Son of Truth

Follower of the Word #2

by Morgan L. Busse

The war in the north is over, but the war for all the Lands has just begun. As the Shadonae solidify their hold on the city of Thyra, Rowen Mar, the last Eldaran and savior of the White City, awakens to find herself hunted by those she has saved.

Meanwhile, the assassin Caleb Tala finds himself in the presence of the Word. The time of reckoning has come, and he must pay the price for all the lives he has taken. But in his moment of judgment, Caleb is given a second chance to change his life.

These two hold the power to save the Lands from the Shadonae. One must escape slavery, and one must choose to forsake everything before the world is consumed in darkness.

Genres: Fantasy, Christian Fiction, Christian, Christian Fantasy, Fiction, Adventure, Romance

442 pages, Paperback

First published March 29, 2013

About the author

Morgan L. Busse is a writer by day and a mother by night. She is the author of the Follower of the Word series and the award-winning steampunk series, The Soul Chronicles. Her debut novel, Daughter of Light, was a Christy and Carol Award finalist. During her spare time she enjoys playing games, taking long walks, and dreaming about her next novel.

Reviews

[Madisyn Carlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Son of Truth is the captivating continuation of the Follower of the Word series.

Plot
Picking up right where Book One left off, the reader is swept into a tale of redemption and danger. The plot isn't the quickest-paced, nor is it slow. It's perfect for the overall series and helps the reader really learn more about the characters.

Characters
Nierne is my least favorite character, although she is certainly one the reader feels sympathy for. Lore is great, as always, but I still have a really hard time accepting the age difference between him and Rowan, so I just imagine him to be younger since he's old enough to almost be her father. Caleb and Rowan are good characters. Caleb has the most growing to do, in my opinion, and he's coming along nicely. I really appreciate how Busse illustrates that, though we are new creations in Christ, we're not automatically free from our vices and struggles. It's a growing process, and one Busse illustrates beautifully.

Faith
Here comes the most important part of any book.

The faith aspect was, as it is with all of Busse's books, amazing. So raw, so on point, so poignant. Even fantasy books can be solid reminders of what our Lord endured for us and His love for us through His sacrifice on the cross.

It was also really refreshing to read about God's plan for marriage--a union between one man and one woman--in fantasy.

Content Warning
Characters are injured, kidnapped, sold, and generally put through the wringer. There are heavy allusions to prostitution and rape, although both are handled tactfully and never go into detail. "Sands" and similar expressions are used in lieu of profanity, although there is a time where a character goes, "What the--." Characters kiss. It is hinted that a character used to participate in activities that should be partaken in by married couples and married couples only.

There are two reasons why I docked a star, because other than what I'm about to mention, it's a five star book.

One, I felt the whole "being forced to be with a man" (basically sexual slavery) was a little heavy in that it's not what readers 16 and under should read. It's tastefully and tactfully done, of course, but I still was taken aback a bit.

Two, there are a few times when I can't tell if a character is misusing the Word's name in vain or praying.

Conclusion
If you're seventeen or older and enjoy Christian fantasy brimming with Biblical truth, then this is the book for you.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars ✨

YA Fantasy

"We call Him the Word since He speaks and because His words hold everything together. If He were ever to stop speaking, everything would cease to exist."
"He is very powerful, then."
"Yes."
"And if He holds everything together, then He has always been here, or at least before everything else."

I enjoyed this!! Lots of my questions got answered and the characters grew on me. We find out more about certain side characters and their role in the war at hand. The faith elements are strong without being overwhelming- It felt well done and effortless. I can’t wait to see what happens to everyone in the final installment.

Blurb :

Can a killer find forgiveness?

The war in the north is over, but the war for all the Lands has just begun. As the Shadonae solidify their hold on the city of Thyra, Rowen Mar, the last Eldaran and savior of the White City, awakens to find herself hunted by those she has saved.

Meanwhile, the assassin Caleb Tala finds himself in the presence of the Word. The time of reckoning has come, and he must pay the price for all the lives he has taken. But in his moment of judgment, Caleb is given a second chance to change his life.

