Eyes Wide Open

The Outlaw Chronicles #1

by Ted Dekker

Who am I?

My name is Christy Snow. I’m seventeen and I’m about to die. I’m buried in a coffin under tons of concrete. No one knows where I am. My heart sounds like a monster with clobber feet, running straight toward me. I’m lying on my back, soaked with sweat from the hair on my head to the soles of my feet. My hands and feet won’t stop shaking.

Some will say that I’m not really here. Some will say I’m delusional. Some will say that I don’t even exist. But who are they? I’m the one buried in a grave.

My name is Christy Snow. I’m seventeen. I’m about to die.

So who are you?

In a return to the kind of storytelling that made Showdown and Three unforgettable, Ted Dekker drags that question into the light with this modern day parable about how we see ourselves.

Humming with intensity and blindsided twists, Eyes Wide Open is raw adrenaline from the first page to the last pure escapism packed with inescapable truth. Not all is as it seems. Or is it? Strap yourself in for the ride of your life. Literally.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Thriller, Fantasy, Mystery, Young Adult

296 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 14, 2013

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

[Rexine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is addictive, it had me questioning my own sanity...could I be living an alternate reality as I'm hiding from the real world? I hope not, but yes these books had me questioning how can you really tell what's real?

Ted dekker is an amazing author and he certainly didn't disappoint with this series. It's hard to explain the story without giving anything away. What I love about his books is that they are christian but they don't follow the soft, lovey romance that most of this genre follows. His books are intoxicating, riveting, thrilling and hard to put down.

I heard a few complaints about the books being separate novellas and I'm really not sure why they are separate and not one book, but I wasn't bothered to pay for three books (the first is free). It turns out the overall cost is the same as the average kindle book anyway. The books are worth the buy, but I recommend buying them all before you start as you will want to go straight from one book to the next.

If you are new to ted dekker, I highly recommend red, white and black (not sure of the correct order), but they will take you on a wild ride to a new world.

[Celestria · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was such a weird book. I wanted answers and I couldn't put it down. But now that it's over... what in the heck 😂

[Becca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first two installments in this series of four, so much that I immediately purchased the next one via Kindle at the conclusion of each "episode". By the third part I was beginning to loose patience with the story, but was drawn in enough to want to finish. By the end I was so disappointed, I would have thrown it across the room had it not been on my i-pad! The compelling psychological drama the characters endure in 3/4 of the story is wrapped up by Christianese talk by a character so loosely drawn, with a weird name (the Outlaw) who is supposed to carry the story on into future novels. I feel a sense of betrayal as a reader--like I was given the best work and imagination of the author in the beginning to suck me in, and then the ending was slap-shod tacked on for the purpose of selling more books. Maybe had Dekker spent more time developing the Outlaw character and given us more resolution with the two main characters, the ending would have been more satisfying? Regardless, I am so displeased with how the story ended up, I have no interest in reading the following series.

[TJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I don't specifically give away any spoilers in this review, I generally talk about the thought provoking ending and theme of this book and it could cause you to know how the book will end to a degree. If you haven't read it & don't want to know anything, know I highly recommend this book & stop reading this review now. If you don't mind getting a kind of feeling of how this book turns out then read on.


Ted Dekker has always been one of my favorite authors. Many of his books are my favorite books ever. This book was such a poetic, amazing parable of how we as Christians look at life. The metaphors he uses are so enlightening to how we look at our own struggles in life & how Jesus is waiting, with us all the time for us to stop looking so shallowly at our circumstances, but to remember the truth. Remember who we are in Him. How many times do we forget that as it says in the Bible we look through a glass darkly, not seeing the way things actually are? The spirit is eternal, it's where God is, where we will continue to live forever. And what happens in the spirit realm is true reality because it's eternal. We as humans are limited by our physical five senses, yet the Bible says we wrestle not against flesh & blood & that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal- meaning our battles are not against each other or even those who set themselves up as our enemies or enemies of God. Our enemies are spiritual beings- satan & his armies & our weapons to fight them with are spiritual as well- God's word (the truth), and the Holy Spirit to give us discernment to see past the illusion.

So, not trying to give a sermon, but the ending of this book just really resonated with me & I thought Eyes Wide Open was probably one of the deepest, most revelational books Ted has written. In his authors notes he says:

"When I think back on my life, I see the many times that I've forgotten, not only who I am, but why I'm alive, what truly fulfills me. Like Christy, every time I forget, I suffer. Often deeply. During the darkest times, I wander through my dungeon wanting to claw my eyes out, if only to be able to see the beauty I know is there. I cry out for love in a world that seems, in that moment, to have gone dark... But in truth, I'm no different than any other person with a deep faith in a loving God. I am the same as you. Which is why you identify, on some level, with characters like Christy and Austin who grew up in the Christian faith and suffer still. There are times when the challenges of living in this world feel like more than you can bear. When nights all alone in your bedroom seem to turn your heart into stone. When the mirror tells you that you're not good enough; when the words of others say you will never be. The law of this world tries to keep you trapped in its prison of condemnation, but in truth, that law is now dead and you are made whole, a new creature with more beauty and power than you can possibly imagine."

To me I feel like I've had an epiphany. What if all the things that bombard you daily, that try to defeat you & your faith are lies? Just because these circumstances hurt us, cause us fear & torment, because they seem real doesn't mean they are. They may feel real at the moment, but if we focus on things of the Spirit, which are eternal, that is what truly is real. And that's when the discernment of the Holy Spirit can guide us out of our prisons & we can see that as Christians, Christ's sacrifice has already freed us from our bondages, sicknesses & torments. That what once looked hopelessly like our "lots in life" were actually a well-planned, amazingly real illusion meant to keep us in chains so we wouldn't live victoriously. I believe this is true. I don't pretend to understand everything. I feel that God's ways are like a giant continent of an ice berg and we are only like a tiny, toy sail boat that has collided with it, yet just barely scratched the surface of something infinitely more complicated than what we could figure out in our own understanding without His help.

I can't speak for Ted to say that all that I'm saying was his intention for writing this book & that my interpretation is exactly what he meant. But to me, I feel like it has helped open my spiritual eyes- they are wide open. Thanks Ted.

[Ashley Nikole · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ladies and gentlemen…here comes a wee little rant. And I don’t want to rant—but this book…*shakes head in abject frustration* I’m sorry, because I tried to like it. I tried so hard, and yet…Eyes Wide Open was not the jam to my toast. The honey to my tea. Rather, it was the burr in my sock.

This is my third Ted Dekker read. I read two of his YA fiction books and found them rather odd…no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t get into his writing style and I often found myself confused, so I didn’t continue the series. I thought, hey…why not give his writing another shot, but this time try some of his adult fiction books. So…

I have come to the conclusion after three books…I think Dekker’s writing style just rubs me the wrong way. I know he’s one of the most popular Christian fiction writers out there and a New York Times bestseller and all that, but his writing style and me as a reader…we don’t play nice in the sandbox. Uh-huh. Nope.
I find it so abstract that I don’t find it enjoyable—and in all truth—I love a good abstract concept.
While the plot of Eyes Wide Open was fairly fast-paced and a sort of psychological thriller, it seemed to last forever while still feeling like it lagged at times. I felt like Dekker was telling most of the time rather than showing, and somehow, at the end of the book, I felt like I’d never really even met the characters because their story was told in such a…one dimensional way. I really struggled with Dekker’s tone of voice, as it were, in telling the story. It really didn’t make me dance for joy as a reader. It made me feel like I was reading someone’s grocery list rather than actually walking through the store with them—but also like I was reading the list after drinking Benadryl on the rocks.

The characters. I don’t know if I was supposed to like them or empathize with what was going on, but honest first, second and third impressions? They seemed pretty dumb and weak of mind. Christy was a far worse offender in that regard than Austin, but honestly, they felt like pretty flat and bland characters to me.

The psychological element of the plot was just…weird. So weird. The plot interested me, what with two young people being committed to a psych ward when they’re not crazy and everyone thinks they are. I was intrigued, but the execution of the plot just left me shaking my head and kinda giving the whole book one stupidly long moment of side eye.
The preaching bit at the end of the book felt somewhat stiff and in-your-face, and by the end of the book I was just peeved…on so many levels.

I cannot say I didn’t try—and hard—at that. I tried to love Dekker’s writing. I read three books. I. TRIED. But I think his writing is just not for me. His tone of voice as an author rubs me the wrong way. The way he writes his scenes honestly confuses me—and I read a lot and don’t encounter that—thus I find it frustrating when I do, and the three plots I’ve read thus far just haven’t grabbed my attention.
I don’t like it when I feel like an author is “poking” me with their abstract, probing ideologies. If a worldview comes through naturally, and the thoughts come about organically, as it were—that’s great. But when I feel like an author is trying to “poke me” as a reader and get inside my head, I feel inclined to dislike them, no matter what.

I wanted so badly to board the Dekker train and shout my love of his writing for the world to hear—because people keep telling me to read his books because he’s ‘the best author ever’. Obviously he has a niche readership that LOVE his books. I’m glad that’s the case! He writes for an audience that appreciates his writing style. And as writing is a rather relative thing, I can respect and appreciate Dekker’s writing from a distance, but not read it myself if I want to keep from having a hissy fit because his writing frustrates and confuses me, as a reader.

I hate saying anything negative about a book (or not having something positive to say about the book—honestly I hate doing that) because I know the hard work and effort that goes into creating one. I can tell that Eyes Wide Open took a lot of creative effort, brainpower and brainstorming. Like a ton. It was a complex situation, to be sure, so kudos to Dekker. I want to say all the things I enjoyed about it, but I’m just being completely honest in that it was really not my style and it did frustrate me. I hate to say it, but it’s true. But for all of you fans of Eyes Wide Open, I’m happy it was such a hit!

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christy and Austin break into an old mental hospital to retrieve a heart-shaped locket. When they are mistaken as patients in the mental facility and held against their will there, can the two friends escape or will they suffer not seeing the truth around them with eyes wide open? Read and find out for yourself.

This was a pretty good and crazy horror thriller from Ted dekker. Though it is part of a series, I am considering it a stand-alone. If you like thrillers that don't let you go until the end, then def check this book out. It is available at your local library and wherever books are sold.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two teenage friends, Austin and Christy, both with "forgotten" childhoods get accidentally lost in a mental hospital. You'd think once they could explain their situation, all would be fine and they'd leave and go on their way.

But this is a Ted Dekker novel.

The hospital authorities re-admit them both as Scott and Alice. So who are they? Are they Austin and Christy or Scott and Alice? Dekker weaves his clever story telling skills in a thrill-of-a-minute ride where even we the reader are unsure of the truth.

The truth? What is it? How can we be certain we know the truth? Why do our perceptions of our reality play such an important part in our understanding of our individual lives? Who can provide the truth, about who we are? about our childhood?

These are great questions which Dekker asks as we the confused reader try to understand what's going on in the two protagonists lives. Are the doctors and even delightful psychiatrist Nancy really the bad guys?

Dekker challenges us beyond the story to question our own perceptions of truth.

I would have given this a '5', however, the sudden intrusion of a character near the end of the novel I found to be a little contrived and somewhat fantastic. I understand now why this character was injected into the novel, but it allowed a degree of artificial resolution. Those familiar with Dekker's "Showdown" novels will be able to relate to this character very easily, however, those new to Dekker may find it a little abrupt.

In saying that I'm keen to read the sequel to understand how Dekker develops these themes.

I read this over a series of 4 e-books which were released a week apart. I thoroughly enjoyed this process of reading the novel.

If you're a Dekker fan, you'll love this. And those new to his work will enjoy it's freshness and powerful thematic premise.

[Alyssa Plank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!! Could hardly put it down🙌

[Kathleen (Kat) Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, if you're a Ted Dekker fan, you definitely want to pick this one up. If you've never heard of Ted Dekker, think of Stephen King and you get the picture. In this unique series Ted Dekker launched the first part of this four part book to those who had electronic readers for Free until the rest in the series launched. Now priced for a very limited time for $5.99 for all four, you won't lose out wait for the next part of the book to be released. That's when I jumped on board. I've been a fan of Ted Dekker's for quite some time and just reading the premise of the book was enough to make me want to pick this one up. See for yourself.

"Who am I?


My name is Christy Snow. I’m seventeen and I’m about to die.


I’m buried in a coffin under tons of concrete. No one knows where I am. My heart sounds like a monster with clobber feet, running straight toward me. I’m lying on my back, soaked with sweat from the hair on my head to the soles of my feet. My hands and feet won’t stop shaking.


Some will say that I m not really here. Some will say I’m delusional. Some will say that I don t even exist. But who are they? I’m the one buried in a grave. \


My name is Christy Snow. I’m seventeen. I’m about to die.


So who are you? " (Excerpt from back cover).

When Christy Snow loses her silver locket in a storage shed behind St. Matthews Hospital, she discovers by accident a trap door in the floor that drops her into a concrete room with apparently no way out. When she located a shelf used for the transportation of alcohol during the prohibition era, she wedges herself inside to try the wood panel at the end. All she manages to do, it lock herself inside a coffin size area. Unable to call for help since her cell phone is dead, she panics and forces the wood panel to come lose.

She realizes she has probably found her way into the hospital basement and hopes she can find her way out. What she discovers is that she is now in the mental hospital wing and no matter how hard she tries to convince the doctors there she isn't a patient, with no identification on her, they believe she is suffering from a delusion and she isn't who she is claiming to be. Her only hope is the message she left for her friend Austin before her phone died. But when Austin shows up, he too is unable to convince the hospital staff he came for Christy and now they have both wound up lost beneath the hospital. Unfortunately when patient head counts come up two short, Austin and Christy soon begin to wonder if they aren't really crazy after all.

I won't spoil the remainder of the book, but trust me, you'll question what is the truth and what is merely an illusion in this latest book by Ted Dekker. Each book is divided into the mini books, Identity, Mirrors, Unseen and Seer, that you can purchase one at a time, but trust me, pick up the whole thing so you don't lose momentum in the storyline. True to Dekker's writing style, you will wind up in a different place then where you were headed and soon begin to feel as if you are part of the story itself. Great storyline but the ending for me, fell short from what I was anticipating. It's like it reached it's climax and then all the air was let out of the balloon, This does introduce the reader into a new series from Ted Dekker called the Outlaw Chronicles, with the first book Water Walker coming out soon. I would rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars and would have rated it a 5 out of 5 but like I stated earlier the ending just fell flat for me. However the message behind the story is reason enough to pick this one up. For those of you with questions about your own self esteem, this is a must read novel for you! You might want to pick up Showdown before reading this one to see the connection at the end.

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

What happens when there's a case of mistaken identity, when you're trapped inside a psych ward and can't prove who you are? No-one will believe you, and any denial just confirms your diagnosis. When you can't trust what you see and feel, what do you believe?

Austin and Christy experience the ultimate challenge of life and freedom in Eyes Wide Open, being forced to define freedom, who they are, where they belong, and discover truth. There's Austin, with his tendency to overthink everything, and Christy, with her tendency to deny everything, and both are forced to face our ultimate fear - that we're alone, that we belong nowhere - in very different ways.

This was the first Dekker book I'd read with the Outlaw, so I may be missing something, but I felt the ending left something hanging. Parts 1-3 just sped by, but the last part, the hardest one, seemed more unreal. I suspect this is part of a large series or cycle, and reading them all will give a sense of completeness, but even with that, the message of the Outlaw and his gentle, reassuring words brought a sense of peace.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

The "thrills" were okay, but the theology and message were poor and unclear. Also, threads that needed to be explained at the end were not. Least favorite Dekker book so far.

[Lois LeFors · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well. This book was definitely interesting. Cowboy Jesus was definitely a twist I did not see coming. 💀

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

"For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." (1 Corinthians 13:12) Although never quoted as such, this is clearly the idea that drives this story; one that is beautiful to comprehend and well-worth building a novel around. The 'telling' of it though, unfortunately left something to be desired.

A technique that Dekker has used in several of his other books is the concept that what a character is seeing is not reality. He employs this again in Eyes Wide Open (and my apologies if that somehow constitutes a spoiler--though again, Dekker uses this so often, that if you've read any of his other works you almost expect it). Honestly, this got to be a little frustrating for me, just waiting for the, "Aha! Not really!" moments. It did pull together to a somewhat workable framework, but still, the idea seems a little overused. I can go with it here though, because it works for what he was trying to do.

The other thing that irked me about this book was simply that it seemed too quickly and cheaply produced. I purchased the paperback version, so perhaps the e-books were fixed, but I found several typos as I was reading, including one paragraph where the name of the character changes. I thought at first it must be intentional and one of Dekker's "gotcha" moments, but nope, just an error that no one caught. It seems to me that with as many fans as Dekker has, certainly there would be plenty of people willing to read a pre-release copy and look for such errors before going to press (me! me! pick me! :) ).

Overall, it was worth the read, but I don't know that I could recommend it to anyone who isn't 1., already a Christian and would understand some of the Christian-ese used at the end, and 2., already a Dekker fan. Still, I enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to other books in this series.

[Evelyn Rookey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a Publicist, and a Beta reader, I've read hundreds of books by hundreds of authors on a daily basis. That being said, I almost never stumble upon a writer with much for talent, and even less for skill- don't get me wrong, the books are good, the plots are interesting. But, there's a flavor to ones passion for writing, and often to not, I never taste it. Perhaps that makes me a bit of a critic.
Ted Dekker has a divine gift, one that I've never seen before, and most likely will never see again. I find it near impossible to pull myself away from any book of his that I read, and more than eager to lose myself in it's pages.

Ahem!- Pardon me, I'll get straight to the specifics.
Eyes Wide Open was as thrilling as it was intriguing, I simply cannot wait for this book to go to publish.
Dekker has an uncanny ability to release the reality of Christianity in ways so intrinsic yet compound that you don't notice that you're learning the Gospel till the end when light glimmers upon the final truth. You'll realize things you never even Thought about.

Eyes Wide Open publishes on Jan 21 of 2014
Go to Amazon, Barns&Noble, anywhere, buy this book. You will not regret it.

If you were ever looking for that blessed talent that a rare few writers poses, it's Ted Dekker. Trust me.

[Jaysta · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I first started this book, Dekker was back to the good ol' days of page turning thrillers. This book was adrenaline from the first few pages. He wasted no time getting into the story and kept me on the edge of my seat. I think I spent more time than the characters themselves trying to figure out which truth was the real truth and what was a fantasy and what wasn't. I've missed that about Dekker novels.

The reason this book only got 3 stars from me had to do with the ending. Instead of the twist ending Dekker usually has in store, this story seemed to take a 180 and send the reader crashing into a brick wall. A character came out of nowhere and changed the story completely, and not in a good way. It almost seemed forced. Rather than come up with an ending that fit the story, Dekker obviously had a place he wanted this to go and he went there very abruptly. The ending also seemed really confusing when it came to the explanation of what happened during the first 3/4 of the book. It came out of left field for me. I know from the end of the novel that it is the beginning of a new series, but this just seemed like an odd way to end the opening of this new series.

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the four parts of this book separately, as they were released in four installments and also as a complete novel. I added this as "read" to count towards the Nothing but Reading Challenges Team A shelf as the four parts are technically ONE book and longer than 170 pages. :)

I also am removing the dates off of the four parts so they count as this ONE and not FOUR for my personal Goodreads 2013 challenge.

Please see the individual pieces, or my blog rainydayreadinglist.blogspot.com, for reviews.

Reading dates as follows:
I. Identity - Jan 15-16
II. Mirrors - Jan 16-18
III. Seer - Jan 19-20
IV. Unseen - Jan 20

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

It's been a long time since I've read a Ted Dekker novel. I was a huge fan in my childhood and hadn't read one in a while. In fact, Eyes Wide open sat on my Kindle for probably two years. Often Christian writers fall a little short with their writing ability and all the books tend to sound the same. Ted Dekker is one of the rare exceptions who can write a dang good novel that also incorporates the Christian themes. I would have rated this one higher if it weren't for some of the more unbelievable aspects of the narrative. But this book kept me on the edge of my seat.

[D.W. Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Being a big Ted Dekker fan, I must say I'm highly disappointed in this novel, this entire series for that matter. All but Outlaw have lacked substance. These novels seem to ramble on and on, not really saying much of anything. I read this one last, and find it the most confusing. I assume Dekker plans to pull all these novels together somewhere in the future, but until then, I'm left scratching my head.

[Candy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think the last few books of his ive read are just odd. Where is the writting like Three, Blink, and Obsessed?

[Zannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I used to read Ted Dekker all the time when I was younger. He was my favorite author. The book that really got me hooked on his work was Thr3e, which I read when I was twelve or thirteen. I was in this stupid phase where I thought I was the perfect Christian, because my dad was a pastor and I got good grades. Froody-doody-doo for me!! That book changed the way I saw myself, and it changed my life. After that, I absolutely ate up anything with Mr. Dekker's name on it. It had been a couple years since I'd read anything by him, though, so I decided to give this book a whirl.

Man, was I surprised by how sorely this book disappointed me.

Before I talk about the book itself, I just want to adress the blurb. This book and I started off on the wrong foot all because of that blurb.

My name is Christy Snow. I’m seventeen and I’m about to die. I’m buried in a coffin under tons of concrete.

Seriously now, who could read that and not be instrigued? Random girl, abducted for no apparent reason, shoved in a coffin, dumped in a hole, buried under concrete? Um, YEAH, I wanna find out what happens to her!!

Turns out the blurb is very deceptive. Christy isn't in a coffin. She's in a tunnel that's about the size of a coffin. The tunnel is underneath a hospital, which presumably has a foundation of concrete. No one put her there, which was just my assumption. She got herself stuck. Interest level: slowly declining.

Anyways, let's talk about Christy, since she's the first person we meet.

Christy is a seventeen-year-old orphan with no recollection of her life before the age of thirteen. She has a terrible body image and no friends save for her buddy Austin. Worst of all, not having any idea who she is or where she came from causes her to have a horribly weak sense of self-worth.

I know all this because the book tells you straight off the bat instead of letting you figure it out for yourself.

...she was lost in the deeply held fear that she didn't belong... she secretly hated herself for being forgotten by anyone who might have said she belonged or had value.

Oh, come on!! I wanted to get to know her by myself, darnit!!

Anyways, we later meet the aforementioned buddy Austin. Austin is a genius. His mantra is I think, therefore I am. He discusses philosophy with Ivy League grad students. He relies on his intellect to get him out of any situation, and he does it in a very meta way. I can figure this out. I just have to use my mind. My mind is brilliant. The human mind conquers all!! That's not an actual quote from the book, thank goodness, but you get what I'm trying to say.

Austin is a genius, and there's not much else to him. I think that Lawson said it best:

You relish the fact that people see you as complex... but the truth is you're really quite simple.

It's a little sad, since I don't think I was supposed to agree with Lawson...

These characters bored me. I came very close to being intrigued by Christy when her past starts to be revealed... but then it turns out that was just an illusion. Once again, she becomes flat. A bit cliché.

Speaking of clichés, WHAT is UP with this??

He'd just slumped into the seat when a loud marimba ringtone cut through the quiet. His phone. He'd forgotten to silence it. Dr. Riley stopped pacing. Several heads turned in his direction. Austin fished the phone from his pocket, muttering apologies... He thumbed the button to silence the ringer. When he faced the platform, all eyes were on him.

Seriously?? Minor disturbance occurs and everyone feels compelled do the least professional thing they can possibly do: DROP what they're doing and STARE. NO ONE DOES THAT IN REAL LIFE!!! I thought this was something they only do in low-budget rom coms!!

*takes deep breath* ...But I digress.

The plot was okay. Just... okay. That's the only word that feels honest. It's the story of two perfectly sane -- or are they? -- people trapped in a mental institution, trying to get out. The kind of story that can be thrilling and horrifying if done right, but ended up just feeling okay. It's a mildly engaging escape story interwoven with overt themes of identity and deception that culminates in an encounter with this supercool Christ figure who wears a black trench coat* and leads Christy on a spiritual rebirth that happens SO FREAKING QUICKLY WHERE DID THIS COME FROM OMG!! THERE WASN'T EVEN ANY STRUGGLE WITH HER PAST DEMONS OR ANYTHING!

*What is it with Dekker and his thing for trench coats?

At the end of the book I learned, one, that this book is the first in a series, and two, that this story is linked to Mr. Dekker's The Circle trilogy. If I'd known that it was the first in a series, I probably wouldn't have bothered to read it. If I'd known it was part of the lore of The Circle, I DEFINITELY wouldn't have. I've had it up to here with that freaking Circle. Oh, it was fun to read the original trilogy-plus-one, don't get me wrong. But I got tired of it when EVERY SUBSEQUENT BOOK HE WRITES JUST HAS TO BE LINKED TO THE CIRCLE IN SOME OBSCURE WAY EVEN IF IT ONLY COMES AT THE VERY FREAKING END AND AAAAUUUGHHHHH

*deep breath deep breath*

It just felt deceptive, you know? I don't have anything against authors creating extensive lore. But for goodness' sake, you can't even tell by the cover that this is a series, nor that it's part of The Circle! It just jumps on you at the very end and goes HA!! Gotcha! Didn't see that coming, did you? Now you have to buy ALL my sequels and ALL the books that pertain to the lore of the Circle!!

No, sir, I do not. And I will not, thank you very much.

My biggest problem with this whole book was how utterly FAKE it felt! It feels fake, I think, because of those seriously overt themes that I mentioned before. Why do so many Christian authors feel the need to make the point of their story so bleeding obvious? Is it impossible to point to Jesus and be subtle at the same time? No. Is it wrong? Some may think so, but I don't. Writing a novel is NOT THE SAME THING as writing a sermon.

This is a book that could have moved me, but ended up feeling shallow and almost condescending in some parts. It was really disappointing for me to read this. Is this just one of Mr. Dekker's weaker books? I hope so, because like I said, I was about twelve when I last read one of his books, and I hate to think that his work hasn't matured along with my tastes. I haven't read Thr3e in a long time, so I don't know. But that book changed my life, so it doesn't matter how the writing quality is on that one; it will always hold a place in my heart. As for Eyes Wide Open? I'll probably forget it next week.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never read many thrillers before, so this was a new genre for me. BUT Y'ALL I AM HOOKED. This book was SO deep and the underlying Christian themes opened my eyes no pun intended hehe to the Gospel in a completely new way! It was a bit confusing at times (reminded me of a Christopher Nolan movie lol), but I was able to figure everything out by the end and now my mind is absolutely blown! The way Ted Dekker communicated the messages in this book was fascinating and now he's officially one of my new favorite authors! I can't wait to check out more of his books!

I've decided not to do a deep, analytical review this time, but I will give a brief run-down of some content warnings. This book was very clean—no foul language and there wasn't even romance (although there were few platonic forehead kisses). The biggest thing I can think of is the violence in regards to a slightly grisly death and the description of a surgery. I've seen worse on TV and wasn't really bothered by these descriptions (I wouldn't even call them "graphic"), but I thought I'd give a heads up for anyone who is very squeamish about blood. ;)

[Chris Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a while since I have read Dekker. Truth be told I had forgotten how much I loved his storytelling. "Eyes Wide Open" was such a great read!

The main thing I love about Dekker's writing is his ability to tell a story that's fast paced, taut, and thrilling. All the while he's weaving in truth about what it means to love and follow Christ. The fact that he can do this will the skill he does and not veer into cheesy Christian pseudo-sci-fi is remarkable.

In this parable you are forced to deal with how you perceive reality. Do you really see? Can you trust what you are seeing? Are you potentially living a lie? These are all questions that are explored alongside Christy and Austin as they try to escape a horrible situation they've stumbled into. Your identity, and where you derive it from go a long way towards determining if you see with eyes wide open.

If you are an avid Dekker reader you'll be left mouth gaping in the last 5-8 pages and you'll love this book. If you've never read Dekker this is a great place to start!

[Gerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Waw Ted!
This book started out amazing. I was grateful I picked it up in the midst of others books competing and begging for my attention to be read. You do not know exactly where the story would go and it was quite hard to predict. At first I thought it was a story of salvation but it didn't turn out that way. I was already on the last quarter of the book before I finally saw it! And it was beautiful!
It lost a little bit of momentum at the middle but if you can go past that, the end will really blow you away! I think Romans 8:1-2 captures the heart of the story - The Law of Sin and Death and the Law of the Spirit of Life. It is incredible the unbearable demands the former puts on people while the latter calls us to freedom and love!
Great story. Will definitely read the next iteration!

[Dustin]

So, I might have known this, but I recently received an email from Dekker, stating that Eyes Wide Open is the beginning of The Outlaw Chronicles Trilogy: Books 1-3. Anyway, if I was aware of those books were connected, apparently I spaced it, because the announcement feels new to me. In case you're interested, the better deal is to pick up the latter, as it contains all six books, instead of purchasing them separately. Just thought I'd pass that along.:)

[Elizabeth Neufeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m unaware of a particular order to this series, but this book really connected the Outlaw Chronicles characters. Another incredible psychological ride. These characters find out about the Gospel in the most bizarre ways, and I’m so sad to have finished the series! I definitely gained a serious amount of insight by reading Ted Dekker’s Outlaw books.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Final conclusion of Eyes Wide Open. It's difficult to differentiate between reality and delusion. Fascinating series.

[Angie ~aka Reading Machine~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've thought alot about this review and how to write it. Eyes Wide Open is simply a book that will do just that if you're willing to see. I've never had a book teach me about simply seeing things in a different light as this one does. I could expound on this further but it would take away your own sight from reading this book. Mr. Dekker is new to me author but one I'll be returning to in the near future.

[Louis Fritz v · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the one hand, understanding both Dekker's background and his continuous desire to branch out on the Gospel narrative started in his Circle series (not really a trilogy anymore), you have to appreciate the level of development with which he involved himself in this text. Furthermore, the ways in which he develops his perspective on how society impacts our point of view is truly a remarkable point, one that we tend to overlook if we are not careful. Furthermore, there is presented a great challenge to hold firmly to our fellow brothers and sisters when they become blinded or forget their identity in the process. Yet, the global challenge for individuals to stand for the truth behind the deception is truly an inspiring one which Dekker does a great job of presenting in an albeit dark spiritual fiction.


SPOILERS CONCERNING PLOT


My one complaint for which I would probably give this text a 3.75 is the degree to which psychology is presented in a negative light. I recognize the form of psychosis presented through society and its words is indeed a devilish one, yet at the same time, there is a level of extreme negativity which Dekker presents through those representing the mental health community. As someone who has studied the balance between psychology and biblical counseling, I find this as possible fuel to the fire of those who disregard what strong Christian social scientists have been attempting to do through their endeavors. In a bittersweet way, Dekker uses the Gospel to reach his characters through a missionary character named Outlaw, yet does little to reflect strong Christian psychology in an otherwise darkened psychological thriller atmosphere. At least in some cases where psychologists are used as the villains in the movies, there still tend to be strong positive examples of psychologists who are truly attempting to reach their patients. Again, I find this as a difficulty more due to the trend in Christian circles to project negatively toward all forms of psychology, yet I would direct attention to a Christian psychologist named David Myers who has written multiple texts addressed to both secular and Christian psychologists on how his faith has shaped his perspective of psychology. One book of his which stood out particular to me was "Friendly Letter to Skeptics and Atheists: musings on Why God is Good and Faith Isn't Evil," an excellent letter to his psychologist friends on why God has benefits even in a community which suggests religion was created by man for man.

[Lyndon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of the "Outlaw" Chronicles, this novel is a psychological thriller reminiscent of his popular (and made into a movie) Thr3e. Comprised of four 'books' (released episodically over the past few years, since this publishing structure is somewhat popular now), I realized that I'd downloaded the first 'book' (chapters 1-6) for free awhile back. Glad I waited for the whole novel since I pretty much read this book in one setting. There was no way I'd have been happy reading just the opening teaser! Once you start, the mystery of what and why and how it will end compels you forward.

And for the most part, it was a satisfying journey. Three-fourths of the book were gripping. It's the story of two teens, Christy and Austin, who stumble their way into trouble at a mental hospital. Are they delusional or the subjects of a hideous experiment? The fabric of what they see and experience keeps tearing, propelling the reader forward to get at the heart of the matter. But then the story stumbles a bit. The last 'book' (chapters 19-24), after Outlaw made his appearance and explained 'reality' to Christy, didn't quite answer the questions I was asking. Still, the resolution worked and the story wrapped up, but maybe a bit too tidily. It also opened the doorway to a new reality - one in which Dekker continues to explore in the next books in the series, Water Walker and Hacker.

I'd classify these as young adult thrillers. The kind I wish there was more of since I think a lot of YA should be re-categorized as New Adult due to their language, violence, and blatant sexuality. Dekker's YA fiction, however, is just right for teens (and adults) - the tension is high, but the language is mild (maybe one swear word?) and the violence minimal. In other words, the author relies on good ol' fashioned story telling and not pop gimmicks to create a solid read for most readers of this genre.

[Carol Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have a young daughter struggling with self esteem this may be a good book for you. Ages14+
Christian author