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Seven Archangels #4
The Wrong Enemy
No one knows why Tabris, a guardian angel, killed the child he vowed to protect. The boy Sebastian got into Heaven, but the angels don't undestand why Tabris isn't in Hell. Instead God's given him a second chance. Another assignment. Another guardianship.
Although he struggles to help this new child, a ten-year-old girl named Elizabeth, Tabris can't escape what he did with Sebastian. Elizabeth's co-guardian doesn't trust him at all, which makes sense because even Tabris doesn't trust himself. Everywhere he goes, the angels all know what he's done, and the only angel who seems to want him is a friend from long ago, now a demon.
Shame and guilt follow Tabris like a shadow, but it's only the memory of the dead boy, and even though Sebastian still needs him, Tabris cannot face him. After what he's done, there's no way he can make it right. But his bright spirit is growing darker, and the other angels have realized that if Tabris can't accept the mercy he's been given, then he's going to fall forever.
Although he struggles to help this new child, a ten-year-old girl named Elizabeth, Tabris can't escape what he did with Sebastian. Elizabeth's co-guardian doesn't trust him at all, which makes sense because even Tabris doesn't trust himself. Everywhere he goes, the angels all know what he's done, and the only angel who seems to want him is a friend from long ago, now a demon.
Shame and guilt follow Tabris like a shadow, but it's only the memory of the dead boy, and even though Sebastian still needs him, Tabris cannot face him. After what he's done, there's no way he can make it right. But his bright spirit is growing darker, and the other angels have realized that if Tabris can't accept the mercy he's been given, then he's going to fall forever.
- GenresAngels
222 pages, Paperback
Published September 29, 2014
24 people are currently reading
416 people want to read
About the author
Jane Lebak
47 books392 followersJane Lebak writes about angels, smart women, and angels who have to put up with smart women. Her stories are a random assortment of genres, both fiction and nonfiction, long form and short form. Some of it is pretty weird. One editor told her, "You think so far outside the box, I'm not sure you know there is a box."
Boxes are for cereal. Fiction wants to be free.
Jane lives in the Swamp and spends her time either writing books or ejecting stink bugs from the house. She is pretty sure no one reads these author bios.
Boxes are for cereal. Fiction wants to be free.
Jane lives in the Swamp and spends her time either writing books or ejecting stink bugs from the house. She is pretty sure no one reads these author bios.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 10, 2020
ENGLISH: A guardian angel kills his charge (a 12-year old boy). Is this an unforgivable sin?
An excellent unclassifiable novel, which denotes a deep and compassionate understanding of the complexity of sin, repentance and forgiveness.
ESPAÑOL: Un ángel de la guarda mata al niño de 12 años que está a su cargo. ¿Es un pecado imperdonable?
Una excelente e inclasificable novela, que denota una comprensión profunda y compasiva de la complejidad del pecado, el arrepentimiento y el perdón.
An excellent unclassifiable novel, which denotes a deep and compassionate understanding of the complexity of sin, repentance and forgiveness.
ESPAÑOL: Un ángel de la guarda mata al niño de 12 años que está a su cargo. ¿Es un pecado imperdonable?
Una excelente e inclasificable novela, que denota una comprensión profunda y compasiva de la complejidad del pecado, el arrepentimiento y el perdón.
September 2, 2016
I have never quite read a book like this. It kind of felt like a dark night of the soul in a sense? By the way, I love the name Rachmiel, don't know why. Some of the responses from God gave me pause. The angel network was amazing, and funny at times. Reading this made me think more about what goes on in the spirit realm that we cannot see. It is very active. I was floored about the realization of Sebastian and Elizabeth. Overall, it was a great story but took a long time to build.
August 3, 2018
I *love* this book.
With an uncommon depth of understanding, Jane Lebak explores the complicated emotion of guilt while illustrating the dangers and pitfalls of misunderstanding, lack of communication, and preconceived notions, and covering everything with a grand show of God's amazing love.
With an uncommon depth of understanding, Jane Lebak explores the complicated emotion of guilt while illustrating the dangers and pitfalls of misunderstanding, lack of communication, and preconceived notions, and covering everything with a grand show of God's amazing love.
November 29, 2012
Speculative Christian Fiction gives a lot of creative freedom, except in this—when writing fiction using Jesus and Heaven, one needs to be careful in their portrayal. The Wrong Enemy by Jane LeBak bothered me in some ways and went deep in others.
The Wrong Enemy takes place in Heaven. It’s a story exploring the angelic realm. One of their angels, Tabris, murdered the child he was supposed to guard. The chapter opens with Tabris facing the Accuser. Tabris gets another child assignment to the anger and surprise of most angels. The question Tabris struggles most with is why God put him in charge of another child; a child he could possibly murder. One angel, Rachmiel, becomes the true friend, never giving up on Tabris.
While Tabris struggles with the growing anger and pain in his soul, a demon (fallen angel) continues to bother him to coax him to hell. Tabris struggles against the wily ways and seductive reasoning of the demon as Tabris continues his downward struggle. He hasn’t spoken to God since the child’s murder and many angels look at him with suspicion. Rachmiel tries to find out why Tabris murdered the child. It is only towards the end that Rachmiel and Tabris come together and discover the truth with the Holy Spirit’s help, of course. The story continues forward as Tabris and the child begin to mend their ways. But while the writing was excellent, I had difficulty keeping my interest in it.
First, it tread on a slippery slope with this quote:
“Josai’el [an angel] laughed. ‘But yes, when she was a child, someone told her to talk to me when she needed help…’”
We’re supposed to pray to Jesus. So this bothered me. Perhaps because of my background I am hypersensitive to these things.
Second, humans cannot become angels and there’s no in-between time when they die. You are either saved or not saved; hell or heaven. The book spoke about Limbo—a place between earth and Heaven.
The slow beginning of the novel kept me from finishing as fast as I normally finish a novel. Finally, by the third chapter I began to get into the well-written emotions and struggles of all the angels. In some places, I read avidly getting lost in LeBak’s fictional world—that’s what every reader loves! Many readers will be able to relate to Tabris’ struggle.
One of the angels, Miriael, pointed out to not let the demons talk or they will seduce you by their well-placed lies. Other areas of wisdom and a complex explanation of why bad things happen rang true with me. It doesn’t soften the blow of Tabris’ bad decision, but it also shows in a spot of wisdom why God didn’t give Tabris the full justifiable consequences—Tabris endured the emotional and mental consequences all ready. Any further punishment would have made him fall to hell.
The Wrong Enemy, while emotionally moving, had a slow beginning and slow end. Others may have a different opinion. Jane LeBak’s writing was this novel’s salvation. I gave this novel three stars.
And by the way, the cover art looked exceptional!
*Book given by author to review.
The Wrong Enemy takes place in Heaven. It’s a story exploring the angelic realm. One of their angels, Tabris, murdered the child he was supposed to guard. The chapter opens with Tabris facing the Accuser. Tabris gets another child assignment to the anger and surprise of most angels. The question Tabris struggles most with is why God put him in charge of another child; a child he could possibly murder. One angel, Rachmiel, becomes the true friend, never giving up on Tabris.
While Tabris struggles with the growing anger and pain in his soul, a demon (fallen angel) continues to bother him to coax him to hell. Tabris struggles against the wily ways and seductive reasoning of the demon as Tabris continues his downward struggle. He hasn’t spoken to God since the child’s murder and many angels look at him with suspicion. Rachmiel tries to find out why Tabris murdered the child. It is only towards the end that Rachmiel and Tabris come together and discover the truth with the Holy Spirit’s help, of course. The story continues forward as Tabris and the child begin to mend their ways. But while the writing was excellent, I had difficulty keeping my interest in it.
First, it tread on a slippery slope with this quote:
“Josai’el [an angel] laughed. ‘But yes, when she was a child, someone told her to talk to me when she needed help…’”
We’re supposed to pray to Jesus. So this bothered me. Perhaps because of my background I am hypersensitive to these things.
Second, humans cannot become angels and there’s no in-between time when they die. You are either saved or not saved; hell or heaven. The book spoke about Limbo—a place between earth and Heaven.
The slow beginning of the novel kept me from finishing as fast as I normally finish a novel. Finally, by the third chapter I began to get into the well-written emotions and struggles of all the angels. In some places, I read avidly getting lost in LeBak’s fictional world—that’s what every reader loves! Many readers will be able to relate to Tabris’ struggle.
One of the angels, Miriael, pointed out to not let the demons talk or they will seduce you by their well-placed lies. Other areas of wisdom and a complex explanation of why bad things happen rang true with me. It doesn’t soften the blow of Tabris’ bad decision, but it also shows in a spot of wisdom why God didn’t give Tabris the full justifiable consequences—Tabris endured the emotional and mental consequences all ready. Any further punishment would have made him fall to hell.
The Wrong Enemy, while emotionally moving, had a slow beginning and slow end. Others may have a different opinion. Jane LeBak’s writing was this novel’s salvation. I gave this novel three stars.
And by the way, the cover art looked exceptional!
*Book given by author to review.
October 31, 2014
I received this book as a Goodreads first read giveaway.
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book but it was definitely a unique story unlike anything I've read before.
Though the book is about guardian angels and includes Jesus and God, the religious element isn't overpowering and you wouldn't have to be religious to enjoy this book.
It took a while for me to get into the story as I tried to grasp the different aspects of the characters and the world they were in but after I did the story was interesting and I enjoyed reading it. I did feel towards the middle of the book it sort of dried up a bit and the same plot was being dragged out for a few chapters but towards the end the pace increased again.
The book wasn't too long, the ending worked well and overall it was a pleasant read.
Overall I give the book 3 stars!!
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book but it was definitely a unique story unlike anything I've read before.
Though the book is about guardian angels and includes Jesus and God, the religious element isn't overpowering and you wouldn't have to be religious to enjoy this book.
It took a while for me to get into the story as I tried to grasp the different aspects of the characters and the world they were in but after I did the story was interesting and I enjoyed reading it. I did feel towards the middle of the book it sort of dried up a bit and the same plot was being dragged out for a few chapters but towards the end the pace increased again.
The book wasn't too long, the ending worked well and overall it was a pleasant read.
Overall I give the book 3 stars!!
December 2, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. The characters instantly drew me in and I turned the page wanting to learn more about them and their world. It was a fast read that was both thoroughly entertaining and full of wonderful thought-provoking material. I didn't have to choose between something 'fun' and something fruitful, because it was both.
The creative descriptions of everyday life made me smile, but I think what really sets this title apart is the emotion and imaginings of divine love. The Wrong Enemy is a powerful story dealing with the big questions of forgiveness versus justice, but you feel it much more personally than some abstract concept. The story brings it home and you care. Definitely worth a read and highly recommended.
The creative descriptions of everyday life made me smile, but I think what really sets this title apart is the emotion and imaginings of divine love. The Wrong Enemy is a powerful story dealing with the big questions of forgiveness versus justice, but you feel it much more personally than some abstract concept. The story brings it home and you care. Definitely worth a read and highly recommended.
May 16, 2016
Though I've been a Christian since childhood, I've mostly avoided the Christian book sections since high school. I just got tired of stories that were safe, trite, or predictable. The Wrong Enemy is, thankfully, none of those things. This book was a breath of fresh air, or maybe of grace, with constant driving tension as various characters search for a motive (was it justified? Is that why the angel has been forgiven? Is there something darker at play?).
The angels manage to have unique characteristics, even ones that might be perceived as faults (but what is a fault if not a positive trait taken too far or ill-used?). I really enjoyed this book.
October 9, 2012
This book instantly drew me in. I probably shouldn't have started reading it at bed time but I just had to find out what was going on. Tons of character development and enough action to keep me interested. I found the descriptions of how the characters related to God and prayer fascinating (and close to home on occasion).
December 24, 2012
Wrong Enemy is the moving story of Tabris, a guardian angel who made a horrible, unthinkable choice and now has to deal with the heartbreaking consequences. The writing is beautiful and the characters are well-rounded. I could relate in some ways to each one of them. This story touched my heart and gave me plenty to think about. Nicely done!
November 29, 2012
I read this story in its original iteration and loved it. Then I read it as the new and improved work and loved it. I'm just sorry I didn't get to publish this one. It's a gem.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews