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Yield
Giving up isn’t an option.
It’s an adventure.
Following a car crash, Chase McKinney wakes in a swirling mist and witnesses the murder of children via a three-sided portal into another world. He steps through in search of young men called Chosen to help track the killer and child-stealer, Ancient Piper. But when Chase finds things sometimes pass through him and he can fly, it’s clear to him different rules govern. And when he finally locates the Chosen, he soon learns he must survive this world, with its circa 1900s technology wed to supernatural dangers. For God has a plan for him beyond rescuing children—a seemingly irrational plan to experience life more abundantly.
Chase just wants to get back to his wife and family and fix the damage he caused obsessing over his job. But to do so means relying on young Shadowboxer—a leader who second-guesses himself—and learn a difficult lesson from the last person he would expect to see in this bizarre place. He and the Chosen must also sail to a deadly beachhead and a fortress-turned-prison. Because there, a master deceiver plots to establish a world opposed to God, and brainwashed children are only one factor in his death campaign against God-followers.
Meanwhile, Chase’s body lies in a coma. Can his consciousness reunite with it? Or will one obstacle be too much to overcome? Himself. Control or give up control? Chase must choose and perhaps die in the choosing. Or, maybe worse, he might live—unchanged.
It’s an adventure.
Following a car crash, Chase McKinney wakes in a swirling mist and witnesses the murder of children via a three-sided portal into another world. He steps through in search of young men called Chosen to help track the killer and child-stealer, Ancient Piper. But when Chase finds things sometimes pass through him and he can fly, it’s clear to him different rules govern. And when he finally locates the Chosen, he soon learns he must survive this world, with its circa 1900s technology wed to supernatural dangers. For God has a plan for him beyond rescuing children—a seemingly irrational plan to experience life more abundantly.
Chase just wants to get back to his wife and family and fix the damage he caused obsessing over his job. But to do so means relying on young Shadowboxer—a leader who second-guesses himself—and learn a difficult lesson from the last person he would expect to see in this bizarre place. He and the Chosen must also sail to a deadly beachhead and a fortress-turned-prison. Because there, a master deceiver plots to establish a world opposed to God, and brainwashed children are only one factor in his death campaign against God-followers.
Meanwhile, Chase’s body lies in a coma. Can his consciousness reunite with it? Or will one obstacle be too much to overcome? Himself. Control or give up control? Chase must choose and perhaps die in the choosing. Or, maybe worse, he might live—unchanged.
674 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 18, 2015
7 people want to read
About the author
J.R. Pierce
1 book1 followerJ. R. Pierce left an almost twenty-year career as a government inspector and groundwater geologist to pursue Christian ministry. In the years following, he served as a worship leader, Bible teacher and speaker. He also worked with several start-up churches. During this time, he converted professional experience as a technical writer and years of songwriting into the skills needed to create fantasy fiction. Fantasy seemed the perfect vehicle for expressing Christian concepts outside their traditional packaging, and being a prolific reader, a lover of the arts and a frequent moviegoer, he saw the advantage of using speculative writing to apply fresh perspectives to timeless truths.
His dream scenario, if it were possible, would be to go back into the past, sit on a park bench between A. W. Tozer and C. S. Lewis and engage them in an all-night conversation about everything.
And then write about the experience.
J. R. is a member of the International Ministerial Fellowship (i-m-f.org). He serves in advisory capacity on the board of Grateful Steps Foundation, a non-profit, regional publisher. He lives with his wife, Sandy, in the mountains of western North Carolina.
He is an independent author. Reasons for this are both numerous and freeing.
On most days, J. R. can be found writing at any one of a half dozen, local fast food restaurants because he does his best work surrounded by the noise and energy of people. One manager at Bojangles™ has even offered him writer-in-residence status.
YIELD is Book One of the Children of the Burning Heart Series.
It is his debut novel.
His dream scenario, if it were possible, would be to go back into the past, sit on a park bench between A. W. Tozer and C. S. Lewis and engage them in an all-night conversation about everything.
And then write about the experience.
J. R. is a member of the International Ministerial Fellowship (i-m-f.org). He serves in advisory capacity on the board of Grateful Steps Foundation, a non-profit, regional publisher. He lives with his wife, Sandy, in the mountains of western North Carolina.
He is an independent author. Reasons for this are both numerous and freeing.
On most days, J. R. can be found writing at any one of a half dozen, local fast food restaurants because he does his best work surrounded by the noise and energy of people. One manager at Bojangles™ has even offered him writer-in-residence status.
YIELD is Book One of the Children of the Burning Heart Series.
It is his debut novel.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 12, 2016
Genre: Epic Allegory (well it is)
Worldview: Overt Christian
Pros: Although this is a debut novel, the writing is mature. There is a nice balance between setting, description, and action. The characters are well developed and likeable. The story world is interesting and well-written. My favorite character was Namewearer. :)
Cons: The book is loooooong. 738 pages according to Goodreads. That's not necessarily a bad thing as long as the pacing of the novel is good. This is where the debut author had difficulty. The story is essentially a time-sensitive quest, but the characters end up stuck in places with no real urgency to leave. During parts of the book, I couldn't put it down. Other parts, I wondered why the characters had to go through certain obstacles. Not all of them seemed necessary to the plot. In a few places I skimmed (but not too many). There was at least one character that I wondered what ended up happening to him. He kind of disappeared in the story. I assume that because the book is the first in a series, we might find out later on.
Overall, the story was good but the story structure and tension was a bit out of balance. Still worth reading if you can commit the time.
Worldview: Overt Christian
Pros: Although this is a debut novel, the writing is mature. There is a nice balance between setting, description, and action. The characters are well developed and likeable. The story world is interesting and well-written. My favorite character was Namewearer. :)
Cons: The book is loooooong. 738 pages according to Goodreads. That's not necessarily a bad thing as long as the pacing of the novel is good. This is where the debut author had difficulty. The story is essentially a time-sensitive quest, but the characters end up stuck in places with no real urgency to leave. During parts of the book, I couldn't put it down. Other parts, I wondered why the characters had to go through certain obstacles. Not all of them seemed necessary to the plot. In a few places I skimmed (but not too many). There was at least one character that I wondered what ended up happening to him. He kind of disappeared in the story. I assume that because the book is the first in a series, we might find out later on.
Overall, the story was good but the story structure and tension was a bit out of balance. Still worth reading if you can commit the time.
Displaying 1 of 1 review