshi and their friends are joined by new faces as they face a different kind of "klan." But can they fight the effects of illogical hatred?

The Guru's Review: 

I was given a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. 

I must confess it was good to be back with the Adventure group! This is a worthy sequel to Invasion of the Ninja and follows on very well with many references to this first novel. Here, Davis has developed the characters and their group dynamics further. This is a good move from the dynamics that were established in the first novel. Friendships and love deepen, the teens show signs of further maturity. I enjoyed the love dynamic between Jamie, Shawna and Yoshi and look forward to seeing how Davis deals with this in the next instalment despite having read what this next one is about. Davis has maintained the close knitted group that we have come to love from the first novel. I can see that he would most likely have not changed this in subsequent instalments as this seems to be one of its unifying features that make this series a success. 

While there is not as much ninja fighting compared to the first novel, there is enough to satisfy Davis' love of this genre and to keep us fans satisfied. Davis again describes this fighting technique in an enjoyable and mentally visual account. I understand that some authors find constructing fighting scenes difficult but Davis does not seem to not have this problem. His love of this discipline (martial arts) I can see is one of the reasons he is successful here.

I was expecting some reviews to be severe concerning this novel being about the Klu Klux Klan seeing Davis has portrayed them as society sees them (and not as they themselves state they are about) and as far as my knowledge of them is concerned he has tread carefully in this portrayal. I feel having included more of their ideology and beliefs in greater detail would have detracted from the style and flavour that Davis has set in this series and would have made it far too serious and less enjoyable. His depiction of their hatred towards other nationalities was just enough intensity to suit this novel and the message he is delivering. 

I have only one concern with the plot. The kidnapping of the children (by the KKK) is a serious crime but there was not any parental involvement or mention of their concern/grief, this was totally left out. As a parent, I found myself frustrated as I wanted to see what their reaction would have been so I could sympathize with them. There was also very little involvement of the police throughout this account as well, the focus seemed to be how the Adventure group were handling this; while I understand and agree that this series is all about them and their (A)dventures as Ninjas (hence the name of their group) and it being a young adult oriented audience, I still feel it would have been more balanced and realistic if this had not been ignored.

I really enjoyed this sequel. I am looking forward to the next one especially as the ending of this one introduces a character from Jamie's past that sets the scene for this next instalment and leaves the reader wondering where this is going. It even has the words, To Be Continued!

Strongly Recommended. 

World building 4/5

Characters 4/5

Story 4/5

Spiritual level 3/5

Spiritual Enemy Level N/A

Average Rating: 4/5

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Doboro The Bottlenecker by Kevin M Kraft

Doboro the Bottlenecker by Kevin M. Kraft

Dave Granger took the wrong job with a bad man.

That mistake cost him the life of his wife and daughter and nearly his own. Rendered crippled and blinded from an assassination attempt, he was spirited away to distant South Korea for his own sake, where he underwent seven years of extraordinary physical and personal rehabilitation under both the harsh tutelage of a martial arts master and the God of his youth. Pushed beyond what he thought were his own limits, he discovered a new strength of human spirit with his new lease on life.

Now…seven years later, he is back in the states as a transitory street musician—a brand new man with a brand new name. And with his new lease on life, a new mission: to anonymously protect his daughter, whom he had assumed dead, from the malevolent forces that soon resurface with his appearance to finish the job they attempted seven years ago. His vigilance is undeniable. His skills are remarkable. But he’s only human. And his love for his little girl could very well be the thing that finally dooms them both, unless he can summon strength beyond himself, to finally confront the threat against them.

And that is only the beginning.

The Guru's Review:

I have reviewed two previous novels of Kevin Kraft on his request for an honest review to which I did and now am doing again. I must confess, this novel is very different from his previous, but all this shows is how versatile and diverse Kraft's imagination and ability are. 

I will be honest, I did not think I would enjoy this novel purely from looking at the cover and the description. Not saying that there is something wrong with the cover just that it did not look like a novel in the genres that I love to read and the same for the description. But that is just me as I am fussy on the genres I read. However, having read this novel, all fits into place and this is one very deceptive piece of writing. Now I love the cover, it is very unique and I love the author's account on Facebook on how it developed. It really does capture the essence of who Doboro is, it gives him a brand, an image, that is him and what he stands for. There is beauty and gentleness surrounding this novel that I found very appealing. I would not say it is fast paced, or having multiple layers, but Kraft's construction of this novel keeps the pace that suits the plot in both halves, yes, two distinct halves, that detail his previous life and how this created his new life, that is very different from the first.  

Amidst this beauty and gentleness, Kraft has included a plot line of corruption and mafia-like crime that causes David to have an assassination attempt of his life and leads him to believe that it has taken the lives of his wife and daughter. It is based on this that forms the first half of the novel. It is from this point that Kraft deals with David's rehab in a safe haven that forms the flavour for this first half of the plot. It has a dichotomy of flavours; patience, understanding, care, nurturing, affection, love from Sujin, but harshness, impatience, provocation, demandingness, strictness, discipline, routine, rudeness even racism from her father, Daek, in order to train him in martial arts and use his disability (blindness from the assassination attempt) as an advantage if he was to be targeted again by Takuma (Japanese crime boss) and his henchmen. During the years that David is in the Baek family, he also learns to deal with the death of his family and adjust to being blind and I felt that Kraft had depicted his grieving pretty well and I felt for him despite not knowing what it would be like to lose your wife and child for any reason, let alone it be by murder.

I loved the romance that developed between David and Sujin. I have said this in other reviews that it seems male authors can be just as good as their female counterparts (maybe even better in some novels!) at creating romance. Kraft has joined the club here! On the other hand, I disliked the attitude and behaviour of Daek towards David in training him for his future. I know that this is what it can be like in training in martial arts, but it was a tough read. 

As I stated, the second half of the novel is very different from this first and we not only have a different geographical location, but a very different David Granger. Now returned to America, he has a new name, is a very talented street musician, it is hard to recognise him as the same David Granger from his previous life as husband, father and prime witness in the court case against Takuma. At first I felt that I was dealing with two different people but once you get to know this new man called Doboro, you realise that Kraft has maintained the same person in this new persona. The more you read, the more you become endeared to Doboro and I felt that I liked this version of David Granger more than the original from the first half. In that half, I felt sympathy for what had befallen him and admired his tenacity and strength of character to endure his rehab and accept the loss of his family. In this second half, I despaired for him having to start again in a whole new world with his blindness, martial arts training and new environment, but I grew proud of him as he established himself with confidence from using his martial arts training and enhanced senses from this training and consequence of his blindness to do this and also his musical training during his rehab.

However, I knew from the description that he discovered that his daughter was, in fact, alive and he needed to protect her from Takuma's henchmen. I had mixed feelings about this as I wanted so much for Doboro to admit that he was her father from the time he met her but, on the other hand, I found it very hard to read him keeping this for her in order to protect her.

The author admits that this novel is not an overtly Christian one and I would agree. However, Kraft has included themes of why bad things happen to good people, being angry at God for what happened (to David), God's healing, and generally how adverse events can challenge, yet enable a relationship with God grow. By the end of the novel, both Drew and Doboro have developed a better relationship with God and understand Him better. I do get the impression that more of these themes will be explored or existing ones developed more. I am looking forward to this.

Kraft successfully creates the world of teenagers in Drew and Mercy. They compliment each other. Mercy is the ever cautious one, albeit judgmental as evidenced by her attitude to Doboro being "a bum", she is the one who does not take risks, but Drew does, she is more impetuous and spontaneous. I like the way that you know you are dealing with teenagers, not because the author states so, but how he has depicted them in language, culture, speech and behaviour. 

I guess any reader of this novel would be expecting the inevitable attack from Takuma's henchmen in this second half and Kraft keeps us waiting to the end forming a cliff hanger type ending, but I learnt from his Facebook page that a sequel very soon will be released. This conflict ties us some loose plot lines but also sets the stage for more. I am looking forward to this. 

Another fine Christian novel from the creativity of Kevin M. Kraft. 

Highly Recommended. 5/5

Invasion of the Ninja (The Adventure Chronicles, Book 1) by Jeffrey A. Davis

Invasion of the Ninja (The Adventure Chronicles Book 1

Jamie and Yoshi are late twentieth century members of the Funakoshi ninja clan who were trained by Yoshi’s uncle, Tanemura Funakoshi. When the Waruiyatsu, a sinister clan with an ancient grudge, attack Jamie’s high school and hold his classmates hostage in an effort to bring Tanemura and his two students into the open, Jamie and his clan sister are forced to attempt a rescue. 

