This is a difficult book to review because I have so many mixed feelings about it. So to make it a little more understandable, here is a list of everything I noticed.
-Unique Plot, I have not read any book similar to this at all and I did like the imagery
-Drew me in but didn't hook me, sounds like an oxymoron, right? Well, I wanted to keep reading this but it didn't draw me in emotionally.
-Two-Dimensional Characters, maybe it was just because these characters were experiencing so many different things that what happens in normal, everyday life, but I could not connect to them at all.
To sum everything up, this was the first book I have read by either Dekker and I'm not sure if I will be reading more because this one was a bit of a letdown.

Rating: 3 Stars
Content: 3 Stars

*I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the author. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was in no way required. ( )

First time reader of Ted's, probably my last. I know, I know, sorry to all of you die hard fans of Mr. Dekker.

The premise was pretty good, but did not follow through for me anyway. For me, it was a story about Christian beliefs, after you weed through yes "the twists and turns" so to speak. Will you be on the right side of the rope when it's time? Or the wrong side? And should anyone make that decision for you?

You know that old saying "you can't judge a book by its cover" well it is very true in this case because I love this cover.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Revell, and this is my own opinion. ( )

At first, this book reminded me of the movie The Village, and I wasn't sure how I felt about that because I hate that movie. Eventually, the book picked up and got better for me. I love everything Ted Dekker writes, but this is definitely not my favorite. I really loved the message in this book. It helped me see the analogy of the light of the world in a different way. ( )

I didn't realize this was a thriller based on the write up from librarything at the time. If I had known I would have left it to someone else. Religiosity is not my thing anyway. Maybe this book will be better for others. ( )

This novel got off to a strong beginning and the action carries the reader along. However, the main character Grace often seems to act without logic in order to drive the plot. In the last third the authors decide to become theologians which, I suppose, was their intent all along. This is where the novel really falls apart and it is both poor theology and poor plot. If their premise of love vs fear were true how did a place like Haven Valley ever come to exist in the first place given what exists in our actual world? ( )