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The Promises She Keeps
It's her destiny to die young. The man who loves her can't live with that.
Promise, a talented young singer with a terminal illness, is counting on fame to keep her memory alive after she dies. Porta is an aging sorceress and art collector in search of immortality.
When Promise inexplicably survives a series of freak accidents, Porta believes that she may hold the key to eternal life.
Enter Chase, an autistic artist who falls in love with Promise and fascinates her with his mysterious visions and drawings.
Soon, all are plunged into a confrontation over the mystery and the cost of something even greater than eternal life . . . eternal love.
Promise, a talented young singer with a terminal illness, is counting on fame to keep her memory alive after she dies. Porta is an aging sorceress and art collector in search of immortality.
When Promise inexplicably survives a series of freak accidents, Porta believes that she may hold the key to eternal life.
Enter Chase, an autistic artist who falls in love with Promise and fascinates her with his mysterious visions and drawings.
Soon, all are plunged into a confrontation over the mystery and the cost of something even greater than eternal life . . . eternal love.
353 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 28, 2011
29 people are currently reading
487 people want to read
About the author
Erin Healy
16 books330 followersErin Healy is a supernatural-suspense novelist and an award-winning fiction editor. She began working with Ted Dekker in 2002 and edited twelve of his heart-pounding stories before their collaboration on KISS, the first novel to seat her on "the other side of the desk."
Erin is the owner of WordWright Editorial Services, a consulting firm specializing in fiction book development. She lives with her family in Colorado.
Erin is the owner of WordWright Editorial Services, a consulting firm specializing in fiction book development. She lives with her family in Colorado.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
January 18, 2018
I don’t think I would have finished reading it if I was reading an actual book. I listened to the audiobook while driving around during my errands.
February 18, 2011
I thought The Promises She Keeps would be a hard book to review, until I started reviewing it and really thinking abou the book. When I finished the book I wasn't sure how I felt about it. I knew I could not put it down and I was enthralled by the book, but at one point I was also perturbed by the book. So read on and find out what I mean. And please do read on because I need you to understand that I truly love this book even though I did have a strong dislike reaction at one point. Also, please remember that this is just my subjective opinion.
What did I like? Ms. Healy can writes an amazing book and did with The Promises She Keeps, her writing just flows and describes things so well without being wordy. I loved Promise, Chase, and Chelsea. Wonderful characters. I was fascinated by the fact that the main character in this novel, Promise has Cystic Fibrosis. My nephew has Cystic Fibrosis and 6 years ago we had no idea what that disease entailed, and only knew that it existed from the yearly telethon on tv. Now we do know about it and from what I read in this book Ms. Healy did her research well or she knows someone with CF. Promise is an amazing character and I welcome this book to educate so many others about this disease and help understand that each year that CF research is funded that people are helping extend CF patient's life. 20 years ago the life expectancy was in the teens, now it is in the 30s. Wow - that is pretty amazing.
Another main character, Chase, is autistic and I loved the look into his life and his mannerisms and the life of his twin sister, Chelsea who is his primary caretaker. These two were fascinating characters and I enjoyed reading about them just as much as Promise. Chase is just amazing, his drawings sound beautiful and his dedication to God is just beautiful. Chelsea's dedication to Chase is also awe-inspiring. She sacrifices everything to do what she can for him and that is a beautiful quality in a person.
The plot kept me entranced, I kept turning the pages to see what happened next and I read the last 200 pages in one sitting - that is how involved I was in the book. Ms. Healy does a marvelous job building up the tension without making it too intense. You can kind of see where the book is going, but that doesn't hurt how you read the book because you still don't know how it will get there and the ending is still a surprise.
My moment of dislike (and this is a personal opinion) came about 1/3 of the way through the book. I did not like the character of Porta, which you are not supposed to like her, she is the "bad guy". The problem was at times I felt such disgust towards this woman that I thought I would put the book down. The other characters were what pulled me through. But I think Ms. Healy accomplished something here - a truly bad, "bad guy". I can't recall in any recent books where I had that strong of a dislike towards a character and I read suspense and serial killer books. Porta just did not sit right with me as a human being. One thing I did like was that Ms. Healy could have made her a stereotype of witches, but she did not, she used another friend of Porta's who was a wiccan also as a foil to show that this group is not made up of bad people, and that Porta is the one bad seed that can make others look bad. This friend also wanted to help Porta and I liked the friend, but still could find nothing redeeming in Porta. Porta is the only thing I really did not like in the book.
The supernatural elements of the plot were interesting. And the linking together of Chase, Chelsea, Promise, Porta and Zack was very well-done. The good and evil were very obvious and the parallels to the story of Jesus and his sacrifice were very evident. Ms. Healy does a great job mixing the Christian element into the book without appearing preachy. It's just natural and it's just there.
All-in-all, The Promises She Keeps is a book that will stay with you after you read it. It is one you need to absorb when you finish and the beauty of the story starts to come to life the more you think about it. This one really makes you think and I love the polarization of good and evil. So many times the evil comes out kind of ho-hum, that is not the case in this book. If you haven't read Ms. Healy before, I highly recommend this one, it has suspense, love, good and evil and a storyline that won't let you put the book down.
What did I like? Ms. Healy can writes an amazing book and did with The Promises She Keeps, her writing just flows and describes things so well without being wordy. I loved Promise, Chase, and Chelsea. Wonderful characters. I was fascinated by the fact that the main character in this novel, Promise has Cystic Fibrosis. My nephew has Cystic Fibrosis and 6 years ago we had no idea what that disease entailed, and only knew that it existed from the yearly telethon on tv. Now we do know about it and from what I read in this book Ms. Healy did her research well or she knows someone with CF. Promise is an amazing character and I welcome this book to educate so many others about this disease and help understand that each year that CF research is funded that people are helping extend CF patient's life. 20 years ago the life expectancy was in the teens, now it is in the 30s. Wow - that is pretty amazing.
Another main character, Chase, is autistic and I loved the look into his life and his mannerisms and the life of his twin sister, Chelsea who is his primary caretaker. These two were fascinating characters and I enjoyed reading about them just as much as Promise. Chase is just amazing, his drawings sound beautiful and his dedication to God is just beautiful. Chelsea's dedication to Chase is also awe-inspiring. She sacrifices everything to do what she can for him and that is a beautiful quality in a person.
The plot kept me entranced, I kept turning the pages to see what happened next and I read the last 200 pages in one sitting - that is how involved I was in the book. Ms. Healy does a marvelous job building up the tension without making it too intense. You can kind of see where the book is going, but that doesn't hurt how you read the book because you still don't know how it will get there and the ending is still a surprise.
My moment of dislike (and this is a personal opinion) came about 1/3 of the way through the book. I did not like the character of Porta, which you are not supposed to like her, she is the "bad guy". The problem was at times I felt such disgust towards this woman that I thought I would put the book down. The other characters were what pulled me through. But I think Ms. Healy accomplished something here - a truly bad, "bad guy". I can't recall in any recent books where I had that strong of a dislike towards a character and I read suspense and serial killer books. Porta just did not sit right with me as a human being. One thing I did like was that Ms. Healy could have made her a stereotype of witches, but she did not, she used another friend of Porta's who was a wiccan also as a foil to show that this group is not made up of bad people, and that Porta is the one bad seed that can make others look bad. This friend also wanted to help Porta and I liked the friend, but still could find nothing redeeming in Porta. Porta is the only thing I really did not like in the book.
The supernatural elements of the plot were interesting. And the linking together of Chase, Chelsea, Promise, Porta and Zack was very well-done. The good and evil were very obvious and the parallels to the story of Jesus and his sacrifice were very evident. Ms. Healy does a great job mixing the Christian element into the book without appearing preachy. It's just natural and it's just there.
All-in-all, The Promises She Keeps is a book that will stay with you after you read it. It is one you need to absorb when you finish and the beauty of the story starts to come to life the more you think about it. This one really makes you think and I love the polarization of good and evil. So many times the evil comes out kind of ho-hum, that is not the case in this book. If you haven't read Ms. Healy before, I highly recommend this one, it has suspense, love, good and evil and a storyline that won't let you put the book down.
March 4, 2011
The Promises She Keeps is the second solo novel by Erin Healy, who broke into fiction writing by co-authoring with Ted Dekker on Kiss and Burn. Her first solo outing was titled Never Let You Go.
As would be expected by someone who worked with Ted Dekker, Healy’s novel writing bears strong elements of the spiritual thriller novel. What differentiates her writing from Dekker’s, though, is that a lot of her characterization and struggles rely on internal choices and decisions. Dekker’s books tend to be much more action oriented, and even more dialogue oriented that Healy.
Promise is a college student who aspires to be a singer, despite having been diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. She yearns to have people hear her voice and to know who she is. On the side she dabbles in modeling, often posing for art classes at her school. Her medical condition means she has a much lower life expectancy.