These two hold the power to save the Lands from the Shadonae. One must escape slavery, and one must choose to forsake everything before the world is consumed in darkness.

[Sharon Loves to Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐

I am totally invested in this series now. The rating isn't super high because of the "new author feel" it sometimes gives, but I love the characters and their dedication to do right even in the midst of doubts and difficulty. On to Heir of Hope!

[R.J. Rodda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bad boy Caleb has been thoroughly converted into a son of truth! When Nierne is captured (again!) and she is given to him (again!) for the night, you really get to see how he has changed. It is rare that I give the middle book in a trilogy five stars but this one deserves it. This has sacrificial true love, a touching developing romance, a dramatic battle against evil with spiritual overtones and strong Christian themes. This is such a powerful book. Can't wait to read the next one!

[Cecily Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5. Loved, recommend. Definitely a 13-15 plus book, depends on what knowledge you have and how well you can handle it. Up to the parents.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!
Son of Truth, Book 2 in this series, is one fast paced, on the edge of your seat ride - for the most part! Busse brought all the wonderful elements of Book 1 to life again, but with more action, suspense and a dose of romance too. Our main characters face trials of varying sorts. And like us, they can falter, loose their focus and question why - a lot! This at times can be frustrating, but so true to life.

I enjoyed seeing the character transformations; like Caleb's, as he navigates what it means to be a Son of Truth. Also, seeing other characters battle their faith and lack of hope and trust. Viewing others and even their own circumstances through an outlook that is past focused or fraught with feelings not of the light and truth. You want so badly for them to believe, to hope, to trust and reach out.

I am on the edge of my seat now, in anticipation of starting Book 3 and seeing how this will all come together and play out at the end! To be honest, there were a few areas where I skimmed because of the great urge to move forward and see what happens next, and these areas did not seem to be that necessary to the story. This is a double edged sword, on the one hand the story was so good I couldn't wait to find out what was happening next, but at the same time there were areas that were, just to me extra words. That said, the story was most definitely worth the read! Book 3, is calling my name... Adventure, battle, transformation and truth await!

[MC · Rating 5 out of 5]

For almost the past year now, I have eagerly looked forward to Son of Truth sequel to Daughter of Light. The trilogy by author Morgan L. Busse consists of these two aforementioned novels, and the third book soon to come. The series is called Follower of the Word, after the group of heroes who worship and, well, “follow” the One, True God, called in-universe, the Word.

This story begins right where the previous book left off. The Temanin forces have been defeated, and the White City is saved. Moreover, this occurred when the Word used the Eldaran, Rowen Mar, to force Temanin prince and assassin, Caleb Tala, to face the darkness within himself. This served two purposes for the Word and mankind. The Word raised up a new champion, and the Word chose to use Rowen as the conduit through which to unleash His power to destroy the Temanin army.

As the story begins, Nierne, the scribe who fled the Shadonae in the previous book, is nearing her goal of enlisting the help of an Eldaran, Rowen is recovering but under suspicion of those who view her as a witch, and Caleb is a broken man, fearing the ghosts of those he murdered, and sure he is on the way to a hell of his own making.

For a short time, things seem to be looking up. Nierne meets Rowen and sets out with her for Thyra to fight the Shadonae, Caleb is forgiven and remade into the service of the Word, and Lore Palancar plans to head off to join the woman he loves, our heroine Rowen.

Then things go horribly, horribly wrong. Betrayal from all corners sets in, and Nierne, Rowen, and Lore find their lives thrown into even more chaos. Caleb, now christened “The Son of Truth” by the Word, and intent on finding out more about his lineage and duties to the Word, may be the only hope of saving these three and the rest of the Lands.

