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Darkness #1-2
This Present Darkness / Piercing the Darkness
The two #1-selling novels that have captivated millions are now available together in one volume. This Present Darkness takes place in the typical small town of Ashton where nothing much ever seems to happen. Until... a skeptical reporter and a prayerful pastor begin to compare notes. They suddenly find themselves fighting a hideous New Age plot to subjugate the townspeople, and eventually the entire human race. The battle against evil continues in Piercing the Darkness , where a young loner fleeing for her life while trying to recall her dark past takes refuge in the tiny farming community of Bacon's Corner. There she finds herself caught up in the middle of bizarre events—from an attempted murder to a ruthless lawsuit against a struggling Christian school. Across a vast panorama of heart-stopping action, these stories are a penetrating portrayal of our world, a reflection of its spiritual wanderings, and a vivid reminder of the redemptive power of the Cross.
813 pages, Hardcover
Published August 7, 2000
84 people are currently reading
2105 people want to read
About the author
Frank E. Peretti
85 books3,833 followersFROM HIS WEBSITE:
With more than 12 million novels in print, Frank Peretti is nothing short of a publishing phenomenon and has been called “America’s hottest Christian novelist.”
Peretti is a natural storyteller who, as a youngster in Seattle, regularly gathered the neighborhood children for animated storytelling sessions. After graduating from high school, he began playing banjo with a local bluegrass group. He and his wife were married in 1972, and Peretti soon moved from touring with a pop band to launching a modest Christian music ministry. Peretti later spent time studying English, screen writing and film at UCLA and then assisted his father in pastoring a small Assembly of God church. In 1983, he gave up his pastoring position and began taking construction jobs to make ends meet. While working at a local ski factory, he began writing This Present Darkness, the book that would catapult him into the public eye. After numerous rejections from publishers and a slow start in sales, word-of-mouth enthusiasm finally lifted This Present Darkness onto a tidal wave of interest in spiritual warfare. The book appeared on Bookstore Journal’s bestseller list every month for more than eight years. Peretti’s two spiritual warfare novels, This Present Darkness (1998) and Piercing the Darkness (1989), captivated readers, together selling more than 3.5 million copies. The Oath was awarded the 1996 Gold Medallion Award for best fiction.
For kids, Peretti wrote The Cooper Kids Adventure Series (Crossways and Tommy Nelson), which remains a best-selling series for children with sales exceeding 1 million copies. In August 2000, Peretti released the hilarious children’s audiocassette series titled Wild and Wacky Totally True Bible Stories, reprising his role as Mr. Henry, the offbeat substitute Sunday School teacher found in two Visual Bible for Kids videos.
Peretti released his first-ever non-fiction book, The Wounded Spirit in 2000, which quickly became a best-seller. The book addresses the pain of “wounded spirits” and was written as a result of painful childhood experiences.
Frank Peretti and his wife, Barbara Jean, live in the Western U.S. In spite of sudden fame and notoriety, Frank still lives a simple, well-rounded life that includes carpentry, banjo making, sculpturing, bicycling and hiking. He is also an avid pilot.
With more than 12 million novels in print, Frank Peretti is nothing short of a publishing phenomenon and has been called “America’s hottest Christian novelist.”
Peretti is a natural storyteller who, as a youngster in Seattle, regularly gathered the neighborhood children for animated storytelling sessions. After graduating from high school, he began playing banjo with a local bluegrass group. He and his wife were married in 1972, and Peretti soon moved from touring with a pop band to launching a modest Christian music ministry. Peretti later spent time studying English, screen writing and film at UCLA and then assisted his father in pastoring a small Assembly of God church. In 1983, he gave up his pastoring position and began taking construction jobs to make ends meet. While working at a local ski factory, he began writing This Present Darkness, the book that would catapult him into the public eye. After numerous rejections from publishers and a slow start in sales, word-of-mouth enthusiasm finally lifted This Present Darkness onto a tidal wave of interest in spiritual warfare. The book appeared on Bookstore Journal’s bestseller list every month for more than eight years. Peretti’s two spiritual warfare novels, This Present Darkness (1998) and Piercing the Darkness (1989), captivated readers, together selling more than 3.5 million copies. The Oath was awarded the 1996 Gold Medallion Award for best fiction.