However, despite many bizarre near-death experiences, she is never critically injured. A local sorceress takes notice and begins to think that Promise may hold the key to immortality. At the same time an autistic young man, Chase, begins to take notice of Promise. Though he has never met her, he falls in love with her and wants to ‘save’ her. Promise has trouble believing either of them but she is tugged into a great struggle that she doesn’t understand. Which side will she choose? Or will her illness overtake her first?
Healy’s writing style is strong, though it took me a chapter or two to get used to. Her descriptions tend to linger longer than most, and she often can make certain scenes feel surreal. The pace is not slow, though it is deliberate, and it is not until the end when it truly starts to pick up. On the whole the characters were very real, the only one I had a hard time connecting to was Chase, though I suspect that was intentional. Having read Never Let You Go, I can say that Promises is a much stronger story. The theme supports the story and the characters are fleshed out much better. Promises is a good second novel, and I’m intrigued to see what stories Healy comes up with next.
3.5/5 stars
I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255
As would be expected by someone who worked with Ted Dekker, Healy’s novel writing bears strong elements of the spiritual thriller novel. What differentiates her writing from Dekker’s, though, is that a lot of her characterization and struggles rely on internal choices and decisions. Dekker’s books tend to be much more action oriented, and even more dialogue oriented that Healy.
Promise is a college student who aspires to be a singer, despite having been diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. She yearns to have people hear her voice and to know who she is. On the side she dabbles in modeling, often posing for art classes at her school. Her medical condition means she has a much lower life expectancy.
However, despite many bizarre near-death experiences, she is never critically injured. A local sorceress takes notice and begins to think that Promise may hold the key to immortality. At the same time an autistic young man, Chase, begins to take notice of Promise. Though he has never met her, he falls in love with her and wants to ‘save’ her. Promise has trouble believing either of them but she is tugged into a great struggle that she doesn’t understand. Which side will she choose? Or will her illness overtake her first?
Healy’s writing style is strong, though it took me a chapter or two to get used to. Her descriptions tend to linger longer than most, and she often can make certain scenes feel surreal. The pace is not slow, though it is deliberate, and it is not until the end when it truly starts to pick up. On the whole the characters were very real, the only one I had a hard time connecting to was Chase, though I suspect that was intentional. Having read Never Let You Go, I can say that Promises is a much stronger story. The theme supports the story and the characters are fleshed out much better. Promises is a good second novel, and I’m intrigued to see what stories Healy comes up with next.
3.5/5 stars
I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255
April 27, 2011
Ok, I'll say it, this is one of the most bizarre books I've ever finished. I'm still not quite sure what to make of it. It is published by Thomas Nelson which should put in in the genre of Christian fiction, but while it features a scripture quoting autistic artist and self-sacrificing love, it also features supernatural powers that don't seem to come from above. It is the story of an old woman searching for immortality in the wrong place. It features death caused by her search for life, but it also includes people not dying when by all rights they should, and a plant with growth habits unlike any in real life.
It was a strange book, but it did keep me reading. Usually I give books letter grades, but I'm not going to do so in this case, just because nothing seems to fit. I'm putting this review on Amazon and Goodreads, and will have to assign a star rating. I'll give it three stars, just to be in the middle but honestly, I can't tell you whether I liked it or not; it was just plain weird. My guess is that it is loaded with Christian symbols or themes but symbols and themes were the reason this bookworm hated literature classes.
I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.
It was a strange book, but it did keep me reading. Usually I give books letter grades, but I'm not going to do so in this case, just because nothing seems to fit. I'm putting this review on Amazon and Goodreads, and will have to assign a star rating. I'll give it three stars, just to be in the middle but honestly, I can't tell you whether I liked it or not; it was just plain weird. My guess is that it is loaded with Christian symbols or themes but symbols and themes were the reason this bookworm hated literature classes.
I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.
February 8, 2014
This is the third or fourth Erin Healy book I've read and had it been my first I would most likely not be reading more. It took me forever to figure out what her two story lines had to do with each other and it was so bizarre I wasn't sure I was interested in continuing but I had invested enough time I hoped I would turn a corner. An autistic young man, a young woman with CF, a witch like artist and her strange son, and a promise of the supernatural power of everlasting life are the basis of this book. I was disappointed in the ending regarding Chase and it was just too bizarre to enjoy it much.
February 21, 2014
So many things I want to say...but all I can really come up with is that even though I was very interested in these characters and what was going to happen with their overlapping plots, by the end I was thoroughly annoyed with the whole thing.
March 8, 2017
great book. a few twists in the middle and at the end that I didn't expect. This is a book about how we are all different yet all connected. We are all connected more than we think: by ou mortality, our fears, our need for love, acceptance and the fulfillment of our longings.
May 19, 2018
Three strands of character come to interweave themselves ever more closely in this exciting faith-based suspense novel. Chase, an autistic artist, together with his mindful and concerned sister, Chelsea, and Chase’s insightful helper, Wes, form a strand that is permeated with love, not least that which is bestowed on all those around him by Chase. Another strand is that formed by the rising musician, Promise, who is determined to leave a lasting legacy for the world when she dies from the debilitating effects of the cystic fibrosis that is devouring her body, though not her spirit. The final strand is composed of Porta, an aging witch, and her son, Zack, who is at odds, not only with her, but sometimes, it seems, with all whom he encounters. The characters are all strongly drawn, and contrast markedly with one another, yet blend together so well that, ultimately, their inextricability from each other seems inevitable.
Each of the strands is affected in some way by a malady that renders it physically, emotionally and spiritually vulnerable to negative impacts from elements outside its immediate sphere. Yet, what renders it most susceptible to such influence also enables it to survive, although in altered form, and to become more truly whole. The Promises She Keeps has been criticized for not being more overtly Christian in its message, as only one of its characters, Chase, ever expresses himself in such a way—after all, he has memorized four different translations of the Bible, so that it is only fit that he tends to utter biblical verses to evince his innermost feelings. The themes of the novel are where the Christian timbre of the work emerges most distinctly, though. The redemption that can be attained through sacrificial love, innocence, the nature of life and death, as well as good and evil, are all central elements of this taut and well-paced, yet thought-provoking, work.
Just as the underlying message of this book resonates throughout the whole, so, too, does the concern of the main characters with some aspect of the arts. Chase draws all whom he encounters as trees—whether good or bad. Wes, for instance, he sees as “a good presence, an emergent rainforest tree with sprawling buttress roots that rested on the top of the soil,” whereas the malevolent presence of Porta he sees as “an alien species, a noxious weed that did not belong on the Shore with the people he loved.” The artistic concerns of the other two strands—music and modeling in the case of Promise, and the visual arts and photography in the case of Porta and Zack—are more self-serving than Chase’s talent that he strives to share with all around him. The inclusion of various forms of art in The Promises She Keeps, apart from being central to the overall plot, gives added strength to the story and broadens the vista that Erin Healy opens up for us.
Truly a remarkable book in many ways, the work has already garnered a large audience, due to its falling into a number of different genres—mystery, suspense, alternative romance, Christian fiction, and the esoteric. No wonder that it has such a wide appeal, which, when complemented with a style that is highly accessible and smooth-flowing, makes The Promises She Keeps a read not to be missed.
Each of the strands is affected in some way by a malady that renders it physically, emotionally and spiritually vulnerable to negative impacts from elements outside its immediate sphere. Yet, what renders it most susceptible to such influence also enables it to survive, although in altered form, and to become more truly whole. The Promises She Keeps has been criticized for not being more overtly Christian in its message, as only one of its characters, Chase, ever expresses himself in such a way—after all, he has memorized four different translations of the Bible, so that it is only fit that he tends to utter biblical verses to evince his innermost feelings. The themes of the novel are where the Christian timbre of the work emerges most distinctly, though. The redemption that can be attained through sacrificial love, innocence, the nature of life and death, as well as good and evil, are all central elements of this taut and well-paced, yet thought-provoking, work.
Just as the underlying message of this book resonates throughout the whole, so, too, does the concern of the main characters with some aspect of the arts. Chase draws all whom he encounters as trees—whether good or bad. Wes, for instance, he sees as “a good presence, an emergent rainforest tree with sprawling buttress roots that rested on the top of the soil,” whereas the malevolent presence of Porta he sees as “an alien species, a noxious weed that did not belong on the Shore with the people he loved.” The artistic concerns of the other two strands—music and modeling in the case of Promise, and the visual arts and photography in the case of Porta and Zack—are more self-serving than Chase’s talent that he strives to share with all around him. The inclusion of various forms of art in The Promises She Keeps, apart from being central to the overall plot, gives added strength to the story and broadens the vista that Erin Healy opens up for us.
Truly a remarkable book in many ways, the work has already garnered a large audience, due to its falling into a number of different genres—mystery, suspense, alternative romance, Christian fiction, and the esoteric. No wonder that it has such a wide appeal, which, when complemented with a style that is highly accessible and smooth-flowing, makes The Promises She Keeps a read not to be missed.
