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The Valley of Dry Bones: An End Times Novel
In The Valley of the Dry Bones, Jerry B. Jenkins overlays the ancient End Times prophecies of Ezekiel onto the landscape of modern California. After a 17-year drought, multiple earthquakes, and uncontrollable wildfires, the state is desolate. The United States President declares the state uninhabitable and irreparable, directing California's 39 million citizens to relocate. From the air, California looks like a vast abandoned sand box, but to a few groups of people, it's their home. With less than 1% of the population remaining in California at their own risk, the holdouts encounter a clash of cultures, ethnicities, religions, and politics that pits friend against friend with the future of California at stake.
9 pages, Audio CD
First published April 19, 2016
90 people are currently reading
327 people want to read
About the author
Jerry B. Jenkins
672 books1,730 followersJerry Bruce Jenkins is an American novelist and biographer. He is best known as the writer of the Left Behind series of books for Tim LaHaye and The Chosen novels to accompany his son Dallas's TV series. Jenkins has written more than 200 books, including mysteries, historical fiction, biblical fiction, cop thrillers, international spy thrillers, and children's adventures, as well as nonfiction. His works usually feature Christians as protagonists. In 2005, Jenkins and LaHaye ranked 9th in Amazon.com's 10th Anniversary list of Hall of Fame authors based on books sold at Amazon.com during its first 10 years. Jenkins now teaches writers to become authors here at his website. He and his wife Dianna have three sons and eight grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
August 12, 2016
As promised, this is a partial post apocalypse story set in California.
In a way, it's reminscent of the recent Mad Max movie. Water is precious. The federal government has ordered a complete withdrawal of all citizens from it and declared it a forbidden zone.
It's no secret that in reality, Southern California, Nevada and outlying areas are in an ongoing water crisis. I live there in fact which was a personal reason for wanting to read this book.
And there is already a real life villian in the form of the megacorporation Nestle who has been raping the few naturally occurring reservoirs of billions of gallons of water for almost nothing. One of their spokesmen has gone on record saying that water is a privilege, not a right. Which is why they've no intention of doing the honorable thing and ceasing the rape.
I digress.... back to this FICTIONAL story.
Despite the federal mandate, there are folks who are determined to stick it out. The group we follow are missionaries who stay behind because they feel tasked to minister to others who stayed behind and attempt to convert them still.
They live in daily danger of marauders who attack small enclaves of people to steal their water. And then sell it to other groups as a premium.
It's a decent adult dystopian story. Religion is a key part of the story and Christianity is not the only one present in the story. However, there was a bit too strong of an emphasis that Christianity is the only true way despite the way the story plays out.
Enough that I would classify this also in the christian fiction genre as promoting Christianity.
Thank you to the publisher for the free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
In a way, it's reminscent of the recent Mad Max movie. Water is precious. The federal government has ordered a complete withdrawal of all citizens from it and declared it a forbidden zone.
It's no secret that in reality, Southern California, Nevada and outlying areas are in an ongoing water crisis. I live there in fact which was a personal reason for wanting to read this book.
And there is already a real life villian in the form of the megacorporation Nestle who has been raping the few naturally occurring reservoirs of billions of gallons of water for almost nothing. One of their spokesmen has gone on record saying that water is a privilege, not a right. Which is why they've no intention of doing the honorable thing and ceasing the rape.
I digress.... back to this FICTIONAL story.
Despite the federal mandate, there are folks who are determined to stick it out. The group we follow are missionaries who stay behind because they feel tasked to minister to others who stayed behind and attempt to convert them still.
They live in daily danger of marauders who attack small enclaves of people to steal their water. And then sell it to other groups as a premium.
It's a decent adult dystopian story. Religion is a key part of the story and Christianity is not the only one present in the story. However, there was a bit too strong of an emphasis that Christianity is the only true way despite the way the story plays out.
Enough that I would classify this also in the christian fiction genre as promoting Christianity.
Thank you to the publisher for the free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
June 3, 2016
3.5 stars. I always look with interest at whatever Jerry B. Jenkins writes. He's committed to his craft and brought us hits like Left Behind. He obviously knows his stuff! His newest, The Valley of the Dry Bones, turns back to the contemporary, end-times-esque stories that made him a household name. I love the concept of a drought-ridden California becoming a wasteland, and I was drawn right into this tale in an action prologue that tugs at your heartstrings. Chapter 1 picks up a few years later, telling the story of Ezekial Thorpe (Zeke for short) and his family who live in an underground compound hidden from desperate criminals and the government alike. Devout to God and family, Zeke is a character we can root for. Unfortunately, he becomes somewhat un-relatable when he starts hearing audibly from God. Like the prophet of old, Zeke embraces his new calling with conviction and devotion.
Maybe it was the cover or the description, but I pictured this book a thriller and found it somewhat disappointing when I realized it would be better labeled a contemporary tale of a man growing into his prophetic calling. Even though there's danger and some intrigue over a possible spy within their midst, there wasn't a lot of mystery or even high stakes until the very end.
Left Behind was a novel that could be given to non-believers; The Valley of the Dry Bones is a book for the church. That's not a bad thing, but there are many moments that felt, dare I say it, a tad preachy. The verdict? The Valley of the Dry Bones is like a Kendrick Brothers film. If you enjoyed War Room and Fireproof, you will love The Valley of the Dry Bones.
Maybe it was the cover or the description, but I pictured this book a thriller and found it somewhat disappointing when I realized it would be better labeled a contemporary tale of a man growing into his prophetic calling. Even though there's danger and some intrigue over a possible spy within their midst, there wasn't a lot of mystery or even high stakes until the very end.
Left Behind was a novel that could be given to non-believers; The Valley of the Dry Bones is a book for the church. That's not a bad thing, but there are many moments that felt, dare I say it, a tad preachy. The verdict? The Valley of the Dry Bones is like a Kendrick Brothers film. If you enjoyed War Room and Fireproof, you will love The Valley of the Dry Bones.
July 14, 2016
Great adventure and full of action! I loved the characters right from the start and wish the story went longer. Filled with scripture and a terrific message!
August 5, 2023
Meh... it was ok.
August 5, 2023
This book did keep me interested and wanting to know how it would play out but it was definitely not as good as his other books.
July 15, 2016
1.5/5 stars.
I requested The Valley Of Dry Bones audiobook from christianaudio for Derek and I to listen to on vacation.
Before I jump into this, I have to say that I have read books by Jerry Jenkins in the past, and I have enjoyed them. He is most known for co-writing the Left Behind series, and I read another series from him that I enjoyed. He typically knows how to keep a story moving, and I like that. But unfortunately, this book is not representative of his books as a whole, in my opinion. I just have to say that first.
The plot of this book follows a small group of people that stays in California after a severe, permanent drought renders it uninhabitable. The back cover copy hints at a mystery involving possible terrorism. Amidst all this, the leader of the group, Zeke, starts to hear the voice of God in a prophetic way. Somehow from reading the book description and the title, I thought this would be some sort of fictional parallel of the prophet Ezekiel, in the Bible, but that's not what it was at all.
I'm not sure how to even describe the plot because so little happened in this book. It was mostly internal conflict and an elder election among members of the group. It was extremely slow. There were a lot of words to tell very little action.
The writing in this book was mostly "tell", and very little "show", and for the first time I realized why that fiction writing rule is so important. There was no mystery at all, because we were told almost everything that was going to happen before it happened. The story could have had a lot more suspense if it had been written differently, and that was a shame.
I was also left confused about a few things. For example:
1) Why are they in California when it's so uninhabitable? It was supposedly to act as missionaries to the people who were left, but very little missionary action seemed to happen before the very end. Throughout this book the characters were very concerned with hiding and keeping outsiders out of their compound. Why were they so inhospitable toward certain outsiders if they were supposed to be ministering to them? What's the point of being there if you are just going to hole up with your own little group?
2) How did this drought happen (besides it being an act of God)? The main character was supposed to be a scientist who saw this drought coming, and came up with scientific ways to grow food and live in this extreme desert. I wanted to read more about that. Instead, any descriptions of the drought were vague, the characters spent very little time outside, and there were negligible descriptions of the environment and the mechanics of existing there. It left me feeling like this whole concept was really improbable.
The plot line that involved Zeke hearing from God really had no biblical basis, in my opinion, aside from the references to prophesying in Joel 2:28. Like I said, I thought there would be more parallels to Ezekiel or something of that nature, but instead there were (once again) vague references to this being some sort of signal of the end times approaching. What this "prophesying" added to the plot was minimal, and it didn't wrap up well enough for me. I did appreciate that all the words that were supposed to be from God were actual Scripture verses.
That narrator was good, and I liked the different voices he did for the characters. But his narration was a bit on the slow side, in my opinion. I actually listened to most of this book on 2x the speed, and I could still understand every word. However, I think he did a good job with a difficult story. I think my feelings on the book being slow were more because of the writing than because of the narrating.
Note: I received a free copy of this audiobook as part of the christianaudio review program. This is my honest opinion.
I requested The Valley Of Dry Bones audiobook from christianaudio for Derek and I to listen to on vacation.
Before I jump into this, I have to say that I have read books by Jerry Jenkins in the past, and I have enjoyed them. He is most known for co-writing the Left Behind series, and I read another series from him that I enjoyed. He typically knows how to keep a story moving, and I like that. But unfortunately, this book is not representative of his books as a whole, in my opinion. I just have to say that first.
The plot of this book follows a small group of people that stays in California after a severe, permanent drought renders it uninhabitable. The back cover copy hints at a mystery involving possible terrorism. Amidst all this, the leader of the group, Zeke, starts to hear the voice of God in a prophetic way. Somehow from reading the book description and the title, I thought this would be some sort of fictional parallel of the prophet Ezekiel, in the Bible, but that's not what it was at all.
I'm not sure how to even describe the plot because so little happened in this book. It was mostly internal conflict and an elder election among members of the group. It was extremely slow. There were a lot of words to tell very little action.
The writing in this book was mostly "tell", and very little "show", and for the first time I realized why that fiction writing rule is so important. There was no mystery at all, because we were told almost everything that was going to happen before it happened. The story could have had a lot more suspense if it had been written differently, and that was a shame.
I was also left confused about a few things. For example:
1) Why are they in California when it's so uninhabitable? It was supposedly to act as missionaries to the people who were left, but very little missionary action seemed to happen before the very end. Throughout this book the characters were very concerned with hiding and keeping outsiders out of their compound. Why were they so inhospitable toward certain outsiders if they were supposed to be ministering to them? What's the point of being there if you are just going to hole up with your own little group?
2) How did this drought happen (besides it being an act of God)? The main character was supposed to be a scientist who saw this drought coming, and came up with scientific ways to grow food and live in this extreme desert. I wanted to read more about that. Instead, any descriptions of the drought were vague, the characters spent very little time outside, and there were negligible descriptions of the environment and the mechanics of existing there. It left me feeling like this whole concept was really improbable.
The plot line that involved Zeke hearing from God really had no biblical basis, in my opinion, aside from the references to prophesying in Joel 2:28. Like I said, I thought there would be more parallels to Ezekiel or something of that nature, but instead there were (once again) vague references to this being some sort of signal of the end times approaching. What this "prophesying" added to the plot was minimal, and it didn't wrap up well enough for me. I did appreciate that all the words that were supposed to be from God were actual Scripture verses.
That narrator was good, and I liked the different voices he did for the characters. But his narration was a bit on the slow side, in my opinion. I actually listened to most of this book on 2x the speed, and I could still understand every word. However, I think he did a good job with a difficult story. I think my feelings on the book being slow were more because of the writing than because of the narrating.
Note: I received a free copy of this audiobook as part of the christianaudio review program. This is my honest opinion.
June 1, 2016
This novel was rough going for me. It did not grab me at the beginning, I kept waiting for something exciting to happen in the middle, and I wondered what the point of the novel was at the end.
The novel takes place in the near future in a California that has been ravaged with nearly two decades of drought and ruinous earthquakes. The federal government has abandoned the state and most people have left. Pastor Bob, Zeke, and a handful of other Christians have stayed to ministered to the remaining poor and Native Americans.
I liked the future setting, the drought and earthquakes a real possibility. I thought the community was unrealistic. They lived underground in a rather sophisticated dwelling, producing their own water, food, and (I guess) fuel. Granted, they had some engineers among their group, but how did they build this thing to start out with? Earth moving equipment? Construction materials? Pipes, electrical wiring, hydroponics equipment, showers, and lights? With the few in the community, this kind of project would have taken years. That whole aspect of this novel was just too unrealistic for me to accept.
There is very little “action” in the novel. The plot mostly consists of people talking and thinking. Pastor Bob is resigning his position and a new pastor must be chosen. Zeke wonders if it should be him since he is beginning to hear from God. There is another fellow, Doc, who thinks he should have it. There is some character growth and spiritual maturation as the novel progresses and decisions are made.
As I ended the novel, I was unsure of the point of it. I did not learn any survival skills. I did not find any insights into hearing from God and being obedient to His revelation. I did not gather new understanding of how to live together in a small and enclosed community. I did learn a bit about Native American ceremonies but that seemed rather irrelevant in the end.
There are the examples in the book of being obedient to God and the calling He has given. There is also an example of friendship and commitment to one another. The novel is character driven by design. You might like the book if you like reading a character driven dystopian novel with little action and relatively little suspense.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.
The novel takes place in the near future in a California that has been ravaged with nearly two decades of drought and ruinous earthquakes. The federal government has abandoned the state and most people have left. Pastor Bob, Zeke, and a handful of other Christians have stayed to ministered to the remaining poor and Native Americans.
I liked the future setting, the drought and earthquakes a real possibility. I thought the community was unrealistic. They lived underground in a rather sophisticated dwelling, producing their own water, food, and (I guess) fuel. Granted, they had some engineers among their group, but how did they build this thing to start out with? Earth moving equipment? Construction materials? Pipes, electrical wiring, hydroponics equipment, showers, and lights? With the few in the community, this kind of project would have taken years. That whole aspect of this novel was just too unrealistic for me to accept.
There is very little “action” in the novel. The plot mostly consists of people talking and thinking. Pastor Bob is resigning his position and a new pastor must be chosen. Zeke wonders if it should be him since he is beginning to hear from God. There is another fellow, Doc, who thinks he should have it. There is some character growth and spiritual maturation as the novel progresses and decisions are made.
As I ended the novel, I was unsure of the point of it. I did not learn any survival skills. I did not find any insights into hearing from God and being obedient to His revelation. I did not gather new understanding of how to live together in a small and enclosed community. I did learn a bit about Native American ceremonies but that seemed rather irrelevant in the end.
There are the examples in the book of being obedient to God and the calling He has given. There is also an example of friendship and commitment to one another. The novel is character driven by design. You might like the book if you like reading a character driven dystopian novel with little action and relatively little suspense.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.
June 12, 2016
Jerry B. Jenkins in his new book “The Valley of Dry Bones” published by Worthy Publishing gives us a novel of the End Times.
From the back cover: A 17-year drought, multiple earthquakes, and uncontrollable wildfires, leave California desolate. The United States President declares the state uninhabitable and irreparable, directing California’s 39 million citizens to relocate. From the air, California looks like a vast abandoned sand box, but to a few groups of people, it’s their home. With less than 1% of the population remaining in California at their own risk, the holdouts encounter a clash of cultures, ethnicities, religions, and politics that pits friend against friend with the future of California at stake.
California has been declared uninhabitable and mostly everyone has left. There are some that have nowhere to go and that is the group that Reverend Bob and his team stay behind to minister to. Due to health reasons he has to resign and move out and one of the team will take over. I believe this is an absolutely fascinating approach to hearing from God and not only ministering to the lost but to the Church as well. Zeke and the others are fascinating characters that will draw you into them so that you want to know everything that is going to happen to them. I do not recommend starting this book late at night because it will cost you sleep as you will not want to put it down. Mr. Jenkins is an excellent writer and really knows how to tell a story that will grab and keep you interest all the way through until the end.
If you missed the interview for “The Brotherhood” book one in a different series and would like to listen to it and/or interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Worthy Publishing for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
From the back cover: A 17-year drought, multiple earthquakes, and uncontrollable wildfires, leave California desolate. The United States President declares the state uninhabitable and irreparable, directing California’s 39 million citizens to relocate. From the air, California looks like a vast abandoned sand box, but to a few groups of people, it’s their home. With less than 1% of the population remaining in California at their own risk, the holdouts encounter a clash of cultures, ethnicities, religions, and politics that pits friend against friend with the future of California at stake.
California has been declared uninhabitable and mostly everyone has left. There are some that have nowhere to go and that is the group that Reverend Bob and his team stay behind to minister to. Due to health reasons he has to resign and move out and one of the team will take over. I believe this is an absolutely fascinating approach to hearing from God and not only ministering to the lost but to the Church as well. Zeke and the others are fascinating characters that will draw you into them so that you want to know everything that is going to happen to them. I do not recommend starting this book late at night because it will cost you sleep as you will not want to put it down. Mr. Jenkins is an excellent writer and really knows how to tell a story that will grab and keep you interest all the way through until the end.
If you missed the interview for “The Brotherhood” book one in a different series and would like to listen to it and/or interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Worthy Publishing for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
November 28, 2016
4.8
When a series of natural disasters leaves the state of California a wasteland, the U.S. government declares it uninhabitable. Less than 1% of the state’s population stays behind as all other relocate. Those who stay either could not leave, or decided to stay behind. One such group of 16 call themselves The Holdouts. They minister to those who could not leave, and help them survive.
But there could be trouble brewing among the group, and the leader is convinced that God has begun speaking to him directly.
This one is a page-turner. Full, rich characters, which I’ve come to expect from Jenkins, and a modern perspective on a Biblical vision. The story also has lessons on pride, forgiveness, salvation, and God’s will and plans.
A scripture that came to mind when reflecting on the story was Romans 8:28 – “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
The wrap-up felt a little abrupt, but I definitely recommend this one.
When a series of natural disasters leaves the state of California a wasteland, the U.S. government declares it uninhabitable. Less than 1% of the state’s population stays behind as all other relocate. Those who stay either could not leave, or decided to stay behind. One such group of 16 call themselves The Holdouts. They minister to those who could not leave, and help them survive.
But there could be trouble brewing among the group, and the leader is convinced that God has begun speaking to him directly.
This one is a page-turner. Full, rich characters, which I’ve come to expect from Jenkins, and a modern perspective on a Biblical vision. The story also has lessons on pride, forgiveness, salvation, and God’s will and plans.
A scripture that came to mind when reflecting on the story was Romans 8:28 – “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
The wrap-up felt a little abrupt, but I definitely recommend this one.
June 29, 2016
This book wasn't quite what I expected. I was thinking it was going to be a suspense novel, but it wasn't. The novel is sort of dystopian as it takes place after the state of California becomes pretty much a wasteland.
The book was interesting enough, and had a different type of plot than I usually read. It was sort of a survivalist type story. I liked the characters, and the book held my attention well enough; but when I was done reading it; I asked myself aloud "what was the point of the book?" Maybe it needed a different kind of ending, but I did not feel that satisfaction I feel upon finishing a great book...... I just felt like the story had no point, and no real ending, and I found myself wondering why these people didn't just leave the desolate state as there didn't seem to be many people there for them to bring to God.
It IS written well, but it just needed something more than it had in my opinion.
The book was interesting enough, and had a different type of plot than I usually read. It was sort of a survivalist type story. I liked the characters, and the book held my attention well enough; but when I was done reading it; I asked myself aloud "what was the point of the book?" Maybe it needed a different kind of ending, but I did not feel that satisfaction I feel upon finishing a great book...... I just felt like the story had no point, and no real ending, and I found myself wondering why these people didn't just leave the desolate state as there didn't seem to be many people there for them to bring to God.
It IS written well, but it just needed something more than it had in my opinion.
June 3, 2017
In this futuristic tale, California, victim of a seventeen-year drought, wildfires, and one too many earthquakes, has been declared uninhabitable and its citizens are forced to relocate. The Holdouts are a small group of Californians who remain at their own risk, believing God calls them to minister to the stragglers. Their lives aren’t easy, but they persevere. And then, the leader of The Holdouts becomes convinced that God is speaking directly to him.
Character-driven and short on action, this semi-dystopian, end-of-times tale in the vein of the “Left Behind” stories has, at times, a tendency to fall into “preachiness,” the result of which is to pull the reader out of the narrative. Despite its Christian theme and Biblical references, readers may be disappointed with the blandness and predictability of this tale.
Character-driven and short on action, this semi-dystopian, end-of-times tale in the vein of the “Left Behind” stories has, at times, a tendency to fall into “preachiness,” the result of which is to pull the reader out of the narrative. Despite its Christian theme and Biblical references, readers may be disappointed with the blandness and predictability of this tale.
August 28, 2016
Interesting futuristic tale set in a drought devastated California, with some references to the book of Ezekial. Some dialogue was firmly based on Scripture, with a main character named Zeke acting as a teacher- prophet, leading an underground group left behind in the evacuated disaster zone.
Readers who like sci-fi or apocalyptic fiction with faith elements may like this book. It reminded me of the movie I Am Legend, except with biblical references. More character driven than an action adventure. Not a comfortable read for me, but dystopian fiction fans may enjoy it.
(Book provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.)
Readers who like sci-fi or apocalyptic fiction with faith elements may like this book. It reminded me of the movie I Am Legend, except with biblical references. More character driven than an action adventure. Not a comfortable read for me, but dystopian fiction fans may enjoy it.
(Book provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.)
August 12, 2019
Once again Jenkins has written a page turning tale sure to grab readers and not let go. Zeke's band of "holdouts" is a peculiar and fun group, and readers quickly find themselves endeared to many members. While the story is set in the post-catastrophic future, it is not hard to imagine life under the conditions- although the set up of the bunker was a bit of a stretch. The Valley of Dry Bones is sure to be a hit for anyone who loves a suspenseful Christian narrative.
SUMMARY: When California sees unprecedented drought for 17 years and becomes an uninhabitable wasteland, there are few who remain. Ezekiel "Zeke" Thorppe is the makeshift leader of a small band of holdouts- missionaries who decided to stay and minister to those who could not, or would not, leave. When Zeke begins getting audible messages from God, the life they have built for themselves feels like it is crashing down, and as things go from strange to worse everything this group has built is in jeopardy. Hunted now by the US government, Zeke must decide where he draws the line between faith and security, and what he is willing to sacrifice to follow God.
SUMMARY: When California sees unprecedented drought for 17 years and becomes an uninhabitable wasteland, there are few who remain. Ezekiel "Zeke" Thorppe is the makeshift leader of a small band of holdouts- missionaries who decided to stay and minister to those who could not, or would not, leave. When Zeke begins getting audible messages from God, the life they have built for themselves feels like it is crashing down, and as things go from strange to worse everything this group has built is in jeopardy. Hunted now by the US government, Zeke must decide where he draws the line between faith and security, and what he is willing to sacrifice to follow God.
January 6, 2019
When your first read of the New Year is a great big flop. 😩 I was expecting so much more from Jenkins. I thought it would be edge of your seat, action packed, and thrilling. I got halfway through before I decided it was not even worth my finish. I have never invested so much time in a book that I didn’t finish but I couldn’t endure it anymore. The story line was moving so slow and I was reaping no benefits from this book; little to no entertainment value, little to no spiritual benefit, nothing. I was halfway through the book and feeling like the story was never going to unfold. The characters were not interesting or intriguing. I got nothing from this book. 😢 So I’m putting it aside and moving on to another “first book of the year”. I’m disappointed.
November 11, 2019
Overall a good story line and fast paced, yet not the craftsmanship normally expected from Jenkins. The ending is much too rushed and all the loose ends are tied up in a few sentences. It almost felt as if he was about to miss his deadline and had to wrap it up before the story had actually reached that point. I gave it a four because of the rushed ending and the fact that Zeke's "words from God" really didn't fit in the story line. I choose to think God would supply more relevant words than just random scripture that didn't fit the scenario playing out. I enjoyed the read and would recommend it, but beware it is not his best work.
May 19, 2023
What if God asked you to speak
Set in a not too distant future , a band of believers is holding on despite opposition and fading hope.
With beautifully written characters , Jerry Jenkins transports us into a valley of pre verbal dry bones .
When God speaks to one of the groups Elders they must all decide just what to do with such a burden .
Its not easy for men and women who follow everything the Lord says .
Set in a not too distant future , a band of believers is holding on despite opposition and fading hope.
With beautifully written characters , Jerry Jenkins transports us into a valley of pre verbal dry bones .
When God speaks to one of the groups Elders they must all decide just what to do with such a burden .
Its not easy for men and women who follow everything the Lord says .
December 6, 2023
Standard Jerry Jenkins. Mildly interesting characters in a mildly interesting plot with someone coming to faith in Christ in exactly the same way every 30 pages or so, and God speaking audibly to people by quoting the Bible verbatim with little or no personal connection. This time with global warming thrown into the mix. The entire state of California has become one big Death Valley. Obvious metaphors anyone?
A decent enough time-waster, but doesn't really stick with you.
A decent enough time-waster, but doesn't really stick with you.
May 10, 2017
Want to know what happens to the United States in the near future? Jerry B. Jenkins captures the possibilities. Friendships and faith are tested in this must read novel. I visualized each scene, the marks of a brilliant writer. Mad Max meets Left Behind. Thank you, Jerry for your dedication to good story telling.
September 4, 2017
The book started off a little slow but when I finally focused on it, I couldn't put it down. Loved reading the scriptures throughout the story and seeing how the characters really started seeing how they needed to trust what God was leading them to do. My all time favorite bible verse is John 3:16, and it was mentioned several times. Glad I stuck with reading it.
March 12, 2018
Not my favorite Jerry Jenkins book. It wasn't terrible, but it was a little disappointing. The ending was tied up rather neatly and quickly, and I would have liked more reference to the Ezekiel passage in the Bible that is the title of the book. For those venturing into this author's books outside of the Left Behind series, "Riven" is a much better choice.
April 25, 2019
There's some good stuff here. The writing is of a high level and the story flows well. My biggest problem is with the scenario of the novel. It just didn't work for me. It felt artificial as did the wrap up at the end. The whole scenario seemed forced for effect. Despite this, the description of people learning to work together in a strained situation was well done. I just wanted more.
August 1, 2018
A great and engaging plot that takes a different view on the chosen prophet genre. You quickly become endeared to Zeke and the rest of the compound's inhabitants, forming lasting bonds through their connection in Christ.
December 10, 2021
Dry Bones
I especially loved the message at the end of the book concerning the passage in Ezekiel between the Lord and the prophet and how God is able to bring life to that which is dead and beyond hope.
A great message to all of us.
I especially loved the message at the end of the book concerning the passage in Ezekiel between the Lord and the prophet and how God is able to bring life to that which is dead and beyond hope.
A great message to all of us.
May 31, 2025
It started out strong and I was excited to get back home to read. The book just ended. It felt like the couldn’t decide how to resolve the story and the author just chose an epilogue instead of doing the work to write the storyline.
September 2, 2025
Terrible. Surprised I even finished it.. the medical info was wrong and annoying and the prejudiced characters/plot lines were also very annoying.
The dialogue- painful
The plot- all over the place
The characters- boring and unbelievable
The ending- completely different from the entire book
The dialogue- painful
The plot- all over the place
The characters- boring and unbelievable
The ending- completely different from the entire book
August 5, 2017
This had an interesting premise but literally went the most boring, safe route it could have. very disappointed with the ending.
January 16, 2019
Interesting take on end-times. Fairly predictable. I liked the mix of cultures, personalities and back-grounds.
February 3, 2019
Great book
Again Jerry Jenkins has outdone himself. Book full of faith , excitement and most of all, to pray in all circumstances. A must read..
Again Jerry Jenkins has outdone himself. Book full of faith , excitement and most of all, to pray in all circumstances. A must read..
April 23, 2019
Futuristic
May 17, 2019
I usually enjoy Jenkins' writing and the characters he creates, but this book fell flat. It seemed like it was building up to something bigger before it simply concluded.
2.5 stars
2.5 stars
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