In a collaboration with his daughter Rachelle, an author in her own right, Ted Dekker delivers another allegorical novel that brilliantly illustrates the battle between darkness and light, religion and faith. Set almost entirely within an isolated town inhabited by cult members, the tale begins somewhat slowly but develops a momentum that builds strongly to an unexpected climax.
I have personally have had and still have issues with fear and these authors have opened my eyes to just how strongly that fear can imprison us. The use of darkness and light to demonstrate their points was illuminating (if I may be so bold). Several characters appeared during the course of the book whom I found difficult to decide just what their role was – whether a friend or an enemy. As Bobbie said repeatedly, “Don’t trust anyone.” I did think I knew who she was and my guess turned out to be correct. Others became more evident as I drew near to the end.
I really did enjoy “The Girl Behind the Red Rope” and I appreciated everything about it that made me think about my own responses to it. I also found quite a few very quotable lines within the story and I wish I had taken time to mark or copy them. Ted and Rachelle Dekker make a great team and I hope to see more books by them in the future.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Ten years ago, Grace saw something that would forever change the course of history.
When a terrible scourge is unleashed on the world, she and others from their religious community are already hidden deep in the hills of Tennessee, abiding by every rule that will keep them safe, pure–and alive. As long as they stay there, behind the red rope.
Her older brother’s questions and the arrival of the first outsiders she’s seen in a decade set in motion events that will cause Grace to question everything she has built her life on. Enemies rise on all sides–but who is the real enemy? And what will it cost her to uncover the truth?
For the first time, bestselling authors Ted Dekker and Rachelle Dekker team up and deliver an intense, tightly focused ride through the most treacherous world of all.
Ted Dekker is the award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of more than forty novels, with over 10 million copies sold worldwide. He was born in the jungles of Indonesia to missionary parents, and his upbringing as a stranger in a fascinating and sometimes frightening culture fueled his imagination. Dekker’s passion is simple–to explore truth through mind-bending stories that invite readers to see the world through a different lens. His fiction has been honored with numerous awards, including two Christy Awards, two Inspy Awards, an RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, and an ECPA Gold Medallion. In 2013, NPR readers nationwide put him in the Top 50 Thriller Authors of All Time. Dekker lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, Lee Ann.
Rachelle Dekker is the Christy Award-winning author of The Choosing, The Calling, and The Returning in the Seer series.The oldest daughter of New York Times bestselling author Ted Dekker, Rachelle was inspired early on to discover truth through the avenue of storytelling. She writes full-time from her home in Nashville, where she lives with her husband, Daniel, and their son, Jack. Connect with Rachelle at www.rachelledekker.com.
Ted Dekker is a New York Times best-selling author of more than twenty novels. He is best known for stories which could be broadly described as suspense thrillers with major twists and unforgettable characters, though he has also made a name for himself among fantasy fans.
Early in his career he wrote a number of spiritual thrillers and his novels were lumped in with ‘Christian Fiction’ a surprisingly large category. His later novels are a mix of mainstream novels such as Adam, Thr3e, Skin, Obsessed and BoneMan’s Daughters, and fantasy thrillers that metaphorically explore faith. Best known among these is his Circle Series: Green, Black, Red, White and The Paradise Books: Showdown, Saint, and Sinner.
Dekker was born to missionaries who lived among the headhunter tribes of Indonesia. Because his parents’ work often included extended periods of time away from their children, Dekker describes his early life in a culture to which he was a stranger as both fascinating and lonely. It is this unique upbringing that forced him to rely on his own imagination to create a world in which he belonged.
After leaving Indonesia, Dekker graduated from a multi-cultural high school and took up permanent residence in the United States to study philosophy and religion. Upon earning his Bachelor’s Degree, he entered the corporate world and proceeded to climb the proverbial ladder. But his personal drive left him restless and, after many successful years, he traded corporate life for wide range of entrepreneurial pursuits that included buying and selling businesses, healthcare services, and marketing.
In the early nineties while visiting a friend who had just written a book, Dekker decided to pursue a long held desire to be a novelist. Over the course of two years he wrote two full length novels before starting from scratch and rewriting both. Now fully enamored by the the process and the stories, he realized that storytelling was in his blood and a new obsession to explore truth through story gripped him anew.
He sold his business, moved his family to the mountains of Western Colorado and began writing full-time on his third novel. Two years and three novels later his first novel, Heaven’s Wager, was published.
Now, Dekker’s novels had sold over 3.4 million copies worldwide. Two of his novels, Thr3e and House, have been made into movies with more in production. Dekker resides in Austin, Texas with his wife Lee Ann and two of their daughters.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
This story is for everyone–but not everyone is for this story.
It is a dangerous tale of times past. A torrid love story full of deep seduction. A story of terrible longing and bold sacrifice.
Then as now, evil begins its courtship cloaked in light. And the heart embraces what it should flee. Forgetting it once had a truer lover.
With a kiss, evil will ravage body, soul, and mind. Yet there remains hope, because the heart knows no bounds.
Love will prove greater than lust. Sacrifice will overcome seduction. And blood will flow.
Because the battle for the heart is always violently opposed. For those desperate to drink deep from this fountain of life, enter.
As part of my post for Immanuel’s Veins, Thomas Nelson has asked me to answer this question: “What is sacrificial love?”
When I think of sacrificial love, several things come to mind. As a Christian, the first thing I think of is the ultimate sacrifice of Christ – He suffered a horrendous death on the cross to cover our sins because he loves us so much. There are several other degrees of sacrificial love that I can imagine and I’m sure the possibilities are endless. I believe God calls us to live a sacrificial life but that most of us misunderstand just what that means. We think to live sacrificially means to give up everything we hold dear and most of us are unwilling to let go. Yet if we are open to the voice of the Holy Spirit, we can demonstrate sacrificial love each and every day. The following are just a few examples that range from extreme sacrifice to simple everyday sacrifice:
Risking one’s own life to save a friend, family member, or even a stranger.
Parents who gives up their food so that their children can eat.
Giving up something like a cup of coffee or soft drink a day in order to contribute to missions.
Simply giving up one’s own plans or wishes for another person.
MY REVIEW:
Immanuel’s Veins is a darkly beautiful masterpiece that should be read with the heart engaged so that its true message can be absorbed. If over analyzed, it would probably fall short of the author’s intentions. With a predominate theme of sacrificial love, the story also illustrates the subtle but deceptive allure of evil. Filled with magnificent imagery, Immanuel’s Veins takes the reader into the darkest depths of the human heart and brings him back out into the illumination of Christ’s love. It is a story that will stay with me a long time – a story that left me with emotions not easily explained.
Although I had reservations before reading Immanuel’s Veins based on negative reviews, I found myself swiftly turning its pages and finishing it in less than a day. What a pleasant surprise! In my opinion, this is one of Dekker’s best works. With a truly gothic ambience, Immanuel’s Veins is the perfect gift for those ‘Twilight’ fans of your acquaintance.
Lady Carliss and the Waters of Moorue is a fast moving story that will keep most readers eagerly turning the pages. An excellent allegory, the book’s primary characters exemplify strong Christian qualities. Filled with plenty of action and adventure, the novel cleverly illustrates the age old battle between light and darkness – good and evil. A prominent lesson demonstrated is the dangers of escapism, whether through alcohol, drugs, music, video games, etc. An extensive study guide is included at the end of the book. Lady Carliss and the Waters of Moorue would be an excellent medium for young teens to learn and discuss valuable Christian principles.
To learn more about or to purchase Lady Carliss and the Waters of Moorue at RandomHouse.com, CLICK HERE.
This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK: Determined, smart and a master of both the sword and the bow, Lady Carliss has proven herself as a veteran Knight of the Prince. Returning from a mission of aid, Carliss is plunged into adventure once again as she searches for the marauders responsible for kidnapping a friends’ family. Along the way she is reunited with Sir Dalton and discovers that the struggle in her heart is far from over. When Dalton falls to the vicious attack of a mysterious, poisonous creature, Carliss finds herself in a race against time. As Dalton clings perilously to life, she must find the antidote in the distant and strange city of Moorue.
While there, Carliss uncovers the master plot of a powerful Shadow Warrior that will soon overtake the entire Kingdom. Her faith in the Prince and her courage as a knight are tested as she faces evil Shadow Warriors and a swamp full of dreadful creatures. The lives of many, including Dalton’s, depend on Carliss. But she cannot save them all, for time is running out. She faces an impossible choice: save Dalton, or let him die so that others may live.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Chuck Black, a former F-16 fighter pilot and tactical communications engineer, is the author of nine novels, including the popular Kingdom series. He has received praise from parents across the country for his unique approach to telling biblical truths. His passion in life is to serve the Lord Jesus Christ and to love his wife, Andrea, and their six children. He lives with his family in North Dakota.
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Ted Dekker is the award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of more than forty novels, with over 10 million copies sold worldwide. He was born in the jungles of Indonesia to missionary parents, and his upbringing as a stranger in a fascinating and sometimes frightening culture fueled his imagination. Dekker’s passion is simple–to explore truth through mind-bending stories that invite readers to see the world through a different lens. His fiction has been honored with numerous awards, including two Christy Awards, two Inspy Awards, an RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, and an ECPA Gold Medallion. In 2013, NPR readers nationwide put him in the Top 50 Thriller Authors of All Time. Dekker lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, Lee Ann.
Rachelle Dekker is the Christy Award-winning author of The Choosing, The Calling, and The Returning in the Seer series. The oldest daughter of New York Times bestselling author Ted Dekker, Rachelle was inspired early on to discover truth through the avenue of storytelling. She writes full-time from her home in Nashville, where she lives with her husband, Daniel, and their son, Jack. Connect with Rachelle at www.rachelledekker.com.
