Traces: Songs of Destiny

by Franklin J. Knight

Death was only the beginning…

Songs of Destiny is a breathtaking spiritual fantasy that lifts the veil on the afterlife, introducing a world where angels walk, destinies are forged, and redemption awaits.

When Harriet dies, she meets a luminous being who shows her that the "afterlife," as she knew it, was just the beginning. Meanwhile, Adlai is born in a Kingdom of light as an Archangel in the making, marked for a purpose he can't yet see.

As timelines shift across the realms, earthly suffering and divine orchestration collide. With stakes that span spiritual warfare, healing, and reclamation, Traces explores the collision of human fragility and divine design.

Perfect for readers of The Shack, near-death encounters, or Frank Peretti, this first installment of an epic saga Will you step into your eternal purpose?

Discover Traces — where death ends and destiny begins.

270 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 16, 2024

Reviews

[Pretty Peony Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are three main stories in this book, and all three stories intertwine. We follow an archangel named Damiel, whose job is to guide an apprentice named Adlai toward becoming an archangel. The Creator leads Damiel and Adlai to a woman named Hattie, who has passed and is living between heaven and hell. In this space between worlds, Hattie could see her family in real-time on Earth and watch what they are dealing with during her funeral and afterward. The Creator is also with Hattie to answer questions she has. While Hattie is viewing her family’s life, she learns that her nephew, unknowingly, gave power to the fallen angels to corrupt him. The fallen angels, who’ve been watching Adlai, learn that he might be easily tempted and plan to find a way to make him one of the fallen.

This story had some very interesting and thought-provoking topics about the afterlife. I liked the idea of the middle world, where the dead could see and feel things that they weren’t able to in the real world. It was also a place where the dead could reunite with those they loved who had also passed. The idea of the Creator, the angels, and the fallen living in this middle world intrigued me. I thought this was a well-told story about spirituality and the afterlife.

[Jjean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting concept of life, death, & after life - a little slow to start but once you understand where the author is taking his characters, it picks up and explains how the characters end up where they are in life and after life - interesting description of heaven -

[Kristan Turner · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was almost a DNF. Part one was extremely slow, boring, and hard to get through. I pushed through, and part two became more interesting with a pretty good storyline. Still written a little on the slow side, but the message behind the book is a good one, which is the only reason I rated it as high as I did. It's definitely not a book I would read again.

[Lu Anne Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Traces, by Franklin J. Knight is an engaging look at the afterlife, specifically that bardo state of the just dead and where they find themselves. This book will appeal to those wanting a picture of a spiritual realm that is as real as is based in fantasy. I enjoyed the characters and the world building. Story flowed nicely and offered some unique glimpses into a fantasy afterlife.

[Occlith · Rating 2 out of 5]

The concept is interesting but the narrative was slow paced. The author tips his pen to CS Lewis and there are many ideas that suggest other authors. Traces is part of a series that I will not continue.

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. A good complex fantasy of the afterlife. My only complaint was that it was a slow read. Otherwise, I liked it.

[Chloe Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Traces: Songs of Destiny is a beautifully crafted spiritual fantasy that blends divine intrigue, human struggle, and redemption into an inspiring, page-turning journey.