Novel Review and Redemptive Fiction Award: Sins of the Fathers by Bryan M. Powell.

Sins of the Father.

With the War Between the States raging across the south and the ports along the southern seaboard blockaded by the Union navy, Captain Beauregard Jackson is desperate to save his honor and way of life. But when he turns to piracy, he realizes too late the devastation it will have on his family. After robbing the USS Dragoon of its gold, Captain Jackson and his crew are caught in a violent storm that strands on a desolate island in the Caribbean.

Maurice LeBlanc, the Shamrock’s First Mate, loves only one thing more than Veronica Jackson, Captain Jackson’s young, flirtatious wife, and that is gold. Driven to rid himself of the curse of Ramesses, which has plagued his family for decades, Maurice will stop at nothing to find its cure. Little does he know that he and Captain Jackson share the same curse, a curse that taints everything they touch, including Captain Jackson’s children.

Set in the late 1800’s, Hilltop Manor, located on the outskirts of Hoschton, Georgia, is the scene of lust, murder, and mayhem. Sins of the Fathers plumbs the depths of mankind’s depravity, and demonstrates the lengths God will go to rescue ruined, broken and damaged lives.

Perspective by Peter.

Having read some of Powell's novels and been thoroughly entertained and blessed by them, it was a no brainer to read this new novel. And what a ride he takes you on! I was totally engrossed with this from start to finish. There is always something going on, always the next piece of the puzzle or element of mystery and suspense that you are presented with. And what does this do to you? It keeps you coming back for more and your curiosity of where the author is going with this story only becomes stronger. And when spiritual elements/themes kick in, well, this is the icing on the cake!

It is a novel that is well-crafted with a plot that has twists and turns and characters you will despise on one hand and become endeared to on another. You will empathise with the three Jackson children and the abuse they suffered at the hands of their step-father, Maurice LeBlanc, and cheer them on as they protect themselves and fight back against this abuser. You will feel pity for their mother who in some ways condoned this behaviour by not standing up to him and allowing herself to spend his money to live the life of luxury and selfishness at the expense of her children. But such was the power and deceit that Maurice wielded over everyone he came across.

I could not help but consider that Sins of the Fathers could be reclassified as Christian horror. Yes, there is such a genre and these two words can be put together to describe such. Read the Bible and you will see it is horrific, there are many elements of horror there just as there are in this novel.

Powell has based this novel on the biblical verse of Deuteronomy 5:9-10 and what gives this novel its title, as discussed between Alfred and Elizabeth, two of the Jackson siblings,

He repeated it. “It’s just something I heard the chaplain say one day. He said that God visits the sins of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Him, but shows mercy to thousands.” 

 and expand used Egyptian mythology to develop this theme.

I like to see Bible verses in the full context and this theme is no different: Deuteronomy 5:6-10: (bold italics mine)

⁶ “‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. ⁷ “‘You shall have no other gods before me. ⁸ “‘You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. ⁹ You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, ¹⁰ but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments."

Here, Powell, has Maurice, like his ancestors before him, obsessed with an Egyptian curse that has plagued their generations and its cure: that of death itself.  Maurice's physical abuse of his victims and what he does to them once he has killed them is one such case in point, but the reasons he does this is another. This curse is traced back to Ramesses, and Powell gives an interesting back story as to how this occurred. I am not sure if this is based on any actual recorded event in Egyptian history or just poetic licence on Powell's part but it does form a solid foundation for what is to come at the hands of Maurice. Ancient Egyptians were obsessed with the afterlife and the gods they served and their religious practices and worldview was very much demonic based. And just like the Egyptians, the practice of voodoo that Maurice embraced from being shipwrecked in the Caribbean is also demonic based. This becomes an effective form of torture and capture for Maurice and Rose to use against Veronica, Clara and many others.  From this, Powell sets the foundation for the Biblical worldview as a response to demonic curses, demonic influence and generational sins by what God achieved through the power of the Gospel and the power of the Cross.

Powell does this in true storyteller style. As the novel progresses, as the web of deceit and evilness of Maurice's behaviour traps and kills those around him, all to aid in finding the cure to this familial curse, Powell has interspersed Biblical gems that encourage and strengthen the Jackson children, the Sheriff, and his deputy. There is even a hint of an angelic visitation who appear to one of the Jackson siblings but is not in their angelic form and it is taken from Hebrews 13:2 that states (bold italics mine),

13 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. ² Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. ³ Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

All these events come to a riveting ending where these gems come together and form the basis of the Good overcoming Evil story arc that we are all used to experiencing in novels, and movie formats.

However, it is through this that Powell, shows the power of the Cross, that Jesus' death broke all curses, that His death on the Cross dealt with Death's sting and broke all demonic strongholds and their power, and subjugated demonic entities as described by Beauregard Jackson,

And as far as finding a cure for death,” he shook his head ruefully. “The only cure for that is Christ’s sacrifice. Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

and based on 1 Corinthians 15 but specifically verse 55. The verse that this novel is based though is from John 6, specifically verse 37 (bold italics mine), but I found it best to have this verse in its full context, from verses 35-40,

³⁵“I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me will ever be thirsty again. ³⁶But as I told you, you’ve seen Me, and yet you do not believe. ³⁷Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never cast out. ³⁸For I have come down from heaven, not to do My will, but the will of Him who sent Me. ³⁹This is the will of Him who sent Me: that I should lose none of those He has given Me but should raise them up on the last day. ⁴⁰For this is the will of My Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

Powell shows how being obsessed with something or someone and under the influence of demonic strongholds alters one's attitudes, behaviour and their worldview. They do not see the reality of the world they live in, they are in their own world of the obsession and demonic influence or possession and what they do to feed it,  with their interaction with the real world distorted in that they see mankind as pawns for their use in furthering their obsession or the object of it. It is definitely demonic bondage. Powell shows this very well with Maurice. Towards the end of the novel, Maurice's obsession with this curse and his obsession with finding a cure for it and death overtook him, causing madness. This can be seen in the interaction he had with his last victim. Powell's dialogue from Maurice is eerie, shocking and creepy. You can see that this obsession has defined him, it has changed him to a point of no return, he has lost himself and who he is.

Compare this to how the abuse the Jackson children endured at the hands of Maurice. It did not define them and God placed people (even angels, though not obvious) to show them the path they need to take, they gave up their quest or obsession with revenge and allowed God to deliver them and deal with Maurice, just as Powell's verses aforementioned prove.

This is one riveting, engrossing and spiritually enlightening novel. Powell does the novel justice and depicts that the battle belongs to the Lord and not us as long as we submit to Him and live out His Word. This is the best novel of those of Powell's I have read and is Powell at his best. He has become a master storyteller!

Highly Recommended 

The three ratings below are based on my discernment:

World Building 5/5

Characters 5/5

Story 5/5

The two classifications below are based on the booklet, A Spiritual System for Rating Books by David Bergsland:

Spiritual Level 4/5

Enemy Spiritual Level 3/5

Overall Rating: 4.4/5

——————————————————————————–

Spiritually, based on my review and on the aforementioned reference booklet, A Spiritual System for Rating Books by David Bergsland (Radiqx Press) and that Sins of the Fathers contains elements of the criteria of what constitutes Christian Redemptive Fiction outlined in this booklet, (click on the title below to see what this is based on), I bestow to Bryan M. Powell, the

Reality Calling Christian Redemptive Fiction Award

Congratulations, Bryan!

If you would like to investigate this novel further, click on the image below:

Readers and reviews are an author’s best asset, so I encourage any reader, to consider reading Sins of the Fathers then submit a review on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest (or any other social media platform you subscribe to).

Reviews help promote an author’s novel to potential readers and encourage the author to keep writing. Reviews also help get the author’s message (and God’s message) to the reader, who may need encouragement and support in their lives while being entertained by the story.

Please note: As an Amazon Associate, I am required to disclose that book cover images or titles of novels in this post are paid links if they are linked to Amazon and result in a sale.

Novel Review: Devil’s Diary: The Coming by Anthony R Howard

Devil's Diary: The Coming.

What Would Happen If The Creator Returned Tomorrow?

In the current world plagued by war and civil unrest, the divine arrival of the Son of Man restores hope to mankind. Like most others, Oniva Mering is not prepared to face judgment or the violent threat of an ancient secret society. Left in the company of her smooth and streetwise high school friend, Oniva must bear witness to the most catastrophic turn of events humanity has ever experienced. The stage has been set. Sides are being chosen. Angels and their worst enemies prepare for The Coming.

Are You Ready?

Each reader will face their own internal journey as they are enticed to look inside themselves, and realize where they stand in the battle of Good versus Evil. We are all a part of the book of life. But what if there was another book..The Devil’s Dairy?