April 9, 2021
This book was incredible for the first two-thirds, until I realized it was going to be quite different than what I'd gone into it expecting. Still good, but a mild disappointment. I thought, given the summary on the back cover, that Chase (the autistic character), would play more of an active role, and that he'd fall in love with Promise. He did, sort of, but it wasn't reciprocal, and they barely interacted throughout the entire book. I was significantly more invested in the angle of the story with Chase, Chelsea (his sister), and Wes (his aide), than I was in anything to do with Promise or Zack (son of the antagonist witch, and an unwitting antagonist himself for much of the story). I think Wes was my favorite character, not least for his approach to Chase's autism and independence. I also felt like more could have been done with some of the Christian themes, especially how Chase lived his life anticipating his father's return, whereas Chelsea mostly didn't think about it (how often do I fall into the same boat consider Jesus' triumphant return to come?). I did really like the bits about how tempting witchcraft can be, and dangerous; it's not a topic I've seen dealt with quite like this before, and it really worked for the story. I'll say this for Erin Healy: she can really write snappy suspense! I'd definitely give her other stuff a try, after reading this one.
June 6, 2019
This book was not what I expected it to be. Then again, Healy always ends up doing that.
I can't find the words to express just how good this mixture of supernatural, Christian themes, and modern life all blend. How did she take so many storylines and have them all come together in the last chapter? And how did she do it so WELL, with the pacing and the different conflicts all coming together to tell this story of hope? This was just really well done, and I'm very impressed. I don't know, maybe there are a lot of books like this that I just havent met yet. But man, this really kept making me think, "I want to write something that makes someone feel the way I feel reading this".
Yeah, I have no better critical review to give. Maybe with some time as I allow the last pages I just read to register and simmer in my brain, I can come back with a more proper 5 star explanation.
I will definitely be reading more from her. 5 stars 100%.
I can't find the words to express just how good this mixture of supernatural, Christian themes, and modern life all blend. How did she take so many storylines and have them all come together in the last chapter? And how did she do it so WELL, with the pacing and the different conflicts all coming together to tell this story of hope? This was just really well done, and I'm very impressed. I don't know, maybe there are a lot of books like this that I just havent met yet. But man, this really kept making me think, "I want to write something that makes someone feel the way I feel reading this".
Yeah, I have no better critical review to give. Maybe with some time as I allow the last pages I just read to register and simmer in my brain, I can come back with a more proper 5 star explanation.
I will definitely be reading more from her. 5 stars 100%.
January 10, 2025
3.75 stars
Originally reviewed on The StoryGraph
I personally love Erin Healy’s books - there’s nothing quite like her blend of reality and supernatural that I’ve found, especially in the Christian space. It took me a bit to reach the immersion necessary to roll with the unexplainable in this once, but I was hooked immediately by the characters and how their stories interwove. The book’s chapters tend to bounce from character to character, mostly in the third person limited, so you get to know each character inside of their head as well as how they all perceive each other. The allegory, in the end, was very on-the-nose (I don’t think a Christian publisher would’ve released it if it wasn’t) but the story wasn’t blatantly preachy and I didn’t see how the story would resolve from a mile away
Originally reviewed on The StoryGraph
I personally love Erin Healy’s books - there’s nothing quite like her blend of reality and supernatural that I’ve found, especially in the Christian space. It took me a bit to reach the immersion necessary to roll with the unexplainable in this once, but I was hooked immediately by the characters and how their stories interwove. The book’s chapters tend to bounce from character to character, mostly in the third person limited, so you get to know each character inside of their head as well as how they all perceive each other. The allegory, in the end, was very on-the-nose (I don’t think a Christian publisher would’ve released it if it wasn’t) but the story wasn’t blatantly preachy and I didn’t see how the story would resolve from a mile away
November 4, 2023
What a different book! Healy is one of my all-time favorite authors, so much so that I only allow myself to read one of her books a year. This one was a unique read, filled with drama, relational struggles, a creative faith arc for several characters, and trees...lots of trees....I can't tell more, lest I give it away!
The characters are relatable, the story was unusual and the spiritual aspects speak for themselves. As always, I am left at the end of the book trying to determine what book will follow THAT up.
Don't miss this story of redemption, how we see the world, and what spiritual warfare is all about.
The characters are relatable, the story was unusual and the spiritual aspects speak for themselves. As always, I am left at the end of the book trying to determine what book will follow THAT up.
Don't miss this story of redemption, how we see the world, and what spiritual warfare is all about.
July 6, 2022
Quite an unusual book which made you think and question things. I had though this was a normal novel but it turned out to be a bit of a mystical/fantasy/supernatural style where it was not clear if everything was at it seems. Very thought provoking and left you mulling over some of the events in the book.
August 28, 2020
This was weird
December 11, 2020
This was an interesting book, hard to get into
June 17, 2022
I loved this book!
February 18, 2013
I should say from the outset that I did not know this book to be a 'Christian' book when I picked it up. I probably would not have done so had I known, and that would have been sad, because it is ultimately a good read, a fascinating tale with very 3-d characters, no mean feat. Also this read was a learning experience for me, which I always appreciate. This review contains spoilers.
This book speared me through the heart. I was impressed, surprised, and actually distressed. This book is a gem of Magical Realism, like a chimerical cross between Isabelle Allende's and John Green's writing styles. The characters are all intriguing, and a classic tale of good versus evil plays out over the stories of their lives.
Some of the metaphors are truly writerly, one in which an ivy leaf quivers like a "shy valentine" particularly impressed me. Yet, the narrative is written from a very particular cosmological perspective, that of a particular type of contemporary Christian. So I find myself agonizing bitterly over the battle lines drawn so absolutely. The antagonist is a witch, a very capable, self-made, talented older woman, and the protagonist is a young white Christian male with autism. The emotionally limited boy becomes savior and the sophisticated, educated, talented elder woman is literally burned in the end.
One: It is a strange cruelty in Art to portray such a wishful fantasy as an autistic boy who is actually made of love and is psychic. Interesting, fascinating, irresponsible, and dangerous. Autistics are heroes in real life for being who they are, for braving the unique territory of their uncharted individuality in which emotional relationships and interpersonal connections are valued very differently from most other humans. The diagnosis of autism is defined by limited ability to relate socially. The talents of autistics often are truly extraordinary and very valuable, but they are not of interpersonal relationship. So what wild caricature is it to portray an autistic with very talented emotional development, with in fact the kind of extraordinary emotional development we see really only in saints and Bodhisattvas? Wishful thinking and illusion, addictive illusion, make for grand fantasy, but in this case a very irresponsible cultural artifact.
And then two: there is a witch who gets burned. Well here's an old trope in our Western story. One that disturbs me as much as the illusion of the emotionally gifted and psychic autistic boy. Why revisit such a sexist and hateful trope? Is there any advantage to it? In Art all things are possible and all things are explored in the whim and passion of the individual, and I rejoice in the freedom of such expression, but I am heart broken to find this one, again, in such a promising exploration of story. I think that to portray a witch as a villain in such a real portrait of a very believable, capable, powerful older woman, that is done in very poor taste. It is as disconcerting, as disturbingly outre as a book in which the evil antagonist is a wealthy Jewish banker. Our collective history should teach us not to indulge in such stereotypes, as they have been used to very evil ends in actual history, not just fiction. I can only imagine the outcry that would have taken place if even one character in the Harry Potter books was portrayed as an unlikable, or heaven forbid, evil, Christian. This is an example of gross cultural hypocrisy.
This is ultimately a well written book, a challenging book, if you can get past the biases that are, in this day and age, poorly chosen at best, discourteous to the point of being immoral at worst. Yet, I am grateful, for the experience of the book; it was a rich and engaging experience. It gave me the chance to deeply affirm some of my values and beliefs, even if in the high relief of direct contrast to the narrative.
Also, the exploration of longing, longing for an autistic who is a saint for example, longing for immortality, longing for transcendent love, was very poignant, and intimately explored. In a weird way, this book belongs in the Literary tradition of the Western Quest, and with the biases intact, may even be retro to the point of being a relic. Yet all the while this book does revisit, RE-present the near theme that we must all deal with of Christian naively arrogant self-righteousness and divinely thirsty discontented yearning. That it is in the end the quotidian miracles of interpersonal compassion that quench such an unyielding thirst even more than the aweful peak of catharsis is a fine turn of story and a good lesson to learn. Fascinating. Tragically disappointing, yet impressive.
I recommend the film "The Burning Times" for further understanding as to why it is immoral, or at least uneducated and ignorantly prejudiced to indulge in the mistaken stereotype of the Wicked Witch.
http://www.nfb.ca/film/burning_times/
"The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity." - Yeats
This book speared me through the heart. I was impressed, surprised, and actually distressed. This book is a gem of Magical Realism, like a chimerical cross between Isabelle Allende's and John Green's writing styles. The characters are all intriguing, and a classic tale of good versus evil plays out over the stories of their lives.
