ACTION: This story has intrigue, deception, cross-country chases, skirmishes, and large-scale battles. The subtitle for the book is “and the man who wouldn’t die.” That tips off a bit about the book. There are some tragic deaths that set the tone so the referenced character can stand out as an exception. Unlike the first book in this series, The Darkened Land, this book goes into a bit more detail about the wounds and hurts the main character faces. The Basaners are brutal folk and some of the actions described could be troubling to those who have faced a loss, particularly a loss due to intentional violence or persecution. This isn’t a ‘read to-your-kids’ type of allegory story, but it could provide some good talking points for high school on up about a Christian’s response to hatred, violence, and institutional evil.
ROMANCE: There is a bit of a love triangle in here, with one character pursuing another who is pledged to marry a third. The depictions are wholesome and above board. Those who understand the meanings behind gifts of flowers will see the thoughtfulness in the imagery. The romance part of the story is a backdrop for issues related to pride, jealousy, God’s timing, and overall issues related to purpose and calling.
RELIGION: Larry Paris has a very interesting allegorical world built here. He kept the best parts from the original story and brought them into this expansion. To a brand-new reader, these might be surprising but they are pretty straightforward. Full explanations and backstories of the characters were done in the first book. That gives this book more freedom to let the plot carry the story. The base principle in the series is the idea of a world that has rejected light. This is a powerful theme. This book explores the idea that those who live in it, and carry the light with them stand out. In the first book, the presence of the light brought mostly curiosity and indifference. In this second book, the characters take the light to a new city. The people of this region have an intense hatred of the light. You can take a look at the sample on Amazon and see the intensity with which this is portrayed. The sample is true to the read of the book. There are some hard, clean, but solid themes in here. It is thought-provoking, and the message is ultimately hopeful. It paints a picture of what it is like to walk with God in a way that is humble and sensitive. It portrays well the nature of the spiritual battle Christians face. Following God’s direction is a key theme, as is the need to rely on God’s timing. The book emphasizes how close God is to us at all times. God is portrayed as regal and holy, yet approachable and willing to help. There is some discussion of the purposes behind the events, with the answer sometimes being known and sometimes not. But the primary tool the book uses is one of showing by example rather than one of debating theological points. When the characters pray, and pray together, things happen.
FINAL THOUGHTS: The first book in the series set the tone and introduced the characters. This second book builds onto that foundation with a multi-layered plot that quickly grabs the reader’s attention. The book feels more personal. It echoes some warnings from Scripture to watch out for things like bitter envy and selfish conceit. These things can dull the spiritual senses, resulting in a confused response from those who know the truth. In real life, there are people who have a spiritual ‘radiance’ about them. I particularly enjoyed the scenes in this book that described encounters with those types of people. Larry Paris uses the main character’s lack of physical sight to good effect to portray elements of discernment, knowledge, spiritual depth, and maturity. In addition, he uses the theme of people radiating the light to great effect. His strong characters are beacons, whose behavior exemplifies maturity and holiness. They are attractive. Their radiance provides some classic and memorable scenes. I’ve rated the book at the edge of our scale due to the depictions of martyrdom. Overall, it was a good thought-provoking read. This is an epic adventure. There are more cities that need to have their light restored. I imagine that these would be great books to read with a friend. They could prompt some good conversations about spiritual disciplines, spiritual warfare, and spiritual maturity. – James E. Merritt
Larry Paris Books 