The Dancing Priest by Glynn Young is an excellent example of its genre, Christian Fiction. As a reader mostly of secular literature, I was somewhat wary about approaching this novel. In addition, I have to admit that the excessive focus on the characters and their back stories in the early couple of chapters seemed to be setting the scene for a patchy story. But this was just an early glitch. Once the author has his characters established, the story becomes compelling and absorbing.
Glynn Young has an easy writing style and a gift for story telling that raises the novel above its genre. Add interesting, well-developed characters, a romance that has as much grief as joy, fascinating locations all over the world – Edinburgh, London, Athens, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and San Francisco – and it is no surprise that most readers have difficulty putting the book down.
Young writes enthusiastically about Michael’s advancement to the priesthood, making the events and elements of priestly formation seem credible, but I would have to question the accuracy of some of the details. However, since most people would probably never notice these things, and since they have no negative impact on the story, I would simply be prepared to let these minor errors go.
That said, this is a story of twists and turns, a story of passion, love, faith and friendship, a story with strongly evangelical undertones that must appeal to the Christian heart, and an ending that some might guess at but will not fully intuit until they have read to the end to see how all falls into place.
In some ways, I would have to wonder about the appeal of this book to the general reader, but within its own genre, Christian Fiction, it has to be right up there. For readers who want a gentle story with an exciting sports element, travel, to exotic locations, and a heart-stirring romance, buy The Dancing priest. You won’t regret it.