Some of the metaphors are truly writerly, one in which an ivy leaf quivers like a "shy valentine" particularly impressed me. Yet, the narrative is written from a very particular cosmological perspective, that of a particular type of contemporary Christian. So I find myself agonizing bitterly over the battle lines drawn so absolutely. The antagonist is a witch, a very capable, self-made, talented older woman, and the protagonist is a young white Christian male with autism. The emotionally limited boy becomes savior and the sophisticated, educated, talented elder woman is literally burned in the end.
One: It is a strange cruelty in Art to portray such a wishful fantasy as an autistic boy who is actually made of love and is psychic. Interesting, fascinating, irresponsible, and dangerous. Autistics are heroes in real life for being who they are, for braving the unique territory of their uncharted individuality in which emotional relationships and interpersonal connections are valued very differently from most other humans. The diagnosis of autism is defined by limited ability to relate socially. The talents of autistics often are truly extraordinary and very valuable, but they are not of interpersonal relationship. So what wild caricature is it to portray an autistic with very talented emotional development, with in fact the kind of extraordinary emotional development we see really only in saints and Bodhisattvas? Wishful thinking and illusion, addictive illusion, make for grand fantasy, but in this case a very irresponsible cultural artifact.
And then two: there is a witch who gets burned. Well here's an old trope in our Western story. One that disturbs me as much as the illusion of the emotionally gifted and psychic autistic boy. Why revisit such a sexist and hateful trope? Is there any advantage to it? In Art all things are possible and all things are explored in the whim and passion of the individual, and I rejoice in the freedom of such expression, but I am heart broken to find this one, again, in such a promising exploration of story. I think that to portray a witch as a villain in such a real portrait of a very believable, capable, powerful older woman, that is done in very poor taste. It is as disconcerting, as disturbingly outre as a book in which the evil antagonist is a wealthy Jewish banker. Our collective history should teach us not to indulge in such stereotypes, as they have been used to very evil ends in actual history, not just fiction. I can only imagine the outcry that would have taken place if even one character in the Harry Potter books was portrayed as an unlikable, or heaven forbid, evil, Christian. This is an example of gross cultural hypocrisy.
This is ultimately a well written book, a challenging book, if you can get past the biases that are, in this day and age, poorly chosen at best, discourteous to the point of being immoral at worst. Yet, I am grateful, for the experience of the book; it was a rich and engaging experience. It gave me the chance to deeply affirm some of my values and beliefs, even if in the high relief of direct contrast to the narrative.
Also, the exploration of longing, longing for an autistic who is a saint for example, longing for immortality, longing for transcendent love, was very poignant, and intimately explored. In a weird way, this book belongs in the Literary tradition of the Western Quest, and with the biases intact, may even be retro to the point of being a relic. Yet all the while this book does revisit, RE-present the near theme that we must all deal with of Christian naively arrogant self-righteousness and divinely thirsty discontented yearning. That it is in the end the quotidian miracles of interpersonal compassion that quench such an unyielding thirst even more than the aweful peak of catharsis is a fine turn of story and a good lesson to learn. Fascinating. Tragically disappointing, yet impressive.
I recommend the film "The Burning Times" for further understanding as to why it is immoral, or at least uneducated and ignorantly prejudiced to indulge in the mistaken stereotype of the Wicked Witch.
http://www.nfb.ca/film/burning_times/
"The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity." - Yeats
May 25, 2011
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars!
I’ve noticed that Erin Healy’s novels are very different from most books I read. The paranormal elements she weaves into her stories are very unique. She writes characters that grab you emotionally and refuse to let go. Her plots, while very modern and relatable, always have an additional twist that makes it stand out. Her writing style is easy to follow but still extremely thought-provoking. I admire her ability to remain true to her faith and interweave it subtlety into her writing so as not to scare off the non-Christian fiction fan. I myself am not a big religion-based reader. However, I’ve found some really great Christian fiction that has been a real treat to read and all of the books I’ve read by Erin are in that group.
The Promises She Keeps is about many different things that are linked together. There are a few different story arcs happening but the primary one is the story of Promise. She wants nothing more than to make a name for herself before she dies and she’s counting on her vocal talent to pave the way. Promise has cystic fibrosis and is fighting it as best she can like all of her closest friends who share her illness.
Despite her ill health Promise survives numerous freak accidents that draw the attention of a local art gallery owner that is in search of immortality. Porta’s paranormal abilities as a witch can do nothing about the fact that she is aging and quickly coming to the end of her time. Porta slowly realizes the perfect way to get Promise and her apparent immortality in the form of her recluse son – Zach. Zach has mysteriously been with Promise on each of her deadly escapes and Porta will stop at nothing to get what she wants.
Meanwhile, Chase is an autistic artist who spends his time with his devoted twin sister Chelsea. Chase has a special sort of gift that comes out in his beautiful drawings and causes visions that lead him to Promise. He quickly falls in love with her and sets out to keep her safe and out of Porta’s hands. They are all eventually brought together in a very dangerous and life-altering confrontation that will test the very limit of their faith and mortality.
Now I would be lying if I told you that the book’s content wasn’t confusing at times. It takes some time getting used to if you’re not familiar with Erin’s work. I knew the story would make sense sooner rather than later. I was rewarded with a really thrilling story! I think Chase was my favorite character. I’m not personally involved with autism but I liked to read about his mannerisms and the way he acted. His artist abilities were amazing to read about and I was actually upset that I couldn’t visually see all the drawings he did. He had this strange and fascinating passion for trees that was a really interesting aspect of the story.
I admire the sacrifice Chelsea showed and the love she had for her twin brother. She was stubborn and hard-headed when it came to letting herself be happy though. I found Chelsea hard to really care about as a character. There were times when I sympathized with her and I did like her but she just wasn’t a favorite for some reason. Porta was truly an evil character. She was evil in the sense that she had little to no remorse for any of her actions. It was a great contrast to the good side of the story.
The Promises She Keeps is a book that will stay with long after you finish its pages. It’s emotionally driven with a lot of suspenseful moments. I enjoy Erin’s unique work and I have a feeling I always will.
I’ve noticed that Erin Healy’s novels are very different from most books I read. The paranormal elements she weaves into her stories are very unique. She writes characters that grab you emotionally and refuse to let go. Her plots, while very modern and relatable, always have an additional twist that makes it stand out. Her writing style is easy to follow but still extremely thought-provoking. I admire her ability to remain true to her faith and interweave it subtlety into her writing so as not to scare off the non-Christian fiction fan. I myself am not a big religion-based reader. However, I’ve found some really great Christian fiction that has been a real treat to read and all of the books I’ve read by Erin are in that group.
The Promises She Keeps is about many different things that are linked together. There are a few different story arcs happening but the primary one is the story of Promise. She wants nothing more than to make a name for herself before she dies and she’s counting on her vocal talent to pave the way. Promise has cystic fibrosis and is fighting it as best she can like all of her closest friends who share her illness.
Despite her ill health Promise survives numerous freak accidents that draw the attention of a local art gallery owner that is in search of immortality. Porta’s paranormal abilities as a witch can do nothing about the fact that she is aging and quickly coming to the end of her time. Porta slowly realizes the perfect way to get Promise and her apparent immortality in the form of her recluse son – Zach. Zach has mysteriously been with Promise on each of her deadly escapes and Porta will stop at nothing to get what she wants.
Meanwhile, Chase is an autistic artist who spends his time with his devoted twin sister Chelsea. Chase has a special sort of gift that comes out in his beautiful drawings and causes visions that lead him to Promise. He quickly falls in love with her and sets out to keep her safe and out of Porta’s hands. They are all eventually brought together in a very dangerous and life-altering confrontation that will test the very limit of their faith and mortality.
Now I would be lying if I told you that the book’s content wasn’t confusing at times. It takes some time getting used to if you’re not familiar with Erin’s work. I knew the story would make sense sooner rather than later. I was rewarded with a really thrilling story! I think Chase was my favorite character. I’m not personally involved with autism but I liked to read about his mannerisms and the way he acted. His artist abilities were amazing to read about and I was actually upset that I couldn’t visually see all the drawings he did. He had this strange and fascinating passion for trees that was a really interesting aspect of the story.
I admire the sacrifice Chelsea showed and the love she had for her twin brother. She was stubborn and hard-headed when it came to letting herself be happy though. I found Chelsea hard to really care about as a character. There were times when I sympathized with her and I did like her but she just wasn’t a favorite for some reason. Porta was truly an evil character. She was evil in the sense that she had little to no remorse for any of her actions. It was a great contrast to the good side of the story.
The Promises She Keeps is a book that will stay with long after you finish its pages. It’s emotionally driven with a lot of suspenseful moments. I enjoy Erin’s unique work and I have a feeling I always will.
July 2, 2023
This was good, but a little weird. There was just a lot going on and a lot of random things happening. I felt bad for Promise.
SPOILERS BELOW
Porta was batshit. Just because a young woman with cystic fibrosis has a few good weeks, that makes her immortal and means you can kill someone to prove it? Yeah, I don't think so, psycho. I liked most of the characters except for Porta.
SPOILERS BELOW
Porta was batshit. Just because a young woman with cystic fibrosis has a few good weeks, that makes her immortal and means you can kill someone to prove it? Yeah, I don't think so, psycho. I liked most of the characters except for Porta.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2011
The Promises She Keeps
Erin Healy
Summary:
The Promises She Keeps revolves around three central characters: Promise, Porta and Chase.
Promise Dayton is an aspiring young singer afflicted with Cystic Fibrosis who wants to leave her mark on this world before she dies. Promises gains some notoriety for her singing abilities, but draws more attention to herself after she survives a series of accidents that would have killed most people.
Porta is an older woman and sorceress who is obsessed with finding the key to eternal life. And she believes Promise is that key following the unexplained accidents that surrounded the young woman and left her with only minor injuries.
And then there’s Chase, an autistic artist in his early 30s who deals with strange visions of trees, which leads to some interesting drawings, one of which has to do with Promise, whom he eventually falls in love with.
My Reaction:
When I first read the synopsis on this book, I was instantly intrigued. The storyline sounded very interesting and right up my alley.
There were a few minor issues I had with the book, but I can’t really say too much about them since it would give away too much of the storyline. And I don’t want to ruin it for anyone. So I’ll talk about the things I can: the characters.
Each of the characters in this book, save one or two, were extremely likeable, but not overly complex.
Though Porta was the villian, I found myself drawn to her character. She was mean, conniving, manipulative, you name it, but I found her interesting nonetheless.
The character of Promise was strong and determined. She didn’t let her illness hold her back. She wasn’t afraid to work hard to see her dream realized, and that I can respect since I’m no stranger to hardwork.
The character of Zach was the one I felt really bad for. He didn’t have an disease or genetic issue to contend with like Promise or Chase, but he had his own share of problems to deal, most of which revolved around his mother Porta. You can feel her disdain for Zach throughout the book and as a mom, that pulled at my heartstrings.
As for the character of Chase, he was beautifully written. He didn’t have an evil bone in his body. He was filled with nothing but light and love and he was the perfect contrast to Porta’s darkness.
One other thing I can say about this book is that the ending left me a bit disappointed. There were a part of me that would have liked to see it end a bit differently.
In conclusion, I give this book 3 stars out of 5.
*
If you have an Amazon Kindle or don’t mind reading on your computer, you can download the first chapter of The Promises She Keeps at Amazon.com. Happy reading!
*
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Erin Healy
Summary:
The Promises She Keeps revolves around three central characters: Promise, Porta and Chase.
Promise Dayton is an aspiring young singer afflicted with Cystic Fibrosis who wants to leave her mark on this world before she dies. Promises gains some notoriety for her singing abilities, but draws more attention to herself after she survives a series of accidents that would have killed most people.
Porta is an older woman and sorceress who is obsessed with finding the key to eternal life. And she believes Promise is that key following the unexplained accidents that surrounded the young woman and left her with only minor injuries.
And then there’s Chase, an autistic artist in his early 30s who deals with strange visions of trees, which leads to some interesting drawings, one of which has to do with Promise, whom he eventually falls in love with.
My Reaction:
When I first read the synopsis on this book, I was instantly intrigued. The storyline sounded very interesting and right up my alley.
There were a few minor issues I had with the book, but I can’t really say too much about them since it would give away too much of the storyline. And I don’t want to ruin it for anyone. So I’ll talk about the things I can: the characters.
Each of the characters in this book, save one or two, were extremely likeable, but not overly complex.
Though Porta was the villian, I found myself drawn to her character. She was mean, conniving, manipulative, you name it, but I found her interesting nonetheless.
The character of Promise was strong and determined. She didn’t let her illness hold her back. She wasn’t afraid to work hard to see her dream realized, and that I can respect since I’m no stranger to hardwork.
The character of Zach was the one I felt really bad for. He didn’t have an disease or genetic issue to contend with like Promise or Chase, but he had his own share of problems to deal, most of which revolved around his mother Porta. You can feel her disdain for Zach throughout the book and as a mom, that pulled at my heartstrings.
As for the character of Chase, he was beautifully written. He didn’t have an evil bone in his body. He was filled with nothing but light and love and he was the perfect contrast to Porta’s darkness.
One other thing I can say about this book is that the ending left me a bit disappointed. There were a part of me that would have liked to see it end a bit differently.
In conclusion, I give this book 3 stars out of 5.
*
If you have an Amazon Kindle or don’t mind reading on your computer, you can download the first chapter of The Promises She Keeps at Amazon.com. Happy reading!
*
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
May 11, 2011
Reason for Reading: I am a fan of the author.
Fantastic! This is Erin Healy's best book to date. I was hooked from the first chapter and couldn't let go until I reached the end. This book revolves around three sets of characters and is more character driven than plot driven. Though the plot is a very strange and eerie tale that turns into something so much more. Ultimately the story is about love (from a Christian pov "God is love") and everlasting life. However, the book can be read by anyone as the Christian elements are under the surface and can simply be read as magical realism by non-Christian readers. For Christian readers though, it is a beautiful story of what love and death truly mean.
The story follows three individual sets of characters until they all wind up involved with each other in direct or indirect ways. The book starts off with Chase and his sister Chelsea, young 30's twins who live together. Chase is an autistic man and Chelsea has devoted her life to taking care of him. Chase is a wonderful artist who draws trees using any type of white media on black paper. He has also memorized 4 versions of the Bible and likes to quote from it, especially the passages about trees. He has suddenly changed his routine, highly unusual for an autistic, and is drawing trees especially for strangers which he then goes out to the newly opened art gallery to give them to the people he drew them for.
The gallery's owner, Porta, is an elderly self-centred woman whose seventy-third birthday is fast approaching and is also a practicing witch. She has just moved to town after having a falling out with the ladies in her former coven. She is now striking out on her own. All her life she has been seeking the person whose blood can bring immortality to anyone they choose. Her son thinks she is crazy and is totally against all she stands for, though he does know the power she has. Of course, growing up with a mother who has never showed him any love has turned Zack into a weak man, addicted to drugs and alcohol. Zack is a bit of an artist himself and meets Promise through the art class he attends.
Promise is a young woman with cystic fibrosis who is determined to become a singer to get her bit of fame before she dies but she becomes noticed in a much more infamous way. Once Promise meets Zack she survives a series of what should have been fatal accidents virtually unharmed. This brings her to the attention of Porta who thinks she has finally found the source for immortality. Chase also seeks out Promise as he has drawn her a picture and falls in love with her.
All these people come together in a thrilling story of evil vs good. The story is a little eerie at times and the plot is certainly intriguing. The unexpected ending was not what I had hoped for but was satisfying for this reader and beautiful within the Christian context of the story. I'm impressed with Ms. Healy's progress. Her debut solo book Never Let You Go was good, but The Promises She Keeps is great!
Fantastic! This is Erin Healy's best book to date. I was hooked from the first chapter and couldn't let go until I reached the end. This book revolves around three sets of characters and is more character driven than plot driven. Though the plot is a very strange and eerie tale that turns into something so much more. Ultimately the story is about love (from a Christian pov "God is love") and everlasting life. However, the book can be read by anyone as the Christian elements are under the surface and can simply be read as magical realism by non-Christian readers. For Christian readers though, it is a beautiful story of what love and death truly mean.
The story follows three individual sets of characters until they all wind up involved with each other in direct or indirect ways. The book starts off with Chase and his sister Chelsea, young 30's twins who live together. Chase is an autistic man and Chelsea has devoted her life to taking care of him. Chase is a wonderful artist who draws trees using any type of white media on black paper. He has also memorized 4 versions of the Bible and likes to quote from it, especially the passages about trees. He has suddenly changed his routine, highly unusual for an autistic, and is drawing trees especially for strangers which he then goes out to the newly opened art gallery to give them to the people he drew them for.
The gallery's owner, Porta, is an elderly self-centred woman whose seventy-third birthday is fast approaching and is also a practicing witch. She has just moved to town after having a falling out with the ladies in her former coven. She is now striking out on her own. All her life she has been seeking the person whose blood can bring immortality to anyone they choose. Her son thinks she is crazy and is totally against all she stands for, though he does know the power she has. Of course, growing up with a mother who has never showed him any love has turned Zack into a weak man, addicted to drugs and alcohol. Zack is a bit of an artist himself and meets Promise through the art class he attends.