For kids, Peretti wrote The Cooper Kids Adventure Series (Crossways and Tommy Nelson), which remains a best-selling series for children with sales exceeding 1 million copies. In August 2000, Peretti released the hilarious children’s audiocassette series titled Wild and Wacky Totally True Bible Stories, reprising his role as Mr. Henry, the offbeat substitute Sunday School teacher found in two Visual Bible for Kids videos.
Peretti released his first-ever non-fiction book, The Wounded Spirit in 2000, which quickly became a best-seller. The book addresses the pain of “wounded spirits” and was written as a result of painful childhood experiences.
Frank Peretti and his wife, Barbara Jean, live in the Western U.S. In spite of sudden fame and notoriety, Frank still lives a simple, well-rounded life that includes carpentry, banjo making, sculpturing, bicycling and hiking. He is also an avid pilot.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
September 5, 2007
These are two of my favorite books by Frank Peretti. I finished both of these so quickly because I never wanted to stop reading them. My parents own the "two in one" book and I borrowed it off of them. I read these right after finishing The Oath. As a Christian, they really made me think about what is constantly happening in the supernatural world around us. There is a constant battle of good and evil going on that we are totally unaware of. In these books the author describes what is happening in the "real" world and in the next paragraph explains what happened in the supernatural world at the same time. For example there was a person who walked into a dark room...the author describes how they got a chill down their spine. The person was gripped with fear. They said a prayer and were instantly comforted by God's peace. Then in the next paragraph the author describes that in the supernatural world the room was filled with demons and one reached out and grabbed that person (causing the chill down their spine) and that when the person prayed to God angelic warriors filled the room and destroyed the demons. Now this is just one person's view and no one really knows exactly what goes on within the "supernatural" world, but it just makes you think about things. These are books I would read over and over again.
March 19, 2013
Whoa. I can honestly say that I've never read a book quite like this one before. This books brings Ephesians 6:12 to life: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
It's a fictional story based on the Christian belief of spiritual warfare, and it's told from the perspectives of the various townspeople on the ground, who are trying desperately to save their small town from sinister men with evil intentions, as well as the perspectives of the spiritual forces in the air, (I'm talking about angels and demons here, people), who are waging an invisible war all around the townspeople.
It's a page-turner, that's for sure, but not because the main plot line was elaborate or kept you guessing, (it wasn't/it didn't). I couldn't put it down because of the spiritual warfare aspects of the book. It was fascinating to read the many different ways the angels responded to the prayers of the townspeople and the leading of God to guard and protect the people from evil. And how the demons (e.g. the demons of deception, lust, confusion, witchcraft, etc.) tormented their victims and robbed them of joy and peace to further the Devil's evil agenda and keep their victims from having fellowship with God. I could see so many of the fictional scenarios depicted in the book playing out in real-life.
As a Christian, I believe in angels and that God commands his angels to guard us and protect us (Psalm 91:11, Luke 4:10). I also believe there is a devil with contingents of minions--who we need protecting from--who use tactics as described in the book. There is no disputing that spiritual warfare is all over scripture, but it's not something I think about all too often. This book made me think about it. It made me wonder what kind of spiritual warfare is going on around me, unseen, unacknowledged. And, most of all, it made me pray. Not out of fear, but out of love for people who are captive to the liar, deceiver, robber, and destroyer of all that is good and life-giving.
It's a fictional story based on the Christian belief of spiritual warfare, and it's told from the perspectives of the various townspeople on the ground, who are trying desperately to save their small town from sinister men with evil intentions, as well as the perspectives of the spiritual forces in the air, (I'm talking about angels and demons here, people), who are waging an invisible war all around the townspeople.