I recently described this book as The Empire Strikes Back meets Christian fantasy, and I think that description fits. This book is not at all cheery. The good guys really get beaten, demoralized, and bloodied up during the course of the book. Worse yet, only in the last fifth of the book is this from the actual main villains of the trilogy. For the most part, this adversity comes from other sources that cause immense pain and heartache for our heroes. In a way, this made sense to me. This isn't the absurdity of the Star Wars prequel trilogy where everything down to a Padawan losing their lightsaber or getting a paper cut is due to the machinations of the Sith. This is more real to life in that both the good and the bad guys have things outside of their control.

I will give a caveat to the above, however, when it comes to the tone of the novel. The book was very dark at times, yes. All the same, Busse did sort of give respites with small scenes and plot points that suggested the happier resolution still to come in the final book when it is written. She also put in some breathing room between the darkest scenes, so that the book was still an enjoyable adventure, and not depressing.

I said a moment ago that “the good and the bad guys” both are unable to completely control the situation. This does not hold true, however, for the Word. It seems that there are a few themes in this book. These themes are the keeping of faith (or regaining faith, in the case of Nierne) in the midst of suffering, trust in God, and the fact that all things are ordained and part of God's plans. In the book, these themes are brought to the readers attention via the relationships of the characters with the Word. Nierne loses her faith outright for a time. She is broken, battered, and emotionally and spiritually destroyed during the story. Only the vestiges of her faith that she is unable to completely relinquish keep her from being completely ruined. Rowen doesn't lose her faith, but she does come close to losing her trust in the Word. After all, He brought her to the point she is in the story, and she can't understand why.

Then there is Caleb, who is the lynchpin of the tale. Everything revolves around him, even when he is not present. Caleb's character arc also, interestingly enough, brings to the fore the final theme I noticed, that of God's pre-ordaining and planning all things. Caleb is, in a way, the reason all the bad things have gone wrong, because Rowen can not defeat the Shadonae after all, at least not alone. Caleb is the Eldaran with the powers from the Word most suited to this purpose. That is how he is the “cause” of the bad things in this book – the Word is directing things to have our heroes' paths cross that of this young former assassin. Oh sure, the Word could use Rowen to release His power and destroy the Shadonae as He did with the Temanin army at the climax of Daughter, or He could just destroy them with no human conduit at all, but He will not do so. He has larger plans that include destroying more evil, and leading to more converts.

Finally, I wanted to discuss some of the characters. First of all would be Lore Palancar and Caleb Tala. They represent, in many ways, the same basic character archetype of the Paladin, the noble Knight or warrior who defends the weak. They simply have a very different way of going about it, and are at different points in their lives spiritually and morally. Lore is much wiser and more stable in his faith. His control over this thoughts, actions, and desires is much stronger than that of Caleb. Caleb is more fiery, fierce, and a far better fighter. Militarily, Lore is the natural leader of men, whereas Caleb is a loner.

This dynamic I just described was interesting to me because it shows an important truth. God can change our lives if we turn them over to Him, but He doesn't make things suddenly “easier” for us. He doesn't take away our urges and desires. The Word of God makes this clear, actually, when it speaks of “mortifying” the sins with which we struggle. In the first book, Lore struggles with the his growing attraction and love for Rowen creating impure thoughts. In this book, the Big Bads actually play on Caleb's much more developed and habitual “sins of the flesh”, so to speak.

I found myself able to relate to this struggle. I am a guy. I find women attractive. I struggle at times not to feel lust for them, not to commit adultery in my heart with them. I win the battle far more often than I should because GOD wins the battles for me, just as the Word did for Lore and Caleb, and even Nierne to be honest, eventually. I must say that I was a little surprised, because most women do not understand these struggles that men deal with, at least in my experience they don't. Yet the author seemed to understand and communicate well the struggles. This was very edifying for me, as too many Christian books portray God as just instantly clearing away all bad desires. He doesn't do this, and He never promised to do so. But He does promise to help us deal with them better, and daily defeat them, as the Word does in this tale.

Nierne and Rowen definitely suffered far more than the men did in this book, but that is also why I found their story arcs to be so interesting and edifying as well. They doubt, they rage, they (in the case of Nierne) have their faith absolutely obliterated for a time. This is real, with none of the “easy faith” prominent in so much Christian fiction, or the “getting over yourself” for which secular fiction is known. The realism of their struggles make their keeping and regaining their faith all the more satisfying.

Son of Truth was a phenomenal read that continued the great work Busse did with Daughter before it. The history and abilities of the Eldarans were delved into a little more, and the action scenes, and spiritual and physical conflicts, were presented very true to life. It was a little light, as I said, on the exact villains until almost four-fifths of the way through, but once they come into the tale again, it is something to behold.

This was a compelling and edifying read, and I can't wait for the conclusion to come out.

Highly Recommended.

[J.F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Son of Truth is the 2nd installment in the Follower of the Word trilogy. Rowan, Caleb, Lore, and Nierne’s stories continue and their circumstances grow more and more dire.

When Nierne finally finds an Eldaran who is willing to return to Thyrnas with her to destroy the Shardonae, her excitement is short-lived. The captain of the ship meant to deliver them betrays them to benefit his own pockets. They’re all separated, trapped in their own horrible situations alone. But the Word is still at work…

The Son of Truth continues the first story with just as much tension, suspense, and excitement as the first. Unfortunately, be prepared for a cliffhanger. Son of Truth ends abruptly with no satisfying conclusions or tied up story lines. This normally bothers me…a lot. I’m a firm believer in books in a series having their own climaxes and conclusions with remaining threads to be tied up later. But I had purchased the entire Follower of the Word trilogy up front, so…not only did I have it on hand…it was just a page away. And the story is worth it. So, if you choose to proceed, be prepared to have the 3rd installment, Heir of Hope, on hand.

If you enjoy faith-filled journeys with characters you grow to love, betrayal, forgiveness, redemption, and many twists and turns, you won’t want to miss Son of Truth. But make sure you have Heir of Hope ready to go to avoid disappointment.

[Bess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another tantalizing tale from Ms. Busse!
This one was much more adventure-based than action-based. But that works well for me too. Sometimes the suspense is too much for me.
This one picks up right where book 1 left off. Caleb has become the Son of Truth. But what about Rowan? Nierne? Lore? Not to worry, they are all present and much deeper characters than we saw in book 1.
Without giving too much away, we continue with Nierne trying to find Rowan the supposed last of the Eldarans. But low and behold, once she convinces Rowan to travel to Thyra, the captain turns on all of them. Thus begins the adventure of strown characters making their way back to each other. Nierne is sold into slavery and slowly makes her way to Caleb.
Caleb comes into his identity and sends a Shadonae back to the depths making his cousin furious and branding him for death. Together with Nierne, they slowly make their way to Lore.
The book is another cliffhanger. But again, all the books are out, so I won't have to wait long to finish this thrilling trilogy! Don't miss Ms. Busse's books. Wow...I mean just wow!

[David Bergsland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost didn't read it because of the ghastly cover. In a thumbnail, it is unreadable and looks like grade school stuff—especially the type. But I'm glad I did.

This is another of the offerings from Marcher Lord Press. They often have excellent books, but the graphic design and book formatting are commonly puzzling, at best.

This is the second book of the Follower of the Word series. I have not read the first book, and I probably won't.

This is epic fantasy

However, the story is quite tight, small, and emotionally charged. The character count is quite low and the descriptions are unsatisfying. There is no real sense of epic adventure even though the tale is about that type of story. Solutions to crises are often painless and glossed over—they commonly come too easy.

God is relegated to an all-powerful being bailing out His people [often by surprise] at the last moment. His presence often seems painful rather than wonderful. He deals with the world through people who are more than prophets, but genetically equipped to handle His presence. It's a strange mix spiritually.

However, the characters have deep faith, evil is clearly evil, the good guys are righteous—under duress. This steps pretty far out into some sort of alternate spiritual reality. It's not really edifying. However, it is a world of faith and the triumph of good—though, as the second book, it leaves us in a pretty dark place.

But it is a fun read. I'm glad I read it. I'll definitely get the final book or books in the series. This is a 3.5 star read for me, but I'll give it a 4 because it was too good for a three.

[Laura A. Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Son of Truth picks right up where Daughter of Light ended and with it a new favorite character for me: Caleb Tala.

I was at first disappointed that his story doesn’t really become a huge part of the plot until almost the second half of the book, but the transformation he goes through was worth the wait. His life is a testament of second chances that God gives and how He can literally use anyone for His glory.

I also enjoyed hearing more of Rowen’s story even though hers was a lot more heart-wrenching in this one!

There is not as much action that takes place in Son of Truth, but it is still an excellent read. There is more a focus on spiritual warfare that was really awesome as well as loving others no matter the cost.

Overall, I would continue to recommend this series. Morgan can weave a wonderful tale with flawed characters that struggle, but yet are still used by God’s hand. I’m eagerly looking forward to volume three!

I give this novel 4.5 out of 5 stars!

*(I received this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.)*

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the first book in this series, Daughter of Light, I was really looking forward to the second. I wasn't disappointed even though the book did go in a direction that I was not expecting it to and because of that I kept putting off reading it. Writers have a direction in mind for their story and readers get a direction that they want the story to go in. The two don't always jive and that is what happened in this case. The story was still great and you learned even more about your favorite characters, Rowe, Lore, Nierne (how to pronounce her name, yay!) and Caleb. The only drawback for me in the book was that Caleb wasn't focused on as much as I thought that he would be, especially since the title was Son of Truth. I can't wait though for the third book to come out next year and to see how it all comes together in the end.

[Emerald Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Son of Truth is a great follow up to the Daughter of Light. We're taken on an even wilder journey as Rowen discovers the truth about Thyra and what she must do in order to save the Lands, and when Caleb awakens after meeting the Word, we see just how much he has changed - and for the better.

This book kept me on my toes as the journey to Thyra didn't go as well as planned. There were kidnaps, slavery, and pure torture involved, and since I was attached to these characters, I felt everything for them.

I love how Mrs. Busse brings out the Christianity elements in her novels. It's not always easy as a follower, but it's definitely worth the cost in the end. This book proves that, even though it's fantasy fiction.

This is an absolutely wonderful book, and I eagerly await the next installment.

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Caleb and Nierne's story arcs. Rowan in many ways seemed to take the back seat in this story, and I hated having Lore left behind. I was fascinated by Caleb in the first book and even more so when the bad boy assassin turns good. And isn't sure what to do. I was intrigued by Nierne and wanted to learn more about her life and purpose. She came to life in Son of Truth. However, I'd hoped with her in the library that we'd get more Elderan history. I am fascinated by these not-quite-human people.
I would have liked more beginning and end. The denouement is my favorite part of a book. All characters have resolution and get to relax. That didn't happen in Son of Truth. The story started where Daughter of Light left off and ended with everyone in peril.
Overall I like this series and can't wait to read book 3!

[Jason Joyner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good continuation of the Daughter of Light book. The assassin Caleb Tala has been confronted by the Word, and he gives up his former life to become a servant of the Word. Specifically a Son of Truth and a Guardian, but he has no idea what that means. To find out will cost him everything.

Morgan Busse has a very good feel for the heart condition of her characters. There is action and peril, but the real treat is seeing them fight through the internal conflict underneath it all.

This is a very good second book, engaging and well-crafted. I'm looking forward to book 3.

[Amy Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Son of Truth is an engaging read from cover to cover. It's rare that I like a sequel better than the first book in a trilogy, but as much as I enjoyed Daughter of Light, I loved Son of Truth more!

It's a little slow in the beginning, but the story picks up speed quickly. Then you won't be able to stop.

I love the sweet, genuine romance between Rowan and Lore, but I especially love the story of redemption for Caleb. It's a touching, gripping read that makes me glad I waited to read it, because now I don't have to wait long for Heir of Hope!!

[J.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so pleased with this series! A delightful find.

Like: Son of Truth offers fresh scenarios, appealing characters, meaningful spiritual themes, and plenty of action and adventure. I particularly enjoy the main characters from various cultures, all of whom have actual character flaws to keep them believable. The writing is straightforward, descriptive, and fun.

I recommend this series to any lover of epic fantasy. But now I have to wait an entire year for Book 3? Waaaah!

[Ralene Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Morgan Busse did it again! She spun a tale that kept me away from my daily duties. Her characters and plot twists pull the reader in and then won't let them go. Her storytelling excels as she weaves the lives of four totally different people together--even while they are apart. Just when the reader thinks that everything is going to be okay...well, I won't give anything away. You'll just have to pick up the book and read it yourself!

[C.J. Darlington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Son of Truth picks up right where Daughter of Light left off (so much so that I highly recommend reading Book 1 first). I was enthralled through ever chapter. A wonderful balance of fantasy, adventure, romance, and spirituality. I loved the new way it allows readers to see God and Jesus. I can't wait for Book 3, due in 2014.

[Janet Sketchley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Son of Truth is Book 2 in the Follower of the Word series. It’s been far too long since I read book 1, Daughter of Light, but I was able to follow, and enjoy, the story. My only complaint is that the ending merely puts everyone in position for the next book, without any sense of closure for this one. On the plus side, Book 3, Heir of Hope, has already been released.

[R.M. Lutz · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've read "Daughter of Light", be sure to pick up this excellent sequel. I would highly recommend this series to teens and up who love Christian allegorical fantasy. The characters are well-fleshed out and the allegory is stunning. (Like Christian sci-fi and fantasy? Check out thebookhoundchristianspecfic.blogspot.com for full length reviews and more.)

[Mikey Snyder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great fantasy read that points towards the character of Christ. I am so grateful to Morgan L Busse for her talent and her willingness to write these beautiful tales.
This book is very much the second book in a trilogy, so it acts more as a bridge than having a story of its own. But it still left me wanting to finish out the series and see where all these story lines converge!

[Jennifer Jungling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as good as the first book. The characters continue to grow and mature. They still struggle and aren't perfect but they keep trying. The plot is getting more tense and relationships are forming and changing. I am very impatient for the next book.

[John Otte · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great sequel! I was admittedly a little lost at the beginning (since it's been a while since I read the first book), but it was fun to get lost in Morgan's world once again.

[Phyllis Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific book! Now I have to wait for the next one!!

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. So fascinating and I could NOT put it down. I highly recommend this.

[Linda Yezak · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really wish I'd caught this series at the beginning. Morgan certainly knows how to tell an exciting tale!

[Emileigh Latham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This was a great continuation of the story. It kept me entertained and away from my daily duties. It was SO good! I can't wait to read the next book.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are amazing!

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite aspect of this book in regards to the series, is that this book connects the people whose four perspectives you are reading from. Which I love seeing how things click together, so I really enjoyed that. I loved getting to know the characters better and see them getting to know each other better when they do interact with each other. The over arching story has gotten easier to follow as well, because of know the characters, world, and vocabulary better. I’m doing less trying to figure those things out and more enjoying of the story.

Lore and Rowan are still my favorites, but I am starting to appreciate Caleb and Neriene more. I really enjoyed how much Caleb has changed and grown from the first book.

The one thing that I didn’t enjoy as much about this story, but I think is necessary for the story, is when the characters weren’t together in the story. Like Lore and Rowan weren’t together for the majority of the story and that made me somewhat sad. I really did think it was needed for the story though.

I also really like the parallels in this story to Biblical themes. There are some I’m sure I missed, but I really appreciate all of the ones that I’ve seen and understood. It also has had interesting what if aspect to the story. What if some angels had stayed to protect earth. What if there had been a battle on earth with angels and demons involved in blatant warfare? What would that look like and what would the repercussions be? It has been a fascinating storyline.
One thing I don’t understand is why someone who can heal themself can get seasick?