Promise is a young woman with cystic fibrosis who is determined to become a singer to get her bit of fame before she dies but she becomes noticed in a much more infamous way. Once Promise meets Zack she survives a series of what should have been fatal accidents virtually unharmed. This brings her to the attention of Porta who thinks she has finally found the source for immortality. Chase also seeks out Promise as he has drawn her a picture and falls in love with her.
All these people come together in a thrilling story of evil vs good. The story is a little eerie at times and the plot is certainly intriguing. The unexpected ending was not what I had hoped for but was satisfying for this reader and beautiful within the Christian context of the story. I'm impressed with Ms. Healy's progress. Her debut solo book Never Let You Go was good, but The Promises She Keeps is great!
July 11, 2011
Review At: I Read, I Think, I Share
Review Date: 11 July 2011
Review URL: http://littlemermybooks.blogspot.com/2011/07/promises-she-keeps-by-erin-healy.html
Summary:
This book has been sitting on my to-read list for quite a few months, but I was in a mood to read it. Finally I picked it up last week, and I feel as if I have found a jewel. I think I will regret if I have missed it. It is different comparing to most other fiction books that I have read. Since most of the main characters in this book are artists, together with the storyline it makes me feel a little "abstract". Some part of the story is a bit eerie, and yet makes me feel calm.
Promise is a talented young singer with terminal illness. Despite her health condition, she never giving up hope in her life and she wants to leave her name behind after she dies. For she knows she would die at young age, she wants to be remembered.
Porta is an aging sorceress who seeks immortality. She just moved into the town where Promise is staying and opens an art gallery there. She believes the art has power to speak into a life and can heal a soul.
When Promise survives a series of freak accidents, all involving Zack, Porta believes that Promise may hold the key to eternal life. Zack is an art student in the university that Promise is studying in. He's also Porta's son. However he does not have good relationship with Porta.
Chase is an autistic artist in early thirties who loves to draw trees. He has great knowledge of trees, on their scientific name, their common name and their characteristic. Despite having autism, to me Chase has the most pure heart amongst all of them. He sees people through relating them to trees. He can tell Porta and Zack are not good people and they will harm Promise. And he loves Promise. He knew he was made for her. He risks himself trying to protect Promise.
The whole story reminded me about things happen for a reason. There are things meant for you and there are things not meant for you. But it seems like only Chase understands about this. I like his heart, his clear mind, and his intelligent. As if he has a special gift to see things. I dislike Porta the most. She is a selfish mother and very self centered. She even goes as far as manipulating her son in order to get what she wants.
I like the way the author builds the characters and the plot. It requires us to read it with open mind and open heart. The ending is a little sad but I suppose it's the best for everyone. It is a beautiful story in its own way.
I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Note: I receive the review copy of this book from the publisher via Net Gallery. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Review Date: 11 July 2011
Review URL: http://littlemermybooks.blogspot.com/2011/07/promises-she-keeps-by-erin-healy.html
Summary:
This book has been sitting on my to-read list for quite a few months, but I was in a mood to read it. Finally I picked it up last week, and I feel as if I have found a jewel. I think I will regret if I have missed it. It is different comparing to most other fiction books that I have read. Since most of the main characters in this book are artists, together with the storyline it makes me feel a little "abstract". Some part of the story is a bit eerie, and yet makes me feel calm.
Promise is a talented young singer with terminal illness. Despite her health condition, she never giving up hope in her life and she wants to leave her name behind after she dies. For she knows she would die at young age, she wants to be remembered.
Porta is an aging sorceress who seeks immortality. She just moved into the town where Promise is staying and opens an art gallery there. She believes the art has power to speak into a life and can heal a soul.
When Promise survives a series of freak accidents, all involving Zack, Porta believes that Promise may hold the key to eternal life. Zack is an art student in the university that Promise is studying in. He's also Porta's son. However he does not have good relationship with Porta.
Chase is an autistic artist in early thirties who loves to draw trees. He has great knowledge of trees, on their scientific name, their common name and their characteristic. Despite having autism, to me Chase has the most pure heart amongst all of them. He sees people through relating them to trees. He can tell Porta and Zack are not good people and they will harm Promise. And he loves Promise. He knew he was made for her. He risks himself trying to protect Promise.
The whole story reminded me about things happen for a reason. There are things meant for you and there are things not meant for you. But it seems like only Chase understands about this. I like his heart, his clear mind, and his intelligent. As if he has a special gift to see things. I dislike Porta the most. She is a selfish mother and very self centered. She even goes as far as manipulating her son in order to get what she wants.
I like the way the author builds the characters and the plot. It requires us to read it with open mind and open heart. The ending is a little sad but I suppose it's the best for everyone. It is a beautiful story in its own way.
I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Note: I receive the review copy of this book from the publisher via Net Gallery. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
March 4, 2011
The Promises She Keeps was a very unique story and caught my attention nearly from the get-go. It was written by Erin Healy, which was one of the reasons I wanted to read it. Healy is the editor of one of my favorite authors - Ted Dekker - and also has co-authored several books with him. I was hoping to find her writing just as gripping and action filled as Dekkers, and must admit I was let down a little. The book was still great, but it wasn't to be compared with Dekkers. But that is not a downer, as she is her own author, but if you were looking to read her books for the same reason I did, I would suggest rethinking it.
The story was very...interesting. It was not normal and I've never read a book like it. By reading the synopsis, I knew I would find the main characters intriguing. Chase was autistic, Promise had Cystic Fibrosis, and Porta was a witch - all unique characters that have an explorable background that you'll want to dive into. Chase intrigued me the most. I have a friend who is autistic(and, by the way, is just about the coolest kid alive) and anticipated reading about Chase's life. In this area, Healy did well. I connected with Chase and fell in love with his way of thinking - outlandish to the common person, but prodigious to the reader who can see into his life.
Promise was a slight disappointment for me. She seemed to only care about getting her name heard and being remembered for something before she died. It kinda annoyed me at times how much she wanted to be heard, but that's just me. It didn't have a huge bearing on the story; just kind irked me a bit.
Porta...now she was quite a character. Wonderfully written - exactly what I'd expect from a real sorceress these days. She was selfish, caring nothing for others, and full of ridiculous ideas that should have put her in the insane asylum. ;) Thought I can't necessarily say I liked her because of the evil character she was, I still found her well written and perfectly described.
I think the character I connected with most in this book was Zack, who is just this kid who doesn't really know what he's doing in life. I won't say much about him, as it may ruin some of the book, but let's just say I felt compassion for him a lot, as did Promise.
This book was very clean. The only think I really need to mention is the fact that Porta is a witch and calls on goddesses and spirits and all that weird stuff. It may be a bit too much for young readers who aren't grounded in their faith.
All around, this book was fairly good. I found some of the ideas Healy portrayed a bit strange, but I still managed to make it to the last page and close the book, contented.
The story was very...interesting. It was not normal and I've never read a book like it. By reading the synopsis, I knew I would find the main characters intriguing. Chase was autistic, Promise had Cystic Fibrosis, and Porta was a witch - all unique characters that have an explorable background that you'll want to dive into. Chase intrigued me the most. I have a friend who is autistic(and, by the way, is just about the coolest kid alive) and anticipated reading about Chase's life. In this area, Healy did well. I connected with Chase and fell in love with his way of thinking - outlandish to the common person, but prodigious to the reader who can see into his life.
Promise was a slight disappointment for me. She seemed to only care about getting her name heard and being remembered for something before she died. It kinda annoyed me at times how much she wanted to be heard, but that's just me. It didn't have a huge bearing on the story; just kind irked me a bit.
Porta...now she was quite a character. Wonderfully written - exactly what I'd expect from a real sorceress these days. She was selfish, caring nothing for others, and full of ridiculous ideas that should have put her in the insane asylum. ;) Thought I can't necessarily say I liked her because of the evil character she was, I still found her well written and perfectly described.
I think the character I connected with most in this book was Zack, who is just this kid who doesn't really know what he's doing in life. I won't say much about him, as it may ruin some of the book, but let's just say I felt compassion for him a lot, as did Promise.
This book was very clean. The only think I really need to mention is the fact that Porta is a witch and calls on goddesses and spirits and all that weird stuff. It may be a bit too much for young readers who aren't grounded in their faith.
All around, this book was fairly good. I found some of the ideas Healy portrayed a bit strange, but I still managed to make it to the last page and close the book, contented.
March 2, 2011
This was one of those books that was slow to make sense. It was hard to get into and then I wasn't quite sure I knew exactly where it was going - or agreed with it. There were some shining moments and well drawn characters... but I always feel the true test of a book is if I get so caught up in it that I believe in the characters and the story as if they were real people and events. I never got there with this one.