It's a page-turner, that's for sure, but not because the main plot line was elaborate or kept you guessing, (it wasn't/it didn't). I couldn't put it down because of the spiritual warfare aspects of the book. It was fascinating to read the many different ways the angels responded to the prayers of the townspeople and the leading of God to guard and protect the people from evil. And how the demons (e.g. the demons of deception, lust, confusion, witchcraft, etc.) tormented their victims and robbed them of joy and peace to further the Devil's evil agenda and keep their victims from having fellowship with God. I could see so many of the fictional scenarios depicted in the book playing out in real-life.
As a Christian, I believe in angels and that God commands his angels to guard us and protect us (Psalm 91:11, Luke 4:10). I also believe there is a devil with contingents of minions--who we need protecting from--who use tactics as described in the book. There is no disputing that spiritual warfare is all over scripture, but it's not something I think about all too often. This book made me think about it. It made me wonder what kind of spiritual warfare is going on around me, unseen, unacknowledged. And, most of all, it made me pray. Not out of fear, but out of love for people who are captive to the liar, deceiver, robber, and destroyer of all that is good and life-giving.
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November 11, 2008I used to avoid books and movies that had anything to do with demons or angels. My reasoning being(at the time)that angels and demons really do exist and it didn't seem right to misrepresent them in fictional stories. I have since changed my opinion of angelic or demonic fiction largely because of these two books. Both are fictional stories that describe the invisible spiritual battles that go on around us every day that we are oblivious too. Armies of angelic soldiers and demonic warriors doing there thing behind the scenes. Each story is told from two perspectives. You have a crisis going on in small town and the human pro- and antagonists that face off in the 'real' world, then you see the same crisis from the perspective of the angels and demons that are working behind the scenes. This as one of the first christian fiction books that i ever read and i have yet to find its equal.
November 22, 2023
"Really makes you think what's going on in the world today. Wonderfully told story."
October 12, 2021
This series shifted my perspective in how I see and live my Christian faith - there's a very real spiritual warfare..After this series, I began to see my prayer as a spiritual weapon in my life..
truly,
"For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds..." 2 Cor 10:4
truly,
"For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds..." 2 Cor 10:4
August 24, 2012
I read both books seperately before this volume came out and throughly enjoyed them. As far as fiction goes these books have more realith in them than what we perceive as reality. There has not been a book that reveals what goes on in the spiritual world since C.S. Lewis wrote the Screwtape Letters.
December 31, 2021
4 1/2 if I could.
July 5, 2025
Fiction book, but it is fascinating to imagine the spiritual at work.
December 9, 2008
Book 1: This is a novel about the little town of Ashton and how the Devil(using his demons)tries to take it over. God uses His angels to help protect the people of Ashton, especially the Christians. You'll grow to love Pastor Hank and Mary, Marshall Hogan, Bernice Krueger, and the mighty angelic warriors!
Book 2:This is just as good as the first book(if not better!)! Enter the small town Bacons' Corner and read all that goes on there! Pastor Mark Howard, Marshall Hogan, Ben Cole, Tom Harris, and the Good Shepherd Academy have a lot to go through and figure out, and a lot of praying to do! What does Sally Roe have to do with all this? A whole lot! Those angels and demons are waging war again! Age 16-17+(if not sensitive)
Book 2:This is just as good as the first book(if not better!)! Enter the small town Bacons' Corner and read all that goes on there! Pastor Mark Howard, Marshall Hogan, Ben Cole, Tom Harris, and the Good Shepherd Academy have a lot to go through and figure out, and a lot of praying to do! What does Sally Roe have to do with all this? A whole lot! Those angels and demons are waging war again! Age 16-17+(if not sensitive)
October 24, 2008
For Christian bookworms looking for a good fiction read, Frank Peretti's writing will exceed expectations. I loved the way that the story is unabashedly Christian but is written in a way that encompasses readers. Personally, my prayer life got a new boost after reading this book!
October 1, 2012
Absolutely wonderfully written! The imagery is fantastic, and the story-line is impeccable! You fall in love with the charecters and feel as if you actually know them and become apart of the story. Peretti definatley out did himself, these books are absolutely some of his finest works!
December 6, 2016
I've read this before, but reading it this time, it seems Peretti was peering into the future. Both books are incredible and evoke such joy in my heart! They are well written and keep me turning the pages. I read this to my kids, and they were always anxious for the next chapter, too.
April 21, 2018
Really enjoyed this book! This really reaches out to anyone and allows us to know that while we fight in the flesh there is spiritual warfare around us as well! Next one im gonna read is the oath!
August 29, 2016
I read these books years ago when homeschooling my children.
I wouldn't recommend for children under 12.
Love how it shows the warfare all around us.
I wouldn't recommend for children under 12.
Love how it shows the warfare all around us.
May 3, 2020
The amount of cheese present in these two books could make enough macaroni and cheese to feed the 5,000.
June 3, 2024
It was two novels in one, so it took a while to jog through it. I'm not even sure where to begin this review. Usually, I'd say we start in the beginning, but considering we're dealing with Christian fiction, that automatically becomes a joke, doesn't it?
I read this because it was given away, I had never read Christian fiction before, and as a fair-minded man, I decided to give it a shot. Disclaimer: I am a devout Catholic, so evangelical Protestantism and I are not aligned on quite a few important details. I do not regret giving it a chance, but I also am not interested on reading further examples of the genre.
Now, like the famous Left Behind series I've heard about, this pair of books also involves what's described in Revelation, which for the irreligious would be what TV Tropes would call a Class 4 Apocalypse. Unlike Left Behind, the driving goal here is for Heaven to delay said catastrophe by hook or by crook. Personally, I think that makes far more sense than the Protestant evangelical agitation over the End of Days - Jesus wants to save every soul, and the beginning of the events of Revelation would mean hundreds of millions if not outright billions of people he would be unable to save due to the deadline being real.
I digress - the point is that Peretti firmly advocates for the end of the world to be delayed as long as possible to save even a single soul more. A sentiment I heartily approve, I would add. As these two books were published in 1986 and 1989, the setting is firmly in that era, a personal delight. Peretti does an excellent job recreating the old Americana I barely remember from my toddler days. Peretti also correctly guessed how trends that had begun back then would play out nowadays, specifically the Western twists on established Eastern religions and anti-Christian sentiment in the West. He accurately anticipated that these would result in people choosing to be "spiritual" as that would help them avoid the confrontation with guilt and sin that comes with being a Christian, as well as how these Westernized twists renders derivatives from those religions shallow, empty fare. I'll even acknowledge he has a point, as those same Western twists can result in people accidentally inviting demons into their lives, which may have a precedent in the witch of Endor in the Book of Samuel. The author also treats minorities as people and not tokens or props for agendas, with a black cop in the second book being a major supporting character and an Indian doctor who complies but does not conceal his resentment with the antagonists' demand he deviate from professionalism into advocacy.
That being said, the prose is inferior. The first book is somewhat better, but the second one suffers from significantly. The story is highly predictable - I can only recall two times in all 800+ pages where I was surprised. I also could not suspend my disbelief with the depiction of exorcisms, as the entire experience has been noted by Catholic exorcists to be absolutely grueling, but I understand that Protestants think any true believer can do it. As a true believer, I'd rather never be in a situation where I have to solo a demon, as I certainly don't know if I've the faith and strength of will to drive one out!
On that topic, I'm not sure I cared for the depictions of angels and demons. Theologically, if evil is unattractive, would anyone commit evil? The realist answer to that is yes, but the ability of demons to conceal their hideousness behind a facade of beauty does have some parallels with how attractive it is to sin and if sin was not attractive, fewer people would sin. However, there's also the fact we have free will - demons can and do tempt us to sin, but it is humans who choose to do so. Still, there's a certain naivete underneath that depiction, the belief in the basic goodness of humanity, if only demons didn't dupe or otherwise force people to be bad. As for the angels, I comprehend Peretti depicting them as of all different races, but they seemed too human. That's not to say humans have not perceived angels with human characteristics, but rather, it was difficult to see how the angels weren't humans besides the glow ups, the shiny swords, and the wings.
Overall, it was an interesting insight into evangelical Christians and their worldview. I genuinely don't know who I would recommend this to, however. Protestants already know about this book and love it, well-taught Catholics would raise eyebrows over doctrine but at least accept that's how they see things, while I suspect that atheists and modern liberals would have a cow. If any of the latter do choose to read this, please be aware that Peretti has no malice for you and is genuinely invested in saving your soul. You can disagree with him, as I do on a number of particulars, but accusing him of any sort of -ism is anachronistic and false.
I read this because it was given away, I had never read Christian fiction before, and as a fair-minded man, I decided to give it a shot. Disclaimer: I am a devout Catholic, so evangelical Protestantism and I are not aligned on quite a few important details. I do not regret giving it a chance, but I also am not interested on reading further examples of the genre.
Now, like the famous Left Behind series I've heard about, this pair of books also involves what's described in Revelation, which for the irreligious would be what TV Tropes would call a Class 4 Apocalypse. Unlike Left Behind, the driving goal here is for Heaven to delay said catastrophe by hook or by crook. Personally, I think that makes far more sense than the Protestant evangelical agitation over the End of Days - Jesus wants to save every soul, and the beginning of the events of Revelation would mean hundreds of millions if not outright billions of people he would be unable to save due to the deadline being real.
I digress - the point is that Peretti firmly advocates for the end of the world to be delayed as long as possible to save even a single soul more. A sentiment I heartily approve, I would add. As these two books were published in 1986 and 1989, the setting is firmly in that era, a personal delight. Peretti does an excellent job recreating the old Americana I barely remember from my toddler days. Peretti also correctly guessed how trends that had begun back then would play out nowadays, specifically the Western twists on established Eastern religions and anti-Christian sentiment in the West. He accurately anticipated that these would result in people choosing to be "spiritual" as that would help them avoid the confrontation with guilt and sin that comes with being a Christian, as well as how these Westernized twists renders derivatives from those religions shallow, empty fare. I'll even acknowledge he has a point, as those same Western twists can result in people accidentally inviting demons into their lives, which may have a precedent in the witch of Endor in the Book of Samuel. The author also treats minorities as people and not tokens or props for agendas, with a black cop in the second book being a major supporting character and an Indian doctor who complies but does not conceal his resentment with the antagonists' demand he deviate from professionalism into advocacy.
That being said, the prose is inferior. The first book is somewhat better, but the second one suffers from significantly. The story is highly predictable - I can only recall two times in all 800+ pages where I was surprised. I also could not suspend my disbelief with the depiction of exorcisms, as the entire experience has been noted by Catholic exorcists to be absolutely grueling, but I understand that Protestants think any true believer can do it. As a true believer, I'd rather never be in a situation where I have to solo a demon, as I certainly don't know if I've the faith and strength of will to drive one out!
On that topic, I'm not sure I cared for the depictions of angels and demons. Theologically, if evil is unattractive, would anyone commit evil? The realist answer to that is yes, but the ability of demons to conceal their hideousness behind a facade of beauty does have some parallels with how attractive it is to sin and if sin was not attractive, fewer people would sin. However, there's also the fact we have free will - demons can and do tempt us to sin, but it is humans who choose to do so. Still, there's a certain naivete underneath that depiction, the belief in the basic goodness of humanity, if only demons didn't dupe or otherwise force people to be bad. As for the angels, I comprehend Peretti depicting them as of all different races, but they seemed too human. That's not to say humans have not perceived angels with human characteristics, but rather, it was difficult to see how the angels weren't humans besides the glow ups, the shiny swords, and the wings.
Overall, it was an interesting insight into evangelical Christians and their worldview. I genuinely don't know who I would recommend this to, however. Protestants already know about this book and love it, well-taught Catholics would raise eyebrows over doctrine but at least accept that's how they see things, while I suspect that atheists and modern liberals would have a cow. If any of the latter do choose to read this, please be aware that Peretti has no malice for you and is genuinely invested in saving your soul. You can disagree with him, as I do on a number of particulars, but accusing him of any sort of -ism is anachronistic and false.
March 10, 2019
This book includes the first two books in the series of three: "This Present Darkness" and "Piercing the Darkness." This book was enjoyable, the writing was good, there were some good battle scenes between angels and demons, and the plot was good. In addition, I liked the authors take on the behind the scenes - or invisible - battles that go on in the world that is invisible to us. The biggest issue I had with the story were the way the demons were portrayed. Many of them seemed a little meek or wimpy. Nevertheless, there were plenty of mean and nasty demon characters. Also, I kept waiting for the Lord Jesus Christ to make an appearance of some sort, but he never did. Maybe that is because he, like God the Father, is watching the events of human history unfold and the only battles going on are between the angels and demons. Worth reading. My rating: 7/10.
April 8, 2020
I loved the action in both of these books as well as the way the conflict opened my mind to how important intercessory prayer is to accomplishing God's plan here on earth and for defeating the ploys of the enemy. I fell in love with the primary protagonists who were easily relatable and felt compassion for them as they fought the evil that was trying to consume their towns, their families, their own lives. I have to admit, though, I did make lists of the characters and which side of the fence they sat on...there were a lot of characters to keep up with.
I appreciated that the author used characters from the first novel to encourage and assist those in the second novel - a reminder that it is important to share our faith and remember what God has done for us.
I appreciated that the author used characters from the first novel to encourage and assist those in the second novel - a reminder that it is important to share our faith and remember what God has done for us.
January 1, 2018
While I love the story and the way it gets me thinking about the spiritual battle (!), the writing in this one was a little repetitive and long at times. I will still always recommend reading these books.
February 16, 2018
Brilliant and incredible stories. A really fun way to read about what spiritual battles may look like and how the things of the spiritual world affect us. So much intense adventure these stories are just way too awesome.
April 8, 2021
Two of my favorite Frank Peretti books. There is something about this book that just makes the characters come alive you can vividly imagine the demons and it’s just a captivating tale that serves as a cautionary tale.
October 29, 2021
Strong inspiration in this fictional narrative about the very real results when we continue in prayer. Reading this in 2021 and wondering who holds the diabolical influencers in our society accountable when the Feds themselves are thoroughly part of it?
July 12, 2022
When I first read this many years ago, I don't think I fully appreciated the intelligent and clever writing. So thrilled to find this to listen to.
If only there were more wonderful Christian allegorical fiction available like this. Intelligent and uncontrived.
If only there were more wonderful Christian allegorical fiction available like this. Intelligent and uncontrived.
June 1, 2023
These 2 books are FICTION books based on spiritual warfare. I think they're a great portrayal of the unseen world at war around us. These 2 books changed my prayer life for the better! I loved these and think about them over a decade later after reading!
August 8, 2023
This book was absolutely exhilarating! It's fiction, but it's an amazing depiction of spiritual warfare. There is a battle going on around us. This book really opened my eyes! It is so intense and the character development was top notch. 10000% recommend!
July 29, 2024
I listened to an abridged version read by the author. I consider this book more a young adult read although the themes and length are like for an adult audience. I’m also not a big fan of paranormal/sci-fi even though this has a nice Christian message.
December 14, 2025
This was a book/books lent to me by a friend at work, and I will preface that by saying that I am not a religious person. That being said, I very much enjoyed this book! It was well written, and the story had a very nice pace to it. It was written in the 80's, so bear that in mind when the hokey dialog shows up, but overall, it was a really good read! Like I said, I'm not a religious person, but when it's a good book, it's a good book! I feel that I might be the exception on this since the majority of people I am finding who reads this author are religious, if you do happen across it, give it a chance. It might surprise you!
July 29, 2018
These books changed my life! Read, re-read, triple-read and quadruple read them, so many times!!!
December 13, 2018
I read this in college while in singles class at church. Loved it. Inspiring.
June 26, 2019
Read these two. Now just need to get a hold of book 3.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews