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Seven Archangels #1
An Arrow In Flight
Heaven versus hell. Earth versus eternity.
The seven Archangels of the Presence have always worked for God to help humanity, but after an assignment goes wrong for the Cherub Gabriel, he becomes hardened, judgmental, withdrawn.
Gabriel still wants to help humanity, but then God gives him an assignment that could result in the destruction of Jerusalem...and Gabriel fails to follow an order exactly as given. Retribution is immediate: Gabriel is closed out of heaven.
Now he has one year to find a way to make things right. He knows what to do: go once more to Earth and help God's people.
Working alone, help is impossible to give. The fallen angels want Gabriel on their side, and the other angels can't interfere. The more Gabriel struggles to regain what he's lost, the more he realizes the one thing he needs to change is the only one he cannot bear to risk.
Groundbreaking Christian fantasy, An Arrow In Flight features the seven Archangels of the Presence from the time of Abraham to the fall of Nineveh. Read it today!
The seven Archangels of the Presence have always worked for God to help humanity, but after an assignment goes wrong for the Cherub Gabriel, he becomes hardened, judgmental, withdrawn.
Gabriel still wants to help humanity, but then God gives him an assignment that could result in the destruction of Jerusalem...and Gabriel fails to follow an order exactly as given. Retribution is immediate: Gabriel is closed out of heaven.
Now he has one year to find a way to make things right. He knows what to do: go once more to Earth and help God's people.
Working alone, help is impossible to give. The fallen angels want Gabriel on their side, and the other angels can't interfere. The more Gabriel struggles to regain what he's lost, the more he realizes the one thing he needs to change is the only one he cannot bear to risk.
Groundbreaking Christian fantasy, An Arrow In Flight features the seven Archangels of the Presence from the time of Abraham to the fall of Nineveh. Read it today!
308 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 19, 2014
109 people are currently reading
446 people want to read
About the author
Jane Lebak
44 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 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 16, 2019
I have read 15 books or published short stories by Jane Lebak in just under a year. But this is the first novel I have read in the Seven Archangels series. And what an incredible read it is. Some fiction that I read is just simple entertainment. This book on the other hand will make you think, will cause you to reflect and now almost 2 weeks after finishing the book I am still thinking about this story. Lebak’s examination of the lives of angels is incredible. I do not know if Lebak has been divinely inspired in writing these books. But they have caused me to reflect upon angels far more. And to be praying the Saint Michael and guardian angel prayers far far more often.
This novel is a series of events and stories that span time, space, and overlaps with biblical events. The sections in the book are:
Heartless City 1415 BC
Holiday 1236 BC
Stones 1015 BC
In Carnation 973 BC
Pomegranate 960 BC
A Fish Story 637 BC
Irin 614 BC
Wanderer 593 BC,
Shepherd
Farmer
Teacher
Children In Hell 576 BC
The Epilogue 3 BC and Year Eighteen
Reading this story will stir something visceral in the readers. If you are a person of faith, a Christian or a Catholic there is so much to appreciate and that will resonate with you. If you are not it might stir things you are not aware of. The presentation of the spiritual battles. The story spans from events at Sodom and Gomorrah through to the early life of Christ. The interactions between angels and humans, and angels and fallen angels is captured in a stunning fashion.
Lebak does an amazing job of representing angels. The friendships and relationships between angles, and the different orders of angels. Also her portrayal of angels and their work for humans, is moving to read.
It has been a long time since I was a bright eyed 19 year old in my second year in university and leading a spiritual warfare prayer meeting weekday mornings at 630am. Over the years as my faith became more and more academic spiritual warfare interests have waxed and waned. But this fictional novel has stoked my prayer life. And it has left me desperate for book two. An excellent speculative fiction novel.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Jane Lebak.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2019 Catholic Reading Plan!
This novel is a series of events and stories that span time, space, and overlaps with biblical events. The sections in the book are:
Heartless City 1415 BC
Holiday 1236 BC
Stones 1015 BC
In Carnation 973 BC
Pomegranate 960 BC
A Fish Story 637 BC
Irin 614 BC
Wanderer 593 BC,
Shepherd
Farmer
Teacher
Children In Hell 576 BC
The Epilogue 3 BC and Year Eighteen
Reading this story will stir something visceral in the readers. If you are a person of faith, a Christian or a Catholic there is so much to appreciate and that will resonate with you. If you are not it might stir things you are not aware of. The presentation of the spiritual battles. The story spans from events at Sodom and Gomorrah through to the early life of Christ. The interactions between angels and humans, and angels and fallen angels is captured in a stunning fashion.
Lebak does an amazing job of representing angels. The friendships and relationships between angles, and the different orders of angels. Also her portrayal of angels and their work for humans, is moving to read.
It has been a long time since I was a bright eyed 19 year old in my second year in university and leading a spiritual warfare prayer meeting weekday mornings at 630am. Over the years as my faith became more and more academic spiritual warfare interests have waxed and waned. But this fictional novel has stoked my prayer life. And it has left me desperate for book two. An excellent speculative fiction novel.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Jane Lebak.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2019 Catholic Reading Plan!
June 9, 2016
A wonderful story of redemption
This book is, in my opinion, a worthy successor to the Frank Peretti books. I was involved, enthralled and couldn't put it down. If you're looking for quality Christian fantasy then give this book a try!
This book is, in my opinion, a worthy successor to the Frank Peretti books. I was involved, enthralled and couldn't put it down. If you're looking for quality Christian fantasy then give this book a try!
September 3, 2016
Even though this wasn't a romance it was a heartbreaking adventure. This is a great story of God's angels. Their point of view in Bible history. It's pretty cool.
November 18, 2020
Author Jane Lebak has used this book to tell us how different angels are from human beings. She begins by teaching us an angel's duties. From there, she shows us how God's assignments must be carried out exactly as He asks. We find out what happens when Gabriel doesn't quite comply. God shows Gabriel how wrong he was, and suddenly Gabriel is concerned that he will be winnowed from God's presence forever. It is God's mercy that he is sentenced to one year's separation from God. We begin to find out how different humans are from angels as Gabriel assumes a human body and proceeds to live a human life. This part of the book is phenomenal and I recommend reading it over at least once. From a slow start, this book ended up grabbing me and shaking me up. I think you will find it quite illuminating.
October 28, 2019
Not since "This Present Darkness" have I been so caught up..
In the other world of angels and demons. Didnt want it to end! These Spirit beings show their doings throughout thousands of years of Bible history until one disobeys and is put out of God's Presence for a year. Not a little fairy tail, these angels discuss science and philosophies as we now know, while experiencing the emotions of the human soul, and the pain of separation from God and loved ones. Everyone would benefit from this book and I am looking forward to the series!
In the other world of angels and demons. Didnt want it to end! These Spirit beings show their doings throughout thousands of years of Bible history until one disobeys and is put out of God's Presence for a year. Not a little fairy tail, these angels discuss science and philosophies as we now know, while experiencing the emotions of the human soul, and the pain of separation from God and loved ones. Everyone would benefit from this book and I am looking forward to the series!
July 15, 2023
I really enjoyed this book on the stories of angels in the Bible from the view point of the angels. This reads like a YA book at times, a bit simple and theres some passages i had to reread as the author makes assumptions in the story that the reader has some prior understanding about the Bible or how angels act. Spoiler: the part when Satan is pretending to be another angel and how that all resolved was very confusing but on the whole it was a good read. Will read the next in the series
May 26, 2021
Enjoyable and interesting. I felt so much sympathy for Gabriel, exiled for a year from God's presence, and liked how the story of his exile looked back to previous events and forward to the future. I lost track a few times, and think I might have followed it better in print rather than on audio.
August 7, 2017
Worth the read!!
Great book!! Can't wait to continue the series!!!you have to pay attention tho. Lots of characters. But other than that, awesome!!!
Great book!! Can't wait to continue the series!!!you have to pay attention tho. Lots of characters. But other than that, awesome!!!
October 30, 2022
Angelic
I've always had a soft spot for the angels. This book enriched that part of me. It has left me with that tingly feeling that I always associated with the angels' presence.
I've always had a soft spot for the angels. This book enriched that part of me. It has left me with that tingly feeling that I always associated with the angels' presence.
June 4, 2018
This book was amazing and everything I hope to be . Every moment Gabriel was feeling as a human feeling like he let his father down was intense . Can’t wait to read the others . This book goes to show us that no matter what , God loves will always remains with us no matter if some deny him.....
March 9, 2017
This is definitely an interesting take on the lives of Angels. I enjoyed it the book to a point. The first half or three-fourths of the book was hard for me to get into. It lost my interest all to often. The last half to quarter, the part that kept my interest, went way to fast.
I wouldn't recommend this book, nor will I read it again.
I wouldn't recommend this book, nor will I read it again.
May 9, 2016
An Arrow In Flight is a series of vignettes concerning the Seven Archangels and various missions they are sent on, beginning with the investigation and destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The interactions between the angels are believable and the characters well-developed. The interactions they have with humans are realistic and the instances recorded are usually reflecting biblical accounts. Halfway through the book, the vignettes drop and the second half of the book concerns Gabriel, who hesitated to destroy Jerusalem when ordered to by God, and therefore was sent out of God's Presence for a year. The remainder of the book chronicles his experiences when severed from connection with the Holy Father.
Gabriel's account is poignant and raw, believable; and sinners can identify with the shame and conflict he feels, attempting to reconcile himself to his state, the fear of ultimate destruction in the hands of an angry God, the sorrow of loss of fellowship with Him.
Satan as an antagonist is depicted in a believable manner. His character is three-dimensional if a bit shallow, with some of the flavor found in Paradise Lost, but with much less airtime. The main antagonist in this story seems to be Gabriel's flaws, which his character successfully works through in the course of the novel.
Perhaps it's my Protestant viewpoint, but I had some issues with Gabriel starting out female, though I concede the point that angels can appear to be any human in disguise form. Also, the timeline points, especially in the early chapters, could use some work, as the time lapse between the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and the fall of Jericho is a bit longer than 400 years, considering the period Israel spent in Egypt is recorded as 400 years in Gen 15:13.
Content:
Violence:
The story opens up with a brutal attack of two angels by the men of Sodom, involving a near-rape and brutalization, and the shock this causes to the victim. There is a depiction of the destruction of Jerusalem and a battle between a Babylonian soldier and Michael the Archangel.
Language:
Very clean.
Adult Content:
PG. As mentioned above, there is a near-rape scene. There is a chapter involving a woman whose husbands never make it to the marriage bed because of a demon's infatuation with her.
Christian content:
This book is clearly Christian in nature, Catholic in denomination. Some of the book pulls from the Book of Tobit, one of the apocryphal books included in the Catholic bible and omitted from the Protestant canon. The handling of salvation by grace, the plight of the sinner, the idolatry of the people and its consequences, and the holiness of God, are fully explored and crystal clear.
Final analysis:
I found it uplifting and poignant, reading a story from the perspective of angels trying to keep humans on the path to heaven, while battling demonic forces. While I had a few qualms from the outset concerning the timeline and treatment of Gabriel as 'half-fallen', I was pleasantly surprised by the content. Five Stars.
Gabriel's account is poignant and raw, believable; and sinners can identify with the shame and conflict he feels, attempting to reconcile himself to his state, the fear of ultimate destruction in the hands of an angry God, the sorrow of loss of fellowship with Him.
Satan as an antagonist is depicted in a believable manner. His character is three-dimensional if a bit shallow, with some of the flavor found in Paradise Lost, but with much less airtime. The main antagonist in this story seems to be Gabriel's flaws, which his character successfully works through in the course of the novel.
Perhaps it's my Protestant viewpoint, but I had some issues with Gabriel starting out female, though I concede the point that angels can appear to be any human in disguise form. Also, the timeline points, especially in the early chapters, could use some work, as the time lapse between the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and the fall of Jericho is a bit longer than 400 years, considering the period Israel spent in Egypt is recorded as 400 years in Gen 15:13.
Content:
Violence:
The story opens up with a brutal attack of two angels by the men of Sodom, involving a near-rape and brutalization, and the shock this causes to the victim. There is a depiction of the destruction of Jerusalem and a battle between a Babylonian soldier and Michael the Archangel.
Language:
Very clean.
Adult Content:
PG. As mentioned above, there is a near-rape scene. There is a chapter involving a woman whose husbands never make it to the marriage bed because of a demon's infatuation with her.
Christian content:
This book is clearly Christian in nature, Catholic in denomination. Some of the book pulls from the Book of Tobit, one of the apocryphal books included in the Catholic bible and omitted from the Protestant canon. The handling of salvation by grace, the plight of the sinner, the idolatry of the people and its consequences, and the holiness of God, are fully explored and crystal clear.
Final analysis:
I found it uplifting and poignant, reading a story from the perspective of angels trying to keep humans on the path to heaven, while battling demonic forces. While I had a few qualms from the outset concerning the timeline and treatment of Gabriel as 'half-fallen', I was pleasantly surprised by the content. Five Stars.
September 27, 2016
I love well-written correct biblical/ historical stories. This wasn't one of them. I felt the author took too many liberties with scripture and interpretation of scripture that it was uncomfortable for me. I needed a more solid foundation about what angels are and what devils are, etc., and my own beliefs are so different from this book that it bothered me. Didn't finish it. If you have no preferences, you might find it interesting.
Read
August 29, 2016There was so much of my personal struggles with myself and my relationship with God in this book. I have never experienced such emotion in a non-romantic book. It was beautifully written!
October 3, 2016
Arrow in Flight
Interesting but not my cup of tea. Also, if this is a proofed edition I would dread reading the original.
Interesting but not my cup of tea. Also, if this is a proofed edition I would dread reading the original.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews