Infidel

The Lost Books #2

by Ted Dekker

From Chosen to Traitor? After being stretched to their limits, the four heroic young Forest Guard recruits-Johnis, Silvie, Billos, and Darsal-face new dangers on their mission to secure the seven lost Books of History. Celebrated as a hero, Johnis's world is shattered when he learns that his mother may not be dead as presumed but could be living as a slave to the Horde. Throwing caution to the wind, he rushes to her rescue. But this is precisely what the Horde has planned. Now he will face a choice between Silvie, whom he is quickly falling for, and his sworn duty to protect the Forest Dwellers. How can he save those he loves without betraying his own people? In the end, one will be revealed as the Infidel. And nothing will be the same for the remaining Chosen.

Genres: Fantasy, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Christian, Adventure, Science Fiction

245 pages, Hardcover

First published December 15, 2007

About the author

Ted Dekker is known for novels that combine adrenaline-laced stories with unexpected plot twists, unforgettable characters, and incredible confrontations between good and evil. Ted lives in Austin with his wife LeeAnn and their four children.

Reviews

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

I definitely enjoyed Infidel a lot more than Chosen, which is the first book in the series. You can really tell that these books are written for a YA audience, but that doesn't make them not worth your time.

They aren't as well written as the Circle Trilogy, but one thing I do enjoy about these books is that we get to explore the world through the eyes of other characters.

Primarily, you experience it through the main four teenage characters in the Forest Guard. Thomas Hunter returns as a secondary character again, as well as a point of view from the Horde, and you get more insight into both of those backstories this time around.

In Chosen, I really wasn't too fond of the main characters, specifically Johnis, Billos, and Darsal. Some of the things they say tend to be really impulsive and somewhat immature. But while they can whine and be obnoxious at times, they felt better developed in Infidel, and all of them seem to mature throughout each book so far.

If you're reading or have read most of Ted Dekker's books (at least the ones that tie in with the Books of History Chronicles), this series is pretty heavily tied in with the larger concept he has written, and in addition to answering some of the main questions about the BoHC, there's a lot of backstory that is somewhat interesting as well.

Personally, I felt like Infidel provided better closure than Chosen did, at least on the events that took place within the book. The pacing definitely improved, and while it ends somewhat on a cliffhanger, it's really just setting it up for the next book in the series.

I'm definitely looking forward to reading Renegade next, and I'm hoping they continue to get better with each entry.

[Kassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

THis books was the first books to hit me hard. The ending when Karas saved Johnis he was brought before the court in the Forrest of Middle. And he said he loved Kara as he did his own sister because she reminded him so much like her. He loved a Scab. That is like Jesus loving me, a sinner. Johnis knelt down so that he was at eye level with her and told her, "You saved my life. And now I owe you mine." That was the best part of the whole book. AT LEAST FOR ME. I was moved by the love Johnis had for a Scab. A person with a disease that smelled of rotten eggs and dead skin that is gray and just disgusting. But she saved him and then he saved her! That is exactly how Jesus is. He obviously saves us not us save him, but you catch my drift. This book was amazing. it won't dissappoint.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Johnis learns that his mother is enslaved by the Horde. He makes a foolish but daring attempt to rescue her.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐
Better than the first book, characters are well develop, storyline very good.

[Joshua Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ted Dekker's Infidel, the second book in the Lost Books prequel to the Circle Series is truly amazing. Through this book, Ted Dekker expands the world of Other Earth and all of its complexities from the nature of the Forest Guard and the Horde; to even humanizing the Horde and those that are apart of it to the point that you feel pity for them.

Taking many cues from the Bible and its stories of Heaven, Hell, and the sin of humanity, the story also shows how several of its themes, addressed early on in the story are progressing, particularly the one about power and how, the more someone obsesses about it, the more intoxicating it becomes.

Overall, I'd give Ted Dekker's Infidel a 10/10 for its use of expanded worldbuilding, character development, and themes within the story.

[Mason Soerens · Rating 4 out of 5]

PERSONAL RESPONSE

I really enjoyed this book. It was very well put together and easy to read. I stumbled on a few names and other words throughout the book, but all in all, it was a great read. From the bending plot, to just how the author describes the setting, it just brought me in and held me there.

PLOT

The story begins with the main character Johnis, returning home from an astounding victory over The Horde. Johnis is a hero among his people. A message is then sent that a ring has been found on the battlefield from which Johnis had just left victorious. When Johnis inspected the ring, he realizes that it is his mother's ring. He had thought his mother was dead after being captured by The Horde many months beforehand, but now he knows she’s alive. Johnis immediately takes action and against the orders of Thomas and Michal leads 500 of the Third Fighting Group after The Horde army to go and rescue his mother. Johnis quickly realizes that they were trapped and his mother's ring was the bait. The Horde had been waiting for an attack and the Third Fighting Group was surrounded before Johnis knew they were there. When Johnis had fallen in defeat he then devoted his time to save his mother. He risks his own life as well as his friends.

CHARACTERIZATION

Johnis begins the book as a “loyal hero that will do anything” says Thomas Hunter (the lead command of the Forest Guard). Johnis had just won an impossible battle against The Horde, and everyone considers him a hero. Johnis lost his mother to The Horde many months before the battle. When Johnis learns that his mother is actually alive though, things change. Johnis becomes level-headed and focussed solely on finding and rescuing his mother. Johnis foolishly led 500 fighters right into a Horde trap, in hopes to retrieve his mother. After Johnis had fallen in defeat he was seen as more of a traitor than a hero. Johnis seeks after his mother in Thrall and ends up getting Silvie captured. Johnis even turns Thomas over to The Horde to be tortured in return for his mother and Silvie. Once his plan had gone through, he then started to become more loyal as he had realized Thomas escaped being captured. For the next character, Silvie, she started the book as a fighter. She was mean and was dead set on avenging the deaths of her parents. At any given chance she would kill a Scab. She saw a lot of hope in Johnis and was glad to fight alongside him. She risked her life on numerous accounts in order to keep him by her. She always had felt weird around him, a good type of weird. It wasn't until near the end of the book, when Thomas asks, "What are you, in love?", is when she realizes that she truly is in love. She was in love with Johnis.

SETTING

This story takes place in a post-apocalyptic world, where a disease has broken out and divided civilization by those who are diseased and those who aren’t. Each group thinks that the other is diseased and they are not. The land is split up into separate sections, The Northern Forest, The Middle Forest, The Southern Forest, The Desert, and Thrall. Most of the main characters throughout the book belong to The Middle Forest, With some minor characters being from Thrall. Thrall being The Hordes central city.

RECOMMENDATIONS

I really enjoyed this book, and would highly recommend it. It is an easy book to read and I’d have to say it is a high school level reading. It did not have a specific gender appeal because there were parts of this book that appeals to both males and females. In conclusion, this is a great book for high schoolers.

[Rylee Laird · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am an Infidel to Ted Dekker’s Books!!

After just finishing Ted Dekker’s Infidel, I feel the need to go on a book binge of this series. In Infidel, Johnis continues his mission to find the lost books. But there is a little set-back when he finds that someone has unexpectedly reappeared in his life. This book follows Johnis and Silvie as they go into the desert on an adventure to rescue this person.

Dekker really has gotten me hooked. I nervously continued reading the Lost Book series, because most of the time the first book is the best (kind of like the movies). This was not the case with Dekker. I became even more involved with this story than the last with Dekker’s descriptive way of showing the story instead of telling. As Johnis is making more decisions that unravel the mess he is in, the more I find myself wanting to turn the page. Dekker also loves to keep you guessing, and nothing is predictable. I actually thought something really bad would happen, but Dekker cleverly found a way to make everything “alright.” Definitely found my new favorite author!!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

