October, or “spooky season,” as I keep hearing, is the perfect time to feature books that highlight the unseen realities of angels, demons, and disembodied spirits. Interestingly, not a single one of these is a horror novel.
Relevant Fiction Reviews: Novels that highlight the reality of unseen forces – good and evil – with angels, demons, and disembodied spirits. Click To Tweet
Battle for His Soul by Theresa LindenBattle for His Soul has the power to change lives. Even though I’ve always known, intellectually, that we live among angels and demons, I seldom give it much though. Theresa Linden vividly depicts the spiritual beings as they praise, defend, tempt, and deceive. It’s allowed me to see with fresh eyes these forces at work in my own life.
I think this is a spectacular book for teens. First, it introduces them to listening to God’s call in their lives and discerning their vocations. Second, it demonstrates the practical power of prayer. Third, since teens are probably even more susceptible than the rest of us to living in the here and now, its vivid depiction of the unseen spiritual forces surrounding us is eye-opening.
And finally, this book has its place in the Year of Mercy with its sterling examples of showing compassion and mercy to all, regardless of whether they deserve it. It’s that act of mercy, that prayer, that fasting, that may just make all the difference.
(I read an advance copy of the book I received from the author. We critique each other’s work, and she still wow’d me with this book.)
The Gifting by K.E. GanshertThe Gifting has a little bit of everything – mystery, suspense, romance, action, and a full-out battle between good and evil. In fact, what struck me most about the series, beginning with The Gifting, was the acknowledgement of evil. As a demonic entity tells Tessa, “You see, people have a hard time fighting against something they don’t believe. Their denial makes our job easier.”
The dystopian setting allows the reality of good and evil to penetrate without inducing nightmares. The Gifting hits its mark in making the reader consider unseen realities without fear-mongering.
The sense of immediacy, urgency, and ever-present danger are enhanced by the first person present point-of-view. Seen through Tessa’s eyes, The Gifting will keep you guessing about both her sanity and the loyalty of charismatic, good-looking Luka.
K.E. Ganshert effectively taps into real fears: both those endemic to high school life (being different, ignored by the opposite sex, and misunderstood by parents) and larger, lifelong fears (evil, death, isolation, being unloved, societal collapse). She does an outstanding job of showing the dangers of dabbling in the occult and of deeming certain persons unworthy of life. These threats are such an organic part of the story that the truth shines through without any author interjections or hokey, proselytizing dialogue. Very well done.
The teen romance with all its starts and stops is realistic and clean. Short chapters keep you moving ahead, leading me TWICE to do something I’d never done – click “buy” on my Kindle within seconds of finishing a book because I just couldn’t wait to read more.
Tortured Soul by Theresa LindenTortured Soul is a unique supernatural thriller!
After being unceremoniously evicted from her family home by her overprotective brother Erwin and his growing family, Jeannie Lyons must create a new home in the rental house Erwin has found for her.
Lonely and unable to let go of the grief still binding her to her deceased parents, Jeannie and her three-legged cat try to make the best of it.
But something strange is happening in the house. Noises, movement, a specter.
Jeannie must confront not only her grief and loneliness but the terrifying ghoul in the corner of her bedroom. Her family and her parish priest dismiss her concerns, leaving Jeannie with only Oliver, Erwin’s quirky photographer friend, to confide in.
The Christmas setting and snowy, isolated landscape lend an eerie quality to this story that looks like a ghost story, but is really a story about mercy.
Not only will you be entertained – and maybe a little spooked! – but you’ll be mindful of praying for those who need it most.
Black Bottle Man by Craig RussellIn an age when the existence of evil is summarily dismissed, Black Bottle Man offers evil personified. With a name and face, the dark countenance seldom seen in the book holds sway over the long life of Rembrandt.
Early in the twentieth century, Rembrandt’s desperate aunts’ deal with the devil destroys his family, forcing him, his father, and his uncle to live on the run. The novel follows their journey with scenes from Rembrandt’s childhood and teenage years interspersed with ninety-year-old Rembrandt’s search for a champion to defeat the Black Bottle Man.
Highly original and enjoyable!
Angelhood by A.J. CattapanAngelhood offers important messages about hope and regret through the first-person account of 17-year-old Nanette, who, in the first chapter, puts a gun to her head and pulls the trigger. From there she embarks on her “angelhood.”