Perspective by Peter:

This is not your typical Christian fiction. From the guest post I had with Howard, on this blog in 2017, I knew it would never be. That guest post laid some of the foundations of why that was. This guest post and its follow-up post this year, have resonated with some Christian authors who feel the same way as he. I might deviate for a second and clarify the title, Christian author, with Howard's definition, as he quoted in the 2017 post,

One of the key purposes of literacy is to bring people to something new. Something great. One of my goals in writing is to broaden the experiences of my reader community and add to the literary art form. It’s key to not only present a fascinating story to the reader but to bring value to the reader aside from entertainment. I thought I was a Christian author. But that has very specific man-made rules (such as no aggression, no kissing below the neck, etc). Many of the rules prevent an author from being different, or fascinating. Then I became an author who is a Christian (which is different from a “Christian Author”) so I could keep writing fascinating stories and bring the Word to everyone.

I must say he has created a fascinating story and has brought the Word to the readers of this novel. And his style is what defines it as not your typical or expected form of Christian fiction. And this showed in how it became published, to quote the same post again,

Because of this decision to keep writing fascinating stories, I was banned from Christian bookstores and Church bookstores. This poses the question: If you are ONLY writing for the Saved (as the Christian Author rules dictate) – who are you ministering to? One of the primary purposes of ministry is to spread the Good News. The rules make many books in Christian fiction very similar, and less popular to wider audiences. I’d rather not be the same. This causes a disequilibrium, taking the storm to new heights. I write to take the reader deeper. Topics where you finish the book and want to know more. If a writer isn’t different, why should anyone invest the time to read the book? Christian writers cannot continue to recycle what is already out there as Hollywood does.

......My particular solution was to start my own publishing company to release Devil’s Dairy: The Coming, put my own capital behind it and produce my own cinema trailer.

In Devil's Diary, it is evident he is not writing to the Saved, as he describes those who have had the conversion experience of being born again as outlined in the Bible. And because of this, this novel contains elements that you would not expect to see in a typical Christian novel with its orientation to the Saved.

I am surprised that none of the reviewers on Amazon or Goodreads has been outspoken with outrage that a "Christian author" would include such descriptions as fellatio being performed by a Succubus to the main character, or a slightly graphic description of one of his female entourage, initiating sex with him or the many references to the availability women to whom this same character formicates with. These instances are few and form a minor part of the plot.

I can see this on the surface is where the reader would be aghast and not continue to read such "filth" and "erotica". However, if one steps back and questions why the author included this, they might see it relates back to the reason described above by the author in his quote. It ties in with the plot, it is not there to add more entertainment value to the story or to titillate the reader, but to show how easy it is to tempt a man on many levels of his fallen state and what the demonic will do to someone who has no protection of faith or being sealed by the Spirit through having faith in Jesus and a relationship with Him.

This novel is dark, gritty and could be classified as horror in its genre. Howard has classified this on Amazon as,

Supernatural Thrillers (Books),  Paranormal Suspense, Religious & Inspirational Fiction

I would not have a problem if this was classified as Christian Horror. But in doing so, would this detract from the fact that his main audience of the novel is not Christians (the Saved)? I don't know. It might not, as one of its classifications above is Religious and Inspirational Fiction. Maybe, he could get away with it.

In delivering the message of this novel, that our weapon of offence is Faith and Trust in God while using the armour of God based on Ephesians 6:10-12, Howard spends the large majority of the novel showing the deception, temptation, manipulation of the demonic entities towards mankind, through the main character of Esau, in laying out their plan to dominate mankind and destroy their souls by holding them captive from God.

In doing this, he also shows how deceptive and corrupt we are in ourselves, due to our fallen, sinful nature, in wanting power, recognition and total independence, being accountable to no-one, not even ourselves. Esau was willing to give up everything to obtain power, prestige, and be in control over everyone. He had an altered image of himself, largely inflated, but this was really a front to hide the pain of his childhood traumas. It showed how even with the counsel of his friend, Oniva and her warnings about taking the microchip (Mark of the Beast) and that Elijah is not whom he says he is, (Creator, Saviour and Son of Man), he still gave in to these temptations and set himself up to be manipulated and used by Elijah, this demonic entity/fallen angel in progressing the latter's plan to dominate mankind, take all souls captive and be in total defiance towards God.

Howard shows in this novel the nature of the demonic and their reasons for wanting to enslave mankind. He shows in enough detail how persuasive the enemy is in targeting the weaknesses of our mind, thinking, desires (physical, sexual, mental), to win us over, He also shows the way out, God's plan for this.  There is a lot of spiritual truth in this novel and it is this that is appealing. I could include chunks of paragraphs to illustrate this but that would be spoilers and make this review too long for the reader. (I am sure authors love reading long reviews though!).

This novel does have an explosive ending where all the plot arcs intersect together in a great clash and the aftermath is satisfying. The reader is left with a better understanding of the demonic attack on our lives, the nature of our fallen/sinful state, the history behind it all, going right back to Genesis and what Christians need to do to fight this offence. We are in a spiritual battle whether we like it or not. I pray that any unsaved reader will not just see this as an entertaining story but see the spiritual implications that affect their lives and their eternity and what God had to do to secure us for our future and His.

As I said in the beginning, this is not your typical Christian fiction. It goes outside the boundaries of Christian reader's expectations and what the rules of Christian publishing dictate.

I strongly recommend this novel, but readers need to be aware that there is a sex scene (fellatio) and a slightly graphic description of fornication being initiated. I feel the spiritual truth outweighs this and the depiction of how the demonic works in the battle for mankind's soul in their rebellion against God.

The Devil's Diary can be found here:

Please note: As an Amazon Associate, I am required to disclose that book cover images or titles of novels in this post are paid links if they are linked to Amazon and result in a sale.

Christian Redemptive Fiction Award: Steve Pillinger and The Mindrulers Series.

A few years ago, I discovered a novel series that was receiving rave reviews from readers and a few of my author friends. It was getting some great exposure on a Goodreads group also. I decided to check it out and it was one of the best decisions I have made regarding reading a novel series.

What is this series? The Mindrulers by Steve Pillinger.

Steve describes this series as,

"A series of Christian fantasy/science fiction novels in which four ordinary people from this world are called by God to rescue the citizens of a small nation on a distant planet from the unimaginable oppression of mind-control!"

I described it as, 

"Absorbing and immersive, highly imaginative, highly entertaining, encourages your faith and relationship with God, action-packed and fast-paced. Should be regarded as a Christian classic in the calibre of Lewis and Tolkien. This is yet another novel that ticks all the boxes of what I like to see in Christian fiction:

• it has entertained me immensely,
• it has encouraged my walk with God,
• it has not deviated from known biblical doctrine, and it will not, I believe, lead a non-believer astray or promote false doctrine,
• it honours God,
• it does not encourage worship of the created (eg angels) instead of the Creator (God)."

 It has also been described as, 

"......written by a linguist with significant cross-cultural experience and a love of history. It is set in a richly-imagined world featuring convincing languages, fascinating cultures, and meticulously detailed maps of the characters’ journeys. The setting is thoroughly worked out, creating an inner consistency and a breadth of history and geography that gives the reader a sense of reality, and of hidden vistas that may yet open up." (from the Amazon book descrpition of The Mindruler).

I spotlighted Steve and this series in a previous post where he describes more of the worldbuilding mentioned above. You can check that out here.

I encourage you to keep reading and explore this series and why it has been bestowed a Christian Redemptive Fiction Award by Radiqx Press. More of the Award later in this post.

Here is what this series is about, starting with Book 1. 

The Mindruler, Book 1.

A student, a lecturer, a web designer, a retired teacher: four unlikely strangers suddenly find themselves in an unknown country on an unknown world, their ears assaulted by the clash of swords on armour and the whizz of arrows. Caught up in a mediaeval battle, Steve, Gil, Lannie and Denise are rescued by the losing side and hustled to the dubious safety of a basement in a burnt-out castle.

Here they learn that their hosts—people not unlike themselves—are the only survivors of a rebellion against the vicious regime of Mindruler Shambor dom Beldet and his country-wide network of Mindbenders. These brutal overlords have mastered telepathy to the point where they can invade people’s thoughts and control their lives. Their eyes and ears are everywhere.

But in the last free community in the castle basement, the new arrivals are hailed as the long-awaited “Restorers of the Way”—the “strangers and loners” of prophecy, who will overthrow Shambor and bring peace and freedom to the tormented land of Dûrion. The foreigners find this idea ludicrous. How can they, four ordinary people, pose as revolutionaries in a country they don’t even know?

Captured, enslaved, barely escaping, betrayed by one of their own, they are pursued across the country from one precarious refuge to the next by a tyrant bent on their destruction. En route they find friends and helpers in unexpected places, along with other powerful resources—resources the tyrant cannot control.

Even so, how can they succeed against his all-pervasive network of mentally-controlled slaves? Can the God they call upon overcome even the Mindruler’s unimaginable powers? Are they truly the long-awaited Restorers, who will end his tyranny and set the suffering people of Dûrion free?

"The Mindruler will take you to another planet—very similar to our own—where even your most secret thoughts can be used as weapons of war. In this epic tale of good versus evil, Steve Pillinger has created a rich world and an absorbing fantasy that will keep you turning the pages and wondering: are those thoughts really your own?" — Fiona Veitch Smith, Crime Writers Association nominated author of The Poppy Denby Investigates series.

My review can be found here.

The Restorers, Book 2.

In a small nation on a distant planet, the Restorers of the Way are battling dark forces at work in society. They have killed one of the Mindbenders of Dûrion—and this has seriously inconvenienced the country’s despotic ruler, Shambor dom Beldet.

News of their achievement spreads, and thousands rally to their cause. But Shambor’s response is devastating.

Inexperienced and outnumbered, how can the ‘strangers and loners’ from Earth, with their Dûrian friends, prevail against an enemy who not only controls the army and all the resources of a nation, but also wields deadly powers of mental and spiritual oppression?

The second of three novels in The Mindrulers series, this book is written by a linguist with significant cross-cultural experience and a love of history. It is set in a richly-imagined world featuring convincing languages, fascinating cultures, and meticulously detailed maps. The setting is thoroughly worked out, creating an inner consistency and a breadth of history and geography that gives the reader a sense of reality, and of hidden vistas that may yet open up.

My review can be found here.

 The Strongholder, Book 3.

In the land of Dûrion on a distant planet, the Restorers of the Way have done the impossible, and set the country free from the Mindrulers’ oppression!

But two superpowers are looming over her—the Grûzhack in the south, and the Strongholder in the east. Can the Restorers save the fledgling Land of Light from being torn apart?

Abandoning their age-long isolation, the mighty seven-foot Grûzhack warriors have come rampaging down from their mountain fastnesses. With their terrifying fire weapons they are sweeping through towns and villages, advancing inexorably towards the Dûrian capital, Darthane. Who could have foreseen that rescue lies with an abused child who can sing?

Then from Selmion in the east the Strongholder, ruler of all Mindrulers, combines the telepathic powers of all his minions to strike a blow so devastating, so all-encompassing, that those who oppose him in every land are reduced to abject helplessness.

All except for a small remnant who cling desperately to their faith and in hopeless defiance raise the last emblem of the One’s sovereignty, the Ambon of Sûrilane. Following an ancient prophecy the Restorers and their small band of companions carry the Ambon alone and undefended into the heart of the Strongholder’s realm.

Will they do the utterly impossible and defeat the Strongholder himself? Will mindbending finally be eradicated? Will people in all the lands find peace and freedom at last?

“A stunning end to a riveting series. Highly recommended.” – Fiona Veitch Smith, CWA Historical Dagger shortlisted author for The Jazz Files, UK.

"A great adventure filled with tender, moving moments, unforgettable characters, spiritually powerful scenes, and a great finale!” – Sean, UK.

“Packed with excitement and unexpected twists and turns.” – Sophie, South Africa.

Steve was interviewed by Parker J. Cole and myself on the Write Stuff International show.

Click on the video image below to be taken to the interview. It is about an hour long. It gives informative insights into the novel and its background. It was a fun interview!

And now for the Christian Redemptive Fiction Award:

I rated this series with the following discernment: 

World Building 5/5

Characters 5/5

The two classifications below are based on the booklet,

A Spiritual System for Rating Books by David Bergsland:

Spiritual Level 4/5

Enemy Spiritual Level 3/5

Overall Rating: 4.4/5

This Christian Redemptive Fiction Award is based on:

• my reviews of this series, links above,
  
  

• the aforementioned reference booklet, A Spiritual System for Rating Books by David Bergsland (Radiqx Press),
  
  

• The Mindrulers Series contains criteria of what constitutes Christian Redemptive Fiction outlined in this booklet, (click on the title below to see what this is based on).
  
  

Therefore, I bestow on Steve Pillinger, the

Reality Calling Christian Redemptive Fiction Award.

         

Congratulations, Steve!

If you would like to investigate this series further, click on the images below:

Readers and reviews are an author’s best asset, so I encourage any reader, to consider reading The Mindrulers series then submit a review on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest (or any other social media platform you subscribe to).