May Contain Some Minor Spoilers
I read Chosen several years ago because the Christian bookstore had it on sale for $2.50. That was not a deal I was about to pass up. Unfortunately, the other books in the series remained an uncompromising $15 and my library didn’t have any of them.
I was also a basically broke highschooler.
And so I never read Infidel. I eventually read some of the Circle series and gathered a few books that way, but the The Lost Books remained a rather unsettled question until today (or more precisely, Tuesday) when I decided to re-read Chosen and check out Infidel.
It was surprisingly enjoyable. I prefer Frank Peretti to Ted Dekker, but I like Dekker’s writing. I like the world he creates. I like the connecting of the books. If one injustice has been done to him, though, it is how touted he is (at least, in the Christian circles) as a Christian writer. He has grasped what C.S. Lewis knew, that you don’t have to mention God or Jesus for a book to reveal Spiritual truths. Thus, a unique, and frustrating, parallel develops for reader. On the one hand, I’m reading The Lost Books with the mindset that this is a Christian writer who is, in his own way, recreating a lot of the Christian elements in another world. It’s “our world” re-experiencing itself in 4000 years or some such thing. It is not precisely a “Christian” book, though. No more than “Narnia”. That’s the problem that first strikes me. There is nothing on the book that labels it “religious.” It is simply the culture and hype that has built up around it. I found myself avidly examining the book for spiritual analogies/ties, instead of enjoying it as a good read. Taking it with the same, unassuming mindset I approach most books with would have been much more productive. In the big picture though, this is neither here nor there.
The plot was overall good, though often felt rushed. Johnis plunges after his mother and impulsively leads and army and then impetuously trusts a fellow warrior to return to the desert. Spontaneously, precipitately, hastily…I hope you get the picture. It was very much a book caught into between other books. While it had a plot of its own right, the real aim was to gather another book so that the next adventure can begin.
As a side note, I loved Karas. Her character and the entire sacrifice surrounding her was just wonderful. I find myself doubting my initial conclusion that he isn't a Christian writer. Surely, such sacrifice and in your face love is worthy of title? Does that differ from Aslan's sacrifice? Is Narnia even a good book to use as a weighing mechanism? It’s moments like that in these books where my skepticism fades and I find myself genuinely enjoying and appreciating the plot. And then Dekker goes and throws something in…like a romance.
If there is anything worse than a woman writing romance, it is a man writing romance.
Scratch that.
If there is anything worse than a woman writing romance from a guy’s point of view….it is a man writing romance from a woman’s point of view. Either situation is incomplete. It is certainly not a fault only found in this book, and as far as badly written romance goes, it’s not that bad. But, but, but, but…this is my plea to all male authors out there! Do not attempt to write the thoughts of a woman falling in love without first consulting a female who has been in love…or at least grasping a faint idea of the way their mind works! There is a vast, chasmal difference.
The characters felt a lot more one-dimensional in this novel. Maybe it is simply because I’m reading this now older, a little bit more critical, but I felt there was very little depth put into Johnis’ friends. Silvie simply loves Johnis, and even glimpses into her “head” offer no real depth. Same with Billos and Darsal. They play their “parts” well, fill the positions they need to play, and otherwise are as unassuming and biddable as one could wish.
Perhaps what I found so distracting about Johnis was this sudden throwing in of his mother. Would a boy born and bred to revere and adore Thomas Hunter really abandon him like that? He is suddenly infused with all this emotion and the first book's build up about him using his “heart rather than his brawn” sort of makes no sense. His heart just leads him astray. His wild, unlikely emotions drag the plot around quite nicely, but seem almost out of character or at the very least entirely stupid. What good are the white bats anyway if no one bothers listening to them? * confused *
Overall, I enjoyed Infidel. It was an enjoyable story. It wasn’t a particularly good book. On the other hand, I do acknowledge that a vast part of the reason I feel that way is because I am a little more mature than the intended reading audience. It really is a pity I couldn’t get my hands on the rest of the series when I was fourteen, fifteen years old. I would have gotten a lot out of it. For younger readers, I recommend it wholeheartedly then. No Circle-Series experience necessary. For fans of Dekker’s other books, definitely worth it. For the average, more mature reader though, I’d recommend starting with Black or Showdown (though I must admit, I’ve never been able to quite get into Showdown).
Thankfully, I do not need to wait till May of 2008 to get my hands on the next book, so I shall look up Renegade and give it a go.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Josh Olds · Rating 4 out of 5]

No sooner than the four young heroes return home, having saved the Forests and accomplished their secret mission, that they are again hurtled on another adventure. Johnis’ mother, thought to be killed by the Horde just a few weeks prior is discovered to be alive, a Horde prisoner turned Horde herself. The impetuous Johnis decides to risk everything—even that which is not his—to get his mother back.

But this is precisely what the Horde General Martyn and Supreme Commander Qurong have expected. Lure Johnis with his mother; lure Thomas Hunter with Johnis. More than any other time in their short history, the Horde are beginning to strategize, and even have a Forest Guard traitor in their midst.

Johnis’ journey takes him and Silvie into the middle of Horde City into the very Temple of Teeleh himself where the Dark Priest known as Witch also seeks the Books of History. Dekker builds on the story began in Chosen, this time more deftly layering on symbolism and characterization. Johnis’ brash decisions have some realistic and sobering consequences that cause him to learn how to think with his heart, yet think rationally. Dekker’s portrayal of the Shataiki is the highlight of the book. Mostly symbolic in the Trilogy, the Shataiki of the Lost Books are Dekker’s most fleshed out characters .

Billos’ character also takes a turn for the interesting. The four decide to use the power of the Books—blood dropped on the cover of the books allows a person to see a vision of another world—to find Johnis’ mother, and Billos is soon addicted to the power. At first apathetic about their quest, his interest in the books soon works its way deeper than just fulfilling their duty.

Infidel retreads a theme that Dekker has written over and over, yet always in a fresh, new, and exciting way. Johnis has his perceptions of the Horde shattered when he goes into their city and begins to see them as humans with a disease rather than monsters meant to be killed. Then he meets the sweet 9-year-old daughter of the Dark Priest, Karas, who actually aids him in his quest to free his mother. So powerful and so compelling, the paradigm shifts in the lives of both Johnis and Karas make Infidel more than just a follow up to Chosen and the second chapter in a series. Instead, it gets to the heart of Dekker’s portrayal of redemptive history.

Infidel is more than just a solid YA novel. Dekker seems to have found his stride here, smoothing out pacing, deepening characterization, and throwing in some very interesting twists. Add onto that a clear-cut theme and a killer cliffhanger ending, and you’ve got a must-read novel. It still suffers from some YA shenanigans, character decisions seems impetuous and not well thought out, and the novel tries to be both episodic and tell an overarching story.

Given that The Lost Books run around half the length of Dekker’s general releases and that Chosen and Infidel were released simultaneously, I picture the two novels as one story. But however you look at it, one thing is clear: Dekker amps up the story with a page-turning plot and ends it with a shocker that’ll have you scrambling to get to the next book.

[Margaret Chind · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ending of this book is fabulous! I am looking forward to the next in the series, I also need to go back and read the other series. The fact that Dekker is capable of twisting so many books and different series together, is just fabulous. This story is an awesome telling of temptation and forgiveness. I can see many things below the surface and to hate the sin not the sinner is only one of them. This book is great for Teens, but also great for any other age. I highly recommend it. Although, I do suggest you start with Book one of this series, Chosen. It is not necessary to read the other series first, after all I haven't yet, but I plan to do so sometime soon. Happy reading!

[Jaime K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book didn't make me want more like "Chosen" did, but it was a great sequel nonetheless.

It's only been a day since the four new recruits to the Forest Guard have come back from fighting the Horde, but Johnis and Sylvie discover that Johnis' mother is still alive and is in the Horde's main city. The two follow Jaskov, leaving Billos jealous and aching to know more within the Books and Darsal just wanting them all to stick together. Johnis faces a few moral dilemmas:

- Is his loyalty to Thomas stronger than the love for his mother?
- Is the love of his friends and family going to outweigh the care he develops for an "infidel" child?
- What secrets are worth keeping, and for what purpose(s)?

Karas, the priest's daughter was my favourite new character, which I think Dekker wanted.

[Randy Tramp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Infidel by Ted Dekker
The Book:
Four teen heric and young Forest recruits – Johnis, Silvie, Billos and Darsal – are pressed to go on their mission to secure the seven lost Books of History.
From the heights of being a hero to being called a fool, Johnis rushes to save his mother. His heart overpowers his mind as he seeks to save those he loves.
My Thoughts:
This is the second book of the Lost Books series. I find myself wanting to be around the characters. Johnis is young and risks everything for love. He’s reckless and impatient. It makes a good tingling story. From danger to twists and turns, I keep the pages turning.
The ending was unlike I’d imagined. I’ll leave it at that, since I don’t want to spill any secrets. It was a very good read. I look forward to the next book.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Argh! Why does this happen? The story was moving along so well in Chosen but then in Infidel we veer off into convoluted action, inane dialog, and questionable motivations. I liked the additional backstory on Martyn and the Horde, but otherwise a frustrating book.

[Laura The Book Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy the weirdness of Ted Dekker

[Nate Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Infidel is book two in a continuation of the lost book series. It takes place in the same colorful and beautiful forest as in the first book in the series, Chosen. In this book, Infidel, you get a deeper view of the Horde. The Horde is a group that does not bathe in the life-giving waters of Elyon. This group of people has a very different perspective of the water of the forest. They hate the water and they believe that the forest dwellers have a disease, and not they themselves. Most of the Horde have cracked dry skin which they soothe with a milky, white paste instead of water. Their eyes are clouded over and their hair is locked or matted so it could be managed easier. Food is blander than in the colorful forest. Their emotional state is just as grey and bland as their lifestyle. Forest dwellers seem to have the ability to love in a more passionate way. It is hard to see the attraction of being a Horde if you are a forest dweller but as you read through the journey you will find some very attractive attributes that call even the forest dwellers from the waters of Elyon.

As the title suggests, there is a traitor in the midst of the forest guard, or should I say some traitors. There are traitors of the heart where a person has the appearance of being in the group but in their heart, they have committed themselves to another. There were traitors who lived for duty and to gain status. When it came down to a decision between gain and Elyon’s heart, they betrayed their oath to Elyon’s heart. One of the traitors said that, ‘The painful part is not the cracked skin or the burning of Elyon’s waters, but the switching back and forth.’ It seems like the line between the forest dwellers and the Horde, begin to blur at the edge of the forest and the first signs of the desert, when it comes to the matters of the heart.

The books. The battle for the lost books is still Teeleh’s goal. Teeleh and those who act on his behalf, are the enemies of the forest dwellers. Elyon’s waters are what keeps the people looking with the right perspective, but some still have the desires of Teeleh. Power, status, and other things that the books promise seem to drive people to do the most extreme things. For some, the books bring to the surface a deep betrayal, for others, it inspires bravery driven by true love.
In order for Teeleh to accomplish his ultimate goals, he needs Commander Thomas. Thomas’s commitment to Elyon gives him an advantage that few can figure out. They believe that he is half human, half Roush or spirit. Thomas’s life mission is to protect what is written and the heart of Elyon’s water. Thomas is learning new powers and mysteries to achieve his goals to protect and serve.

It was hard to divide people by the sword when you looked through one of the main character’s eyes. He came to a place where he had to consider the children. You began to realize, like Johnis, that the waters of Elyon were meant for everyone, especially the Horde. Elyon called them to keep and defend the forest, but the purpose of doing this reveals Elyon’s heart. This is what Johnis discovers indirectly. It’s a sweet revelation that makes the story pop with warm pleasure and satisfaction.

[Kyla Sixkiller · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Plot:

The novel commences with Johnis, a celebrated hero, returning home from a triumphant victory over The Horde. A mysterious message reveals that a ring, once belonging to his presumed-dead mother, has been discovered on the battlefield. Driven by hope and determination, Johnis defies orders and leads a contingent of 500 soldiers into a perilous mission to rescue his mother from the clutches of The Horde. However, the ring serves as a deadly lure, drawing Johnis and his troops into a carefully orchestrated ambush. Despite facing overwhelming odds and personal sacrifices, Johnis remains unwavering in his quest to reunite with his mother.

The Characterization:

Initially portrayed as a loyal and fearless hero, Johnis undergoes a profound transformation as the story progresses. The discovery of his mother's ring ignites a fierce determination within him, leading him to make impulsive and risky decisions. His reckless actions ultimately result in the loss of lives and the erosion of his reputation. However, through adversity, Johnis matures and demonstrates unwavering loyalty to his friends and family, even at great personal cost.

Silvie, a fierce and independent warrior, initially views Johnis with admiration and respect. As their journey unfolds, their bond deepens, and Silvie develops romantic feelings for him. She remains fiercely loyal to Johnis, risking her own life to protect him and support his mission.

The Setting:

The novel is set in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a disease that has divided civilization into two warring factions. The land is divided into distinct regions, each with its own unique challenges and dangers. The primary setting is the Middle Forest, where Johnis and his companions reside. However, the story also explores other regions, including Thrall, the Horde's central city.

Recommendations:

I highly recommend this captivating novel to high school students. Its engaging plot, well-developed characters, and thought-provoking themes make it a compelling read. The novel's universal appeal ensures that it will resonate with readers of all types.

[Autumn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fully convinced that someone told Dekker to write YA and he decided to make this as stupid and cliche and terribley written as possible because that's what he and/or his agent believe YA is. The plot is interesting enough that I read through this quickly, but the writing... oy. I'm sure if someone was watching me read this, they would have seen my eye begin twitching throughout the time spent with this book.

Also, this world is... racist. Racist isn't even the write word. But like how Lewis and Tolkien have people who criticize them for their not quite subtle racism, this is that but on steroids. There might be a redemption in the form of Johnis, so interested to see what else happens with this series solely to see if at some point in time the Forest Dwellers realize that refusing to see the Horde as humans in need of water is kind of, I dunno, cruel. And racist.

I'm also very confused as to how exactly the Forest Dwellers are more moral than the Horde since that is never actually explained in either this book or the last. It's just a claim and made tenuously at that considering that they play ball with a ball made of the hair of their enemies (ew), betray each other, and all act like spoiled five year olds. And, yeah, the Dark Priest is messed up, but that is one singular person and just-barely-not-genocidal tendencies of the Forest Dwellers does not have me convinced that they aren't also cold-blooded killers.

Which means that reading this so far is kinda like reading an analogy for why evangelical Christianity did not work for me because their claims didn't really make sense. And holy crap, is this book imbued with those messed up, wtf worldviews. So, not entirely sure what Elyon gives besides clean skin? And not being a Big Bad? Since his followers all kind of suck so far. And also stop being his followers if they don't have access to water?????

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

SPOILERS AHEAD!

Despite Johnis driving me crazy with all of his "thinking with his heart" business (that does incidentally lead to the deaths of 137 soldiers...) I really liked this book. If nothing else I found it highly amusing how Johnis seems to be able to do no wrong, but is rewarded for breaking the rules... kind of like Harry Potter... "oh you just broke 500 school rules, Harry, endangering your own life and the lives of your closest friends, but it all worked out in the end so here's 50,000 points for Gryffindor!" "Oh you just led 137 people to their deaths, Johnis, tricking a man of higher rank into thinking you had orders directly from supreme commander Thomas, and later you led Thomas to his own death in the desert but he survived and you did end up getting your mother back so we're gonna promote you to rank of major!" Guess that's what happens when you're the "chosen one."

In all seriousness, I really enjoyed the whole concept of the Horde city. It gives the reader a new perspective on their world at the same time as the characters. They become human, not so different from the forest dwellers. And also having Karas defect from the Horde to join the Forest Dwellers was also a new perspective on the idea of the Horde. Having read "Red" in the Circle Trilogy, I already know what ultimately happens with this idea, but it was interesting to see where it began.

[Hope Elias · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have such mixed feelings about this. On one hand I was just incredibly frustrated with Johnis for the first 6 chapters- longer than that but I at least had a better understanding of where he was coming from by ch 6. On the other hand I felt I learned a lot myself in recognizing my own shortcomings through Johnis’s and for that I am grateful. I also adored the last couple of chapters. I undoubtedly liked Chosen more than this one, but it was still a good continuation with a worthwhile ending in my opinion.

🚨 Spoilers ahead 🚨

Fave Chapter:
Chapter 26
This was unquestionably my favorite. For the sole reason that Karas appeared in the Council meeting as a forest dweller and Johnis expressed that she is chosen by Elyon just like a native born forest dweller.

Fave Character:
Karas
For the reason above as well as how adorable and brave she was! I mean 9 years old and she was that brave and innocent? That’s impressive.
Also technically Michal is still my favorite Circle character but he- again- had like zero page time. I did come to the conclusion that if people just LISTENED to Michal/Elyon then most of these problems wouldn’t exist and the books would be a lot shorter 🤣

Ship:
Sylvie x Johnis
They both expressed their love in this book and kissed at least once. Maybe more i’m not sure. I just haven’t gotten invested in them so im not real attached.
Darsal and Billos have some romance goin on too but they were on the back burner for the majority of the story and again, not super invested in their relationship.

[Cari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Infidel continues Ted Dekker's The Lost Books series, picking up right where Chosen ended. I liked this book slightly better than the first one, although I think I like the protagonist even less than I did before. He's just not believable to me as the the prophesied savior of Other Earth. He's supposed to be a lovable guy who "thinks with his heart", but he really comes off as more of a cocky, headstrong little punk. Luckily, there are other characters who compensate for what Johnnis lacks, such as the supreme commander of the Guard, Thomas Hunter (whose mysterious past intrigues me more than anything else in this story line) and Sylvie, the young female warrior who was chosen to join Johnnis on his quest to recover the lost Books of History and is strong, yet vulnerable in a way that draws me to her. In this second installment, we are introduced to another character that I'm also super into: a nine year old Horde girl named Karas who has a brave heart and tragic past.

The fact that these books are super easy (and quick) reads may inspire me to continue the series, but I'm certainly not dying to know what happens next. *shrugs*

[Emma McKee · Rating 3 out of 5]

So far, my impression of The Lost Books has been mediocre, for several reasons. Infidel was better than its predecessor, but what Chosen did correctly, Infidel was missing. The main character, Johnis, seems to have lost any good qualities he may have possessed in Chosen-- his wit, his sensibility, and his level-headedness. Instead we see a desperate and reckless teenager making bad choice after bad choice, after being warned several times, too. I was also unimpressed with Silvie. Rather than trying to talk Johnis out of it and help him see sense, she blindly follows him into his bad choices. And Darsal and Billos, despite them not being my favorite characters, were hardly there at all, and when they do appear it seems like an afterthought. Johnis' punishment at the end of the book felt entirely unsatisfactory as well. It almost seems like Dekker wrote himself into a hole and had to allow Johnis to get away without a punishment in order to get out and continue the story the way he'd planned. Overall, The Lost Books has not been my favorite read, but I'll keep going in hopes of it getting better.