Despite the name, the body-less souls, and the acquisition of wings, the period of “angelhood” bears more resemblance to purgatory than angelic life. In order to gain her own redemption, Nanette is assigned a charge whom she must prevent from making the same fatal mistake she did in taking her own life.
Nanette shadows a friendless, angsty poet named Vera, whose mother has succumbed to breast cancer. Despite Nanette’s frustration with Vera’s anti-social, “loser” ways, she takes her task seriously and struggles to find means to influence Vera’s behavior and help her see the wonderful possibilities around her.
Throughout the novel, Nanette and other angels, including her mentor of sorts, Warren, engage in spiritual warfare in defense of their charges and their own journey towards sainthood. Darkness and evil tempt and taunt, eager to draw souls to their eternal torment.
Interspersed with the action are Nanette’s memories – both those leading up to her suicide and happy memories with her sister, mother, and fellow theater geeks. Not only does concentrating on positive memories help her to grown in grace, it also enables her to see clearly the rashness of her life-ending decision.
While Nanette had seen death as an escape from her various troubles, she now realizes that not only has peace eluded, her but her absence has had profound effects on her family members as well. Her perspective matures and broadens, allowing her to see hope where in the past she felt despair and to recognize, in theater terms, that comedy and tragedy exist side by side.
There are several twists, turns, and revelations along the way to maintain tension and keep the reader engaged.
In the years following the suicide of a friend’s 15-year-old son (also by gun), I’ve become hypersensitive to its frequent portrayal in media. While its depiction here made me uncomfortable, the overriding, hopeful message integrated so seamlessly into Nanette’s memories and experiences convinced me of its valuable message for teens in particular, who think their life isn’t worth living and the world would be better off without them.
I listened to Angelhood on audiobook, which opens me to distraction more than reading print does. It can also be a challenge to hear over the noise level and kid interruptions in my home. I did, however, enjoy the narration, which fit Nanette’s voice well.
One Night With a Rock Star: part deux by Chana KeeferI loved One Night With A Rock Star so much I re-read it, something I rarely do. I eagerly looked forward to the sequel, Part Deux.
What struck me most about this book was the author’s willingness to take on evil, essentially freeing her hero of a demonic obsession. Not ordinary fare for a fairytale romance.
Kudos to Chana Keefer for her sobering and gripping depiction of the subtle manifestation of evil in our lives. My only qualm was what amounted to a lay exorcism of sorts, something I’d have preferred to seen addressed by a trained priest exorcist.
Part Deux reads more like a memoir than a romance in its storytelling. The upside is that the reader is further drawn into the lives of Esther and Sky, whose newlywed love is endearing. It’s a joy to witness (“offscreen”) the consummation and continuation of their married union and loving intimacy. It is real and sensual without become tawdry or in any way pornographic.
The downside to this type of storytelling is a rambling plot, which at times did not seem cohesive. It may be that I’ve become a more critical reader since I read One Night With A Rock Star, but this book felt less structured, lacking in foreshadowing, and therefore less satisfying. Again, the draw here is the characters.
There were some good subplots involving sex trafficking and the “adult” industry. The struggles of marriage, difficulties of superstardom, pregnancy loss, and incorporating faith into life with integrity and without compromise are all addressed. They are handled well, but I wondered at times if the author tried to tackle too much.
All in all, an enjoyable continuation of Esther and Sky’s love story.
The House on Foster Hill by Jaime Jo WrightI’d read so many recommendations for this book, and I’d say, for the most part, it lived up to the hype.
The story moved back and forth between 1906 and present day in a small Wisconsin town, Oakwood. The constant threat of danger is centered on Foster Hill House, a mostly abandoned home and the site of at least one murder.
I enjoyed the historical heroine, Ivy, a complex, grief-stricken character with a fascination for the dead. Her best friend/childhood love turned investigator Joel works with Ivy to protect her while uncovering a murder and missing infant. During which time, of course, they revisit the past.
In the present, Kaine is running from the loss of her husband and a stalker that seems to have trailed her from California. She’ll find a protector/co-investigator in therapist/all-around good guy Grant.
The book moves at a nice clip between time periods, building to near simultaneous climaxes.
Fans of romantic suspense and a little spookiness will enjoy this novel! I listened on audiobook, and the narrator did a fantastic job varying voices. It was a pleasure to listen to.
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