Reviews help promote an author’s novel to potential readers and encourage the author to keep writing. Reviews also help get the author’s message (and God’s message) to the reader, who may need encouragement and support in their lives while being entertained by the story.

About Steve Pillinger:

He created the richly-imagined world of Dûrion as part of a family role-playing game, while living in Oxfordshire, UK. Now he and his wife have moved to Johannesburg, South Africa, where they continue to support the work of Bible translation. They have two adult children, a son and a daughter.

Steve Pillinger is a linguist, translator and typesetter who has lived in a number of different cross-cultural settings in Africa, the UK and the USA. He has been a missionary with Wycliffe Bible Translators for over 36 years. His love of language, history and geography comes through in his novels, together with the longing to see God’s truth revealed with fresh impact through the eyes of a different culture.

Steve’s other interests include reading, piano playing and photography.

Steve can be found on these social media platforms:

Mindrulers Website  ~  Facebook Page  ~  Goodreads Author Profile    

Amazon Author Pages:

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK 

Please note: As an Amazon Associate, I am required to disclose that book cover images or titles of novels in this post are paid links if they are linked to Amazon and result in a sale.

Novel Series Review: The Elijah Mandate by Lisa Worthey Smith and Spirit-filled Fiction Award.

The Elijah Mandate 

Selah Award finalist and Kops Fetherling International Book Award recipient, this political conspiracy suspense thriller, weaves the headlines of today with the Scriptures of old. A recent law school graduate, Eliana lands her dream job but finds it saturated with malicious corruption. Her boss, a powerful Supreme Court Justice, is part of a nefarious plan that will dismantle America as we know it. If she keeps quiet, she might survive, but far too much is at stake for that. With her life in peril, a prophecy about Eliana becomes reality. She lives out a parallel story to that of her namesake, Elijah, complete with rampant evil, epic power struggles, and the mandate to trust Almighty God no matter the cost.

   

The Elijah Mandate, Part 2

Bestselling and multiple award-winning author, Lisa Worthey Smith, continues the political suspense in part 2 of this Selah Award finalist series.

This heart-pounding thriller intertwines tomorrow's headlines with Scripture. America will rise or fall depending on the path they choose. Following the parallels in Israel from the time of Elijah and Elisha, God equips modern-day Christians to face down the evil that threatens America.

Perspective by Peter: 

Searching my To Be Read list for the next novel and I came across this series. I do not remember buying the first novel in 2020. But then, that is a characteristic of someone who buys too many novels! Novel hoarder I am, but what a library I have! I have enough novels to read well into my full retirement, which I pray can be in 2022. Semi-retired at present.

Well, my first impression of this novel is that it drags your attention and has you engaged until the end. I was committed to finish this novel. It is uplifting, strengthens your faith in God. I know more about Elijah from the Bible than what I had previously. There is power in the art of storytelling and this is evident in Smith's ability to apply what she has studied of God's Word and her understanding of it.

This series is based on the life of Elijah and the mandate that God had with him. Many lessons to be learned and even applied to our lives from this Biblical person (I hate saying character as this implies they are a fictional creation and the people of the Bible are just not; they were real people).

Smith runs the account of Elijah alongside the main character of Eliana, who is a female version of Elijah and even her name is so. The word building here is well done. Eliana has a relationship with God that is natural, not forced, she knows Him intimately, she is fully submitted to Him and lives under His direction and guidance. She lives out the Word of God and compromise is not part of this relationship. Just like Elijah.

This relationship is contagious. Those around her want what she has, even amoungst those who oppose her and are in conflict with God and are antagonistic towards Him. And those who don't know Him, or are in the evil regime of power against Him also come to know Him. 

This type of fiction that Lisa creates is what we need nowadays, not just an entertaining tale, but one that goes past that, one that edifies, educates and brings glory to God. It shows God for who He is. It shows Christians we are not to be afraid of the circumstances we are in and to confront evil in all its forms with the Word of God, living out His Word, prayer and supplication but above all by listening to and acting on the instruction and guidance of God and His Spirit as He directs our paths and actions.

It is of great benefit having all the bible verses listed at the back of the novels and what they mean. It was also edifying seeing some of these either mentioned in the novel or seeing it lived out in the characters situations in the novel.

I know Christian authors get criticised by having prayer outlined in their novels or when the narrative becomes "preachy". I am glad Smith has not listened to this criticism. The inclusion of the prayers by various characters is an essential part of this novel and shows how this is to be part of the Christian's daily life. The same goes for the narrative of the story of Elijah and what Eliana does with this. Yes, it went on for pages but I could see without its inclusion, it would take away some of the impact of what this novel is about. Yes, it does put the suspense and fast-paced flow of the novel on hold for a bit, but this should not be seen as a negative or a criticism. It needed to be included. Without both, it runs the risk of the novel's message and impact being watered down. 

I highly recommend this series. This is Spirit-filled fiction at its best. I look forward to more from this author. 

The three ratings below are based on my discernment:

World Building 5/5

Characters 5/5 Story 5/5

The two classifications below are based on the booklet, A Spiritual System for Rating Books by David Bergsland:

Spiritual Level 5/5

Enemy Spiritual Level 5/5

Overall Rating: 5/5

Spiritually, based on my review and on the aforementioned reference booklet, A Spiritual System for Rating Books by David Bergsland (Radiqx Press) and that The Elijah Mandate series 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 bestow to Lisa Worthey Smith the

Reality Calling Christian Spirit-filled Fiction Award

Congratulations, Lisa!

If you would like to investigate this series further, click on the images below:

Readers and reviews are an author’s best asset, so I encourage any reader, to consider reading The Elijah Mandate series and then submit a review on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest (or any other social media platform you subscribe to).

Reviews help promote an author’s novel to potential readers and encourage the author to keep writing. Reviews also help get the author’s message (and God’s message) to the reader, who may need encouragement and support in their lives while being entertained by the story.

Please note: As an Amazon Associate, I am required to disclose that book cover images or titles of novels in this post are paid links if they are linked to Amazon and result in a sale.

Novel Trilogy Review and Spirit-filled Fiction Award: The Prophecy of the Seventh Elizabeth by Jarrod Edge

The Prophecy of the Seventh Elizabeth: The Battle Between Light and Dark, Book 1

In approximately 100 A.D. in the ancient Greek city of Ephesus, the aged Apostle John shares a secret prophecy with his young caretaker about “an evil not born of this world,” intent on coming to Earth and destroying the forces of light. He also tells of a chosen one who would arise to “stand for all mankind.” In 1999 Florida, a pregnant woman survives a car crash just long enough to give birth. The child’s father, FBI agent Johnathan Sette, is still unconscious in the hospital when a mysterious stranger abducts the newborn baby.

This sparks a search that takes up a good portion of Edge’s novel, as forces of light and darkness align around the little girl, who’s the embodiment of the Apostle John’s prophecy. Agent Sette immediately suspects an international crime cartel, the Syndicate, of kidnapping his daughter, but there are even more malevolent and otherworldly forces at work under the control of a being called the Destroyer.

In order to protect his other children, Sette insists that they be extensively trained in martial arts by the super-adept Seven Dragons family. Edge handles these disparate plot strands with considerable ease, and he shows a cinematic flair in standout scenes:

There are enough car crashes, fight sequences and tense standoffs to satisfy any thriller reader. The story is suffused with an uncompromising but never preachy Christian ethos, in a rare instance of religious fiction that can be readily enjoyed by a wider audience. Edge maintains a fast pace, but cuts the mood frequently with humor and pathos. Minor, annoying formatting problems, such as a copyright notice at the bottom of every page, only slightly distract from this accomplished first novel.A well-done first installment in a promising Christian-themed action series.

The Prophecy of the Seventh Elizabeth: The Battle Between Light and Dark, Book 2

One FBI Agent, four children, trained in an ancient form of Martial Arts, Angels, Demons, Aliens, Monks, Priests, Hackers, Dragons, Mossad, Snipers, Terrorists, Navy SEALS, an Evil Corporation, the United Nations, the Vatican, Voyager, NASA, a President, a Prophecy, and an Apostle! The Prophecy of the Seventh Elizabeth, The Battle Between Light and Dark, Book 2.

The Prophecy of the Seventh Elizabeth: Enoch, Book 3

The third installment of the award-winning and visionary YA science fiction Christian series!

A young girl is the Chosen One to fulfill a prophecy in a battle between light and dark.

Earth has recently discovered that it is not alone. In a universe with portals to different dimensions, times, and worlds, a prophecy forebodes an interstellar war against evil and the forces of darkness, and that God will send a chosen one and ten to end the war.

The prophecy predicts a great war for the universe by an Unholy Trinity of three – The Destroyer of Worlds, Queen Deceptra, and the Saint of the Apocalypse. For more than a thousand years, races of beings across various star systems that had been conquered were being oppressed and controlled by evil forces. A young girl is the Chosen One to end the final battle of the universe and spread a message from God to all beings. In the fifteenth year of the prophecy and with an Earth recovering from war, Enoch, seventh of Adam, comes to strengthen God’s people with his teachings.

Enoch is the thought-provoking third book in The Prophecy of the Seventh Elizabeth series, the next enduring YA science fiction favorite.

Perspective by Peter: 

This trilogy has been a work in progress for the author since 2013. The author set himself a goal of 10 novels in  10 years and he has achieved this. What a great effort! I have waited since then to read this trilogy and the associated short stories.

Edge states that he likes to tell a good story. He certainly does that! He

".....has been recognised for his ability to take Christian concepts and relay them to his readers in a fun, action-filled way. Through the series within the E7 Prophecy Universe, Jarrod takes readers on fantastic journeys, traveling throughout the United Stares, the world, and even into space to fight an interstellar war against evil and the forces of darkness." (quoted from About the Author, Enoch, Book 3 of The Prophecy of the Seventh Elizabeth). 

This trilogy and the short stories are an epic science fiction and fantasy that exists in his mind/imagination. To quote him again from the above, About the Author in Book 3:

"....His inspiration derives from his Christian beliefs...."

These beliefs are infused into the story. They are obvious and not implied or hinted at. Edge is not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ and does not hesitate to show that the Sette family, especially Elizabeth, live out the Bible in their quest to defeat evil and the forces of darkness and are obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit in doing so. They are totally committed and surrendered to the Spirit. Christians reading this should find this encouraging and an uplifting of their faith and relationship with Jesus. If the Sette family can do this with all the dire circumstances they find themselves in, then it should be an encouragement to the Christian reader that this living in Christ's victory is open and available to those who accepted Him as Saviour. Edge has depicted the Lord of Lords and the Kings of Kings as the same God of the Bible and the same One whom we have accepted as Lord and Saviour in our hearts and lives. There are many aspects of spiritual warfare in this epic tome: prayer, knowing who you are in Christ, standing on the promises of the Bible and applying them to their lives and fight against the forces of darkness. 

I had wondered you could marry martial arts with Christianity. This was explored well in another novel series, The Adventure Chronicles by Jeffrey A. Davis. I was skeptical, but after reading that series, I can see how it could be compatible. Edge shows how this could be too. In both these novel series, it has to be based on Christianity and the Bible first and not the other way around. The special gifts/abilities that the Sette family and more so, Elizabeth, were transferred to them as enablement from God to the Dragons who transferred them to the Sette family and those of the Temple of Light. Readers of this series will enjoy The Adventure Chronicles too. Edge's take on this marriage of the martial arts and Christianity/Biblical base is unique and forms a sold foundation that this trilogy and its associated stories are based. 

There is never a dull moment throughout the trilogy and short stories. You hit the road running from page one and you had better keep up or the pace of this epic (trilogy and short stories) will leave you behind. His world building is extensive with layers, he can definitely brag that he has created a universe, the E7 Prophecy Universe. It is one to revel in and look back in awe.

 Thoroughly enjoyed this trilogy. This is an author to follow! Allow yourself to be immersed in this epic adventure of overcoming evil and being an instrument of victory and God's glory! 

The three ratings below are based on my discernment:

World Building 5/5

Characters 5/5

Story 5/5

The two classifications below are based on the booklet, A Spiritual System for Rating Books by David Bergsland:

Spiritual Level 5/5

Enemy Spiritual Level 5/5

Overall Rating: 5/5

Spiritually, based on my review and on the aforementioned reference booklet, A Spiritual System for Rating Books by David Bergsland (Radiqx Press) and that The Prophecy of the Seventh Elizabeth trilogy 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 bestow to Jarrod Edge the

Reality Calling Christian Spirit-filled Fiction Award

Congratulations, Jarrod!

If you would like to investigate this series further, click on the link below:

The Prophecy of the Seventh Elizabeth

Readers and reviews are an author’s best asset, so I encourage any reader, to consider reading The Prophecy of the Seventh Elizabeth Trilogy and then submit a review on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest (or any other social media platform you subscribe to).

Reviews help promote an author’s novel to potential readers and encourage the author to keep writing. Reviews also help get the author’s message (and God’s message) to the reader, who may need encouragement and support in their lives while being entertained by the story.

Please note: As an Amazon Associate, I am required to disclose that book cover images or titles of novels in this post are paid links if they are linked to Amazon and result in a sale.