[Isaac · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book more than Chosen, but I can't deny the merits that Chosen has to set up this sequel very well. I personally am over the "chosen one" trope so Chosen was satisfying, however the world building in the BOHC universe is so descriptive that even discrepancies don't rob the artistic ambition of Dekker so Chosen really did a great job to build this other part of the story that is Infidel. I enjoyed the humanization of the Horde by the change in Karas (even though I feel we should have been introduced to her character a bit earlier to truly have drawn close to her in her transformation) and the sights seen by the protagonist while in the Horde city. I know the book is quite fast paced but I would have enjoyed a little more exploration of the Horde city. Overall I was truly invested in these characters in the sequel to this really solid universe of the BOHC. Favorite part was the scene with Johnis coming back because of the danger Karas was in with the Dark Priest.

[R.F. Gammon · Rating 3 out of 5]

So... 3.5 stars again. I started out really disappointed in this book. Johnis... he just kind of made me crazy :P I didn't enjoy reading about him this time around, at least not at first.
(Also, Darsal was hardly in this book and she was one of my favorites last time, so... yeah.)
But I still love Silvie, and Karas was the sweetest little thing ever. I would do what Johnis did for her (ooh, cryptic. Mwah ha ha!)
Still not sure how I feel about Thomas. It's not like I don't trust him, but he and I have a very love hate relationship. Kind of like me and Haymitch. He's awesome, but at the same time... he makes me crazy. TBH, that sums up my feelings about most of these characters :P
I totally saw the twist coming, too. All the twists. I guess I've read too many books like this, but I was not surprised at all, which was disappointing.
But I will continue to book three! Because that ending? Killer. I do wish there had been a little more foreshadowing for it, but oh well. Moving on!

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

So now we know who the chosen one is (Book #1). There are 4 teenagers, two boys, and two girls. Johnis is the leader. Billos (I am anticipating bad things for this one !!! ), and two girls, Silva (who loves Johnis) and Darsal (who loves Billos).

Johnis finds out his mother is being held captive by the high priest of the Horde....so, like any teenager, he goes out to rescue her, not thinking past the next 10 mins on what could possibly go wrong.

Very Young Adult with a little touch of Thomas Hunter, who is just frustrated at the things these teens are doing.

The ending was not a surprise, but validated my understanding of who the actual Infidel is!

[Keagan Gadbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

From a continuation of "Chosen" I think that this book just made the story line get better. I love how in this book Ted Dekker threw in the horde city and made them more like humans and that we the readers got more insight on the horde and how the actually behave. This series just keeps getting better and better with a new quest every book and hardships the 4 of them have to face. Like "Chosen" Ted Dekker just kills it with the crazy in depth detail. The series "The Lost Books" is a great read that you should definitely not pass up the chance to read.

[Marianne Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Ted Dekker stories. This one was as good as any other. Meaning excellent. Infidel is book two of The Lost Books Series.

The Forest Guard has lost many fighters, and the Horde army seemingly continues to grow. Thomas Hunter, famous Commander of the Forest Guard is forced to lower the age for acceptance into the Guard to 16. Many are chosen to become warriors. Four of these, Johniss, Silvie, Dorsal and Billos are chosen by Thomas for a mission. This mission is to see if these four recruits have the wherewithal to become leaders.

And so the adventure begins...

[Jenna Tanner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book SOO much more than the first one. This one moved a lot faster than the first one and the plot was so much better. I love how Johnis is literally so dumb at the start of this book for no reason and Silvie always kept or tried to keep him straight in the head. Yes the writing in the book kinda irks me but it’s okay because this book was very interesting and made a little more sense. Decent book overall

[Sharon Hughson · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading book one, I expected this to be about the quest to retrieve the books.
But why would a series called THE LOST BOOKS be about the quest these four teenagers got to find the books of history before evil did?
It ended with a cliffhanger, so that was an automatic one-star deduction from me (meaning if you're okay with cliffhangers, consider this a four-star read).
Book three is checked out from the library...don't ask me why.

[Emily Mulcahy · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Infidel” picked up right where “Chosen” left off. However, I was a little disappointed at how the plot was very easily discernible left nothing for the imagination. Even the ending was predictable. I gave three stars because I truly enjoyed the first one and was excited to see my characters continue their quest but I was truly disappointed in book two - and there are four more so hopefully they pick up.