Going along are a close group of friends, each with his own interest in the fighting arts. From Dave, whose muscle-bound frame and love of a good scuffle are overshadowed by his cheerful personality and kind heart, to Buster, whose Bible is his greatest weapon, each of their friends has a loyalty to them and each other that is stronger than the Waruiyatsu can ever fathom.

This is a story of courage, friendship, and faith ....

The Guru's Review:

This will be my first novel involving martial arts, the first one combining this with Christianity and the first from this author.

I have not had much to do with martial arts, maybe only what I have seen in the movies/TV, so I will have to take what the author says as gospel so to speak as far as the terminology, practice and culture of this discipline.

Now based on this, Davis makes a very convincing case in his depiction of the behaviour and practice of the ninja's martial arts discipline, especially the fight scenes. In the former, I could see that the training in this discipline had contributed to these teenagers having greater maturity and focus for their age not just on the events in their daily life but especially in the terrorist/hostage situation that the Waruiyatsu clan has inflicted on them. In the latter, Davis may have an advantage over other authors as these have to learn how to write fight scenes or write them blind but due to the nature of martial arts and having grown up in this culture, Davis would have known what and how to write these scenes. And he does this very well. Sometimes I struggle to follow descriptions of fight scenes but Davis has created them realistically and simply and I could picture it much easier in my mind than in other author's fight scenes.

The prologue provided a very sound background to the feud between the Waruiyatsu and Funakoshi clans that visits Tanemura Funakoshi and his clan, including protégé Jamie Raleigh who is not part of this clan. This storyline would have fallen flat otherwise and the plot would be reduced to both clans fighting for the sake of fighting and this is not what martial arts is about. I appreciate Davis' commitment to the realism of martial arts and honouring this disciple. Makes for a convincing and credible plot for the reader.

I noticed in some of the reviews that there seems to be some criticism of Davis for combining martial arts with the tenets of Christianity, that both are incompatible with each other. Maybe on the surface it is reasonable to think like this but upon further inspection I don't feel this argument holds up. From what I can see about martial arts, it is about self-defense, as well as building self-confidence and developing self-control. Any program that has as it aim to equip someone to defend themselves if physically threatened is a good thing. I don't believe that as Christians we need to do nothing if we are attacked physically (or even verbally for that matter). If a Christian's health and safety is violated, they have the responsibility as steward of what God has entrusted to them, (their life, body, family, job, possessions, money, ministry, various roles: parental role, spousal role and gender) to look after this and honour it as part of who He made them. Not fighting back gives the offender unnecessary power and condones their behaviour. If any training, in this case, martial arts, equips a Christian to achieve this, then I cannot see how this conflicts with Christianity. In this novel, that is all the Adventure team were doing, defending themselves and their fellow students from the terrorists that threatened them and put their health and safety at risk of death. Any terrorist that was killed in defending against their attack is all part of self-defense.

Putting this serious issue aside, I found this novel to be a fun read. I like the characters and Davis seem to have a knack for depicting teenage characters as teenagers and the dynamics that go with their relationships. Seeing this is a young adult novel, this novel succeeds. I pray that the spiritual aspects of this novel encourage the young adults that read this novel and the subsequent ones in the series. It was impressive to have one of the teens, Buster, the Adventure group's resident spiritual leader, lead the group in prayer at the most critical moments of the offensive against the terrorists and have them respond sincerely exercising their faith. To me, this seemed to not only encourage this group to trust God in this situation but to also receive His guidance to counteract them relying on their ninja skills and training alone. I also found it significant that there was a specific aspect of their prayer to allow Him to control their martial arts skills and training and they would stay within this boundary.

The only aspect that concerned me was the plot development concerning the students held hostage in the school. This came across as if they were on a school camp rather than the seriousness of being held against their will, with their freedom curtailed and future is grave doubt. What reinforced this was the lack of frequent instances to show how it would be for them.

Apart from this, I was very much taken with this story and am glad there are two more novels in the series to enjoy and be transported to the world of teenage ninjas.

Strongly Recommended (4/5 stars).