The first problem was the premise that Promise - who is sick with Cystic Fibrosis - suddenly gets better and survives all these near fatal accidents, but only until she is around Porta, a witch. The accidents make her feel better than ever before and they all occur around her son (a drug addict that she is drawn to) and neither of them have any faith in God at all. In fact, I didn't notice any real redemptive message in the book at all. Sacrificial love, innocence, sharing... but no real redemption.
Only Chase (the autistic man) shows any signs of faith and his sister questions his understanding of it. Many times it appears he gets messages about what's going to happen from his father (who is dead). This may be the author's way of having God speak to Chase, but that isn't discussed or the way he seems to view it. More of a sci-fi/magical feel comes across as his drawing utensils rattle by themselves in their cans and "call to him" to tell him what to draw. Nevertheless, he does understand biblical principles and try and share them with others through his drawings of trees.
The other problem is Chase's claim to love Promise, romantically. He first claims this when he hasn't even met her. He says that he loves everyone he gives his pictures to and I wish they would have left his feelings for Promise in this same category because it just doesn't make sense that he would have this romantic love for her (specially since it isn't returned - he makes her uncomfortable) with no real personal contact with her. It felt more like a stalker relationship after that instead of something good and with any promise for a future.
The ending felt rushed and unsatisfying. I felt like the story had potential, but took some wrong turns. It still is a very haunting and unique novel. I haven't read anything quite like it. I want to thank the people at Thomas Nelson for providing my copy in exchange for my honest review.
The first problem was the premise that Promise - who is sick with Cystic Fibrosis - suddenly gets better and survives all these near fatal accidents, but only until she is around Porta, a witch. The accidents make her feel better than ever before and they all occur around her son (a drug addict that she is drawn to) and neither of them have any faith in God at all. In fact, I didn't notice any real redemptive message in the book at all. Sacrificial love, innocence, sharing... but no real redemption.
Only Chase (the autistic man) shows any signs of faith and his sister questions his understanding of it. Many times it appears he gets messages about what's going to happen from his father (who is dead). This may be the author's way of having God speak to Chase, but that isn't discussed or the way he seems to view it. More of a sci-fi/magical feel comes across as his drawing utensils rattle by themselves in their cans and "call to him" to tell him what to draw. Nevertheless, he does understand biblical principles and try and share them with others through his drawings of trees.
The other problem is Chase's claim to love Promise, romantically. He first claims this when he hasn't even met her. He says that he loves everyone he gives his pictures to and I wish they would have left his feelings for Promise in this same category because it just doesn't make sense that he would have this romantic love for her (specially since it isn't returned - he makes her uncomfortable) with no real personal contact with her. It felt more like a stalker relationship after that instead of something good and with any promise for a future.
The ending felt rushed and unsatisfying. I felt like the story had potential, but took some wrong turns. It still is a very haunting and unique novel. I haven't read anything quite like it. I want to thank the people at Thomas Nelson for providing my copy in exchange for my honest review.
June 8, 2011
When I received an email from Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists about review The Promises She Keeps, I was intrigued and agreed to review it. Neither the email or the back blurb prepared me for this book. First, I was expecting Christian Fiction and second I was expecting something more suspense and romance. There is some romantic love but I didn’t find it very suspenseful.
The plot revolves around Promises and how Porta quest for eternal life effects a lot of people. Some whom have never met. I liked the basic plot, it was interesting by itself. Since this was a Christian fiction novel there was a struggle between Porta's occult religious views and Chases Christian beliefs. There was some overt religious references in the books, quote from scripture and such, but it didn't distracted me from the story for the most part. Towards the end there was a section dealing with Chases twin sister, Chelsea, and his mentor, Wes, that did pull me out of the story a little.
The back cover mentions eternal love, and Chase falling in love with Promise. Chase falls in love with Promise after meeting her once. During the whole story Chase and Promise interact maybe five times and because of his autism those meetings are awkward. I don't understand how he fell in love with her but Chase is the character that I found it the hardest to connect with. I don't know if this was the authors, Erin Healy, attention but Chase fell flat for me especially since his character was so essential to the storyline.
Promises character, also didn't connect with me. I found her to be sometimes selfish and I wasn't sympathetic to her struggle, illness or desire for fame. The characters that I did like and could connect to were minor characters. Chelsea and Wes, their subplot and their feelings towards Chase grabbed me and had my attention. I also like Zack, he was one of the more three dimensional characters in the story. I think he should have been mention on the back cover, because I honestly don't see how the storyline could have progressed without him.
Healy's writing style was a little hard to get use to. The story seemed to go back and forth between realism and magical realism. I didn't find the book that engaging, in fact it took me months to finish it. I would sit it down and completely forget about for weeks at a time.
The plot revolves around Promises and how Porta quest for eternal life effects a lot of people. Some whom have never met. I liked the basic plot, it was interesting by itself. Since this was a Christian fiction novel there was a struggle between Porta's occult religious views and Chases Christian beliefs. There was some overt religious references in the books, quote from scripture and such, but it didn't distracted me from the story for the most part. Towards the end there was a section dealing with Chases twin sister, Chelsea, and his mentor, Wes, that did pull me out of the story a little.
The back cover mentions eternal love, and Chase falling in love with Promise. Chase falls in love with Promise after meeting her once. During the whole story Chase and Promise interact maybe five times and because of his autism those meetings are awkward. I don't understand how he fell in love with her but Chase is the character that I found it the hardest to connect with. I don't know if this was the authors, Erin Healy, attention but Chase fell flat for me especially since his character was so essential to the storyline.
Promises character, also didn't connect with me. I found her to be sometimes selfish and I wasn't sympathetic to her struggle, illness or desire for fame. The characters that I did like and could connect to were minor characters. Chelsea and Wes, their subplot and their feelings towards Chase grabbed me and had my attention. I also like Zack, he was one of the more three dimensional characters in the story. I think he should have been mention on the back cover, because I honestly don't see how the storyline could have progressed without him.
Healy's writing style was a little hard to get use to. The story seemed to go back and forth between realism and magical realism. I didn't find the book that engaging, in fact it took me months to finish it. I would sit it down and completely forget about for weeks at a time.
January 4, 2012
When I saw all of the reviews on this book, I thought I was in for a thrilling, captavating story that would keep me turning the pages. While I did read it within 2 days, I only kept turning the pages to be done with the book.
The book is told from multiple perspectives. There is Promise, a Cystic Fibrosis patient, who has a mission of leaving behind a legacy for herself through fame and her name in lights. Chase, a young adult, who has a fascination with trees and drawing, living with his twin sister. Porta, a weird 'witch' who is searching for immortality, and her son, Zach. He seems to be the center of Promise's freak accidents that leave his mom thinking Promise has the key to eternal life.
I admit, some parts in the beginning were great; it's what got me through the first 100 or so pages. After that, I got bored with it. It seemed like the story could have been much shorter than what the author made it out to be. I'm not saying it's a horrible read; it's quick and original but the ending does really throw you off. I felt dissatisfied by the end of it, wishing that the author had chose a different scenerio for the closing chapter.
I loved Chase's character. I have such a soft spot for him. I would look forward to the chapters that were in his point of view. Erin Healy created such an innocent person in Chase; quirky but innocent. The descriptions of his pictures, especially the one for Promise, really made me smile. Most of the Christian premise of the book comes from him, however it is definitely not shoved down your throat by any means. Subtle enough just to catch your attention.
By the end of the book, I didn't get the warm happy feeling that I really like to get after reading a novel that has such a good basis for a great plot, climax, and resolution. It fell flat of my expectations. The thing that is lingering in my mind is Chase; he is an important character, but not the 'main' character that the chaos revolves around. I would have absolutely adored the book if he was involved more.
The book is told from multiple perspectives. There is Promise, a Cystic Fibrosis patient, who has a mission of leaving behind a legacy for herself through fame and her name in lights. Chase, a young adult, who has a fascination with trees and drawing, living with his twin sister. Porta, a weird 'witch' who is searching for immortality, and her son, Zach. He seems to be the center of Promise's freak accidents that leave his mom thinking Promise has the key to eternal life.
I admit, some parts in the beginning were great; it's what got me through the first 100 or so pages. After that, I got bored with it. It seemed like the story could have been much shorter than what the author made it out to be. I'm not saying it's a horrible read; it's quick and original but the ending does really throw you off. I felt dissatisfied by the end of it, wishing that the author had chose a different scenerio for the closing chapter.
I loved Chase's character. I have such a soft spot for him. I would look forward to the chapters that were in his point of view. Erin Healy created such an innocent person in Chase; quirky but innocent. The descriptions of his pictures, especially the one for Promise, really made me smile. Most of the Christian premise of the book comes from him, however it is definitely not shoved down your throat by any means. Subtle enough just to catch your attention.
By the end of the book, I didn't get the warm happy feeling that I really like to get after reading a novel that has such a good basis for a great plot, climax, and resolution. It fell flat of my expectations. The thing that is lingering in my mind is Chase; he is an important character, but not the 'main' character that the chaos revolves around. I would have absolutely adored the book if he was involved more.
