Hannah Kruger

What an absolutely amazing book! Not only does it reveal the deception of darkness and all its accomplices, but it exposes evil by contrasting it with the great light of Christ. I believe the focus of this book is to open the eyes of those who are being led astray by so-called "Christian" leaders of their communities and learning to discern between right (angels of God) and almost right (the enemy masquerading as an angel of light). It's intense, but pleasantly so - a must-read. It truly brings to light what is hidden in darkness and does so through a girl named, Grace, who must question all that she has ever believed in and compare it to the Word which has the power to set her free. With a dynamite-dad-daughter-duo, Ted and Rachelle Dekker, write this book with intent and conviction which definitely pays off. This book is indeed deserving of applause!

What a stunning book! I have rarely found a novel that meets the standard and creative exploration of the too-often forgot spiritual warfare we face in the world today, the way that this book does. Laura writes with conviction and truth, unmasking the reasons why many things go wrong on Earth today: from evil thoughts, desires and actions to chaotic riots and shoot-outs. This is one of the best books I have read and I can't wait to get more of her suspenseful, honest and genuine novels that manage to lay bare the dangers and powers of the spiritual realm, including a streak of romance that makes it a truly interesting combination to read! It really made me think more deeply about how spiritual attacks happen and to be honest, it would be a great eye-opener to the person who doesn't know much about the topic. My copy has been out the house more than it has been on my bookshelf at home - that's how good it is! I believe 5/5 is an accurate rating of the quality of this book.

I enjoyed this book - beautiful descriptions. Ted Dekker creates characters that are both convincing and enjoyable to read about. This is definitely a feather in Dekker's cap. A book that both fascinates with believable historical settings and events, and creates a longing to know the Messiah more intimately. I know I've read the wrong book first - A.D. 33 is after A.D. 30, but it makes me want to look for the previous novel now. I give this book a 4/5 - definitely deserves it and would recommend it to anyone looking for an entertaining and historic journey to explore his followers in the time after Christ's death and resurrection.

I picked up this book at a local library, understanding that it was going to be a Christian thriller with some intense plot twists and maybe a darker side of evil being exposed (even the blurb is chilling), but by the time I got to the end of the novel I couldn't help but wonder why it was labelled a Christian book. This is the second book of Ted Dekker's I have read - it really left me disappointed. His other book, A.D. 33 is by far a better read - go check it out - I'm giving that a 4/5. As read above in the Google Books, you'll find it to be about a dad and his estranged daughter who eventually reconcile at the end, but that's about the only good part in the whole book, in my opinion. The BoneMan is a man who is obsessed over wanting a daughter with perfect skin, no pimples or blemishes, and when he kidnaps a girl (6 in total) to make her his daughter, he breaks her bones and leaves her to die if she produces physically imperfect skin. When he finds Ryan Evans' daughter, Bethany, and decides to kidnap her, Ryan must hunt him down and release his daughter. Throughout the novel, however, the psychopath is the main character and many of the chapters focus on him, which makes the read both uncomfortable and uneasy. In the beginning of the novel, I gave Dekker the benefit of the doubt, expecting a more present and obvious link to the Christian faith towards the middle, but hardly any faith was included anywhere in the book (that really saddened me). I soon realized just how brutal and eerily weird it got, more than I anticipated! I have nothing against him as a writer, he definitely has a huge talent for making plots real and authentic, but it would be nice to read a thriller that includes a bit more spiritual presence, especially seeming that he says he is a believer in Jesus Christ. If you're into horrors or intense thrillers, then this is the book for you, but unfortunately this was lacking in spiritual presence and a more fulfilling conclusion.