February 26, 2011
The Promises She Keeps is a deeply compelling story about love and the decisions we make about what we do with the time we have in this life. The back of the book almost makes it sound like a romance, but instead the novel delves into the power of love as a whole, and what it means for our society. The novel tells the story of a young woman with cystic fibrosis, and the people who influence her in her quest to be eternally remembered after she dies.
The book is very suspenseful, and I liked the mystery elements that were included. Promise, the heroine, survives some accidents that really should have been fatal. These events were very thought-provoking as I tried to reason why Promise was able to survive. Chase, another character, often quotes well-chosen Bible verses that only piqued my interest in Promise's story. The antagonist, Porta, is a practicing witch who serves to counter Chase's argument that love is the most powerful concept of all. The dichotomy of these two characters is, in my opinion, what drives the book and makes it so fascinating.
Without giving away any spoilers, the ending of the book is so full of suspense and is so well-timed that I couldn't put it down.
The writing was phenomenal , the message was deeply inspiring, and the book was just simply a good read. You don't have to be a Christian to enjoy it, either. The author doesn't appear to be trying to convert anyone. The book carries with it a message that could be appreciated by anyone.
Frankly, this is a superb book that deserves a wide audience.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
The book is very suspenseful, and I liked the mystery elements that were included. Promise, the heroine, survives some accidents that really should have been fatal. These events were very thought-provoking as I tried to reason why Promise was able to survive. Chase, another character, often quotes well-chosen Bible verses that only piqued my interest in Promise's story. The antagonist, Porta, is a practicing witch who serves to counter Chase's argument that love is the most powerful concept of all. The dichotomy of these two characters is, in my opinion, what drives the book and makes it so fascinating.
Without giving away any spoilers, the ending of the book is so full of suspense and is so well-timed that I couldn't put it down.
The writing was phenomenal , the message was deeply inspiring, and the book was just simply a good read. You don't have to be a Christian to enjoy it, either. The author doesn't appear to be trying to convert anyone. The book carries with it a message that could be appreciated by anyone.
Frankly, this is a superb book that deserves a wide audience.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
February 19, 2018
Promise has a terminal disease and wants so much to live her life while she can. She doesn't want regrets or could have beens..she wants to live, but not recklessly.
Enter Zack...a man that doesn't want to live, just exist or self-distruct and seems to have bad luck where ever he is in the presence of Promise. Though he is really in love with her and is doing all he can to do just the opposite.
Chase is a autistic man that sees life through life. He loves unconditionally, especially Promise. He has visions of those around him and warns them through his art. He does all he can to protect Promise, but he has his work cut out for him because Porta has no regard for Promise, Zack, or Chase except for the fact that they keep getting in the way of her "plans". I see a "witch" trying to exploit her "powers" to gain immortality for personal gain, with no respect for anyone accept herself.
This is a little hard to follow with so many characters, but entwined so much that they have to be developed in the story. I really liked that family and friends of the character were accepting for who they each were individually without trying to project their personal fears onto each "victim". Chase's sister loves her brother, but doesn't try to put him in a bubble because of his disabilities. Promises' parents support all her decisions to live rather than saying "why bother" I found this very inspiring and uplifting because in my personal experience this has not always been the case.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”(l
Enter Zack...a man that doesn't want to live, just exist or self-distruct and seems to have bad luck where ever he is in the presence of Promise. Though he is really in love with her and is doing all he can to do just the opposite.
Chase is a autistic man that sees life through life. He loves unconditionally, especially Promise. He has visions of those around him and warns them through his art. He does all he can to protect Promise, but he has his work cut out for him because Porta has no regard for Promise, Zack, or Chase except for the fact that they keep getting in the way of her "plans". I see a "witch" trying to exploit her "powers" to gain immortality for personal gain, with no respect for anyone accept herself.
This is a little hard to follow with so many characters, but entwined so much that they have to be developed in the story. I really liked that family and friends of the character were accepting for who they each were individually without trying to project their personal fears onto each "victim". Chase's sister loves her brother, but doesn't try to put him in a bubble because of his disabilities. Promises' parents support all her decisions to live rather than saying "why bother" I found this very inspiring and uplifting because in my personal experience this has not always been the case.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”(l
March 18, 2011
Promise is ok with the fact she’ll die young; she just wants to make sure she’s not forgotten when it happens. She aspires to be a singer, a feat not normally heard of for someone with cystic fibrosis.
Chase draws trees. Lots of trees. He says he sees people as trees and hands out these pictures when he feels prompted. His twin sister Chelsea has put her life on hold to care for her autistic brother. But then the meets Promise and tries to warn her of those who wish her harm.
Porta has been told she will die within “five weeks of five days” – this makes her quest for immortality that much more vital. She knows there is one who will be able to aid in her search and when she sees a picture of Promise, she believes the gods have shown her favor.
All three people’s paths will cross in ways they least expect until they’re become tangled together. Porta will stop at nothing to find the key to immortality. She believes Promise is that key and isn’t above murder in order to prove it. Chase tells Promise he loves her and though she doesn’t return the sentiment, he thinks she feels the same way. Promise doesn’t understand why she’s had a handful of near-death experiences of late or why she feels better than she has in a long time. Can she trust Porta or will confiding in her prove to be a fatal mistake?
I read Healy’s first solo novel, Never Let You Go, last fall and though wasn’t overly impressed, still thought it an ok read. I was hoping for something more with this book. From the first few pages, I could tell it was going to be better than her first. I was immediately pulled in, not knowing how the three main characters stories would intertwine. Though there were parts I felt didn’t quite fit with the rest of the story or could have just been taken out altogether, I enjoyed the book and quickly read the 329 pages in two days.
Chase draws trees. Lots of trees. He says he sees people as trees and hands out these pictures when he feels prompted. His twin sister Chelsea has put her life on hold to care for her autistic brother. But then the meets Promise and tries to warn her of those who wish her harm.
Porta has been told she will die within “five weeks of five days” – this makes her quest for immortality that much more vital. She knows there is one who will be able to aid in her search and when she sees a picture of Promise, she believes the gods have shown her favor.
All three people’s paths will cross in ways they least expect until they’re become tangled together. Porta will stop at nothing to find the key to immortality. She believes Promise is that key and isn’t above murder in order to prove it. Chase tells Promise he loves her and though she doesn’t return the sentiment, he thinks she feels the same way. Promise doesn’t understand why she’s had a handful of near-death experiences of late or why she feels better than she has in a long time. Can she trust Porta or will confiding in her prove to be a fatal mistake?
I read Healy’s first solo novel, Never Let You Go, last fall and though wasn’t overly impressed, still thought it an ok read. I was hoping for something more with this book. From the first few pages, I could tell it was going to be better than her first. I was immediately pulled in, not knowing how the three main characters stories would intertwine. Though there were parts I felt didn’t quite fit with the rest of the story or could have just been taken out altogether, I enjoyed the book and quickly read the 329 pages in two days.
February 22, 2012
I have had this book for over about a year. It got lost amongst my books when I moved and so I currently found it I felt I should read and finish so I could give a long overdue review. So here we go.
The Promises She Keeps is a story about a 22 year old girl named Promise, she was born with Cystic Fibrosis, she longs to be a famous singer so that she doesn't just fade away once she is gone. She decides to help out a student with an art piece, Zack, which ends with her death defying fall from a cliff. It causes a chain of events she never could have imagined. The incidents and months that follow help to show her that fame isn't everything, and it's not the only way to make an impact on the world. Only one woman can possibly put a wrench in her plans, Porta, an aging witch out to find her own immortality.
This book was hard to put down, even if it was frustrating at the beginning. Not a bad frustrating though. I felt that I didn't know what was going, what the underling threat was. Then I reminded myself that Erin Healy has worked with the likes of Ted Dekker and I just needed to set aside trying to fit any of the story into a box.
This story would be great for teenagers and up to adults. It's got a very uplifting message which I think is much needed in this day and age.
I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com http://BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa... : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
The Promises She Keeps is a story about a 22 year old girl named Promise, she was born with Cystic Fibrosis, she longs to be a famous singer so that she doesn't just fade away once she is gone. She decides to help out a student with an art piece, Zack, which ends with her death defying fall from a cliff. It causes a chain of events she never could have imagined. The incidents and months that follow help to show her that fame isn't everything, and it's not the only way to make an impact on the world. Only one woman can possibly put a wrench in her plans, Porta, an aging witch out to find her own immortality.
This book was hard to put down, even if it was frustrating at the beginning. Not a bad frustrating though. I felt that I didn't know what was going, what the underling threat was. Then I reminded myself that Erin Healy has worked with the likes of Ted Dekker and I just needed to set aside trying to fit any of the story into a box.
This story would be great for teenagers and up to adults. It's got a very uplifting message which I think is much needed in this day and age.
I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com http://BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa... : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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