To Survive Divinity

by M.N. Henschen

Seven hundred years after The Cataclysm, gods walk the earth and all the old religions have been banned. Every year, six women are given as Offerings to the gods of War and Death. Those who complete the Disciplines are made Brides for the god to whom they were offered. Those who do not are forever forgotten. Being Chosen is the honor of a lifetime, but for fiery Kaija, a non-believer, it is a prison sentence. Letting go of her old life as a free woman is difficult, and Kaija's feisty spirit might get her into trouble. It will definitely get her noticed. Carrying with her an illegal copy of a Holy Book, Kaija is on a mission to both survive and keep her faith in the face of very real, manifest gods. If she fails, she disappears forever. If she succeeds, however, it might just change the world. Does Kaija have what it takes to survive divinity?

416 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 10, 2016

About the author

She was born in the shadow of the Smoky Mountains in the bustling town of Sevierville, Tennessee. Her love of books began as an infant when her parents read stories of all kinds to her. This love and an expansive imagination were given more fuel in the classroom of Dr. Vada Bogart at the age of nine. It was then that M.N. Henschen began reading works like Lois Lowery's The Giver and Wilson Rawls's Where the Red Fern Grows. Her favorite series of books, however, was also the story that sparked her interest in the world of fantasy: J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.

During her college years, M.N. Henschen studied language arts while pursuing her career in the medical field. It was there in 2008 that she began her first published work, The Line of Kavanagh. Thanks to the encouragement of her family and friends, what started out as a distant childhood dream became a reality, and her career as an author began.

Now a wife and mother of two, M.N. Henschen still lives in the beauty of East Tennessee, but she enjoys traveling the world with her family whenever possible. Working at the local hospital, she uses her storytelling abilities to brighten the days of those around her. She is thrilled now to be able to share her stories with the world.

Reviews

[J. R. Rainville · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think the best description I can think of for this is "Frank Peretti meets the Hunger Games". This book has the Christian speculative edge that Peretti brings in with such books as The Oath and Prophet; but also the dystopian bite and last-one-standing mentality of Hunger Games. The first person, present tense narration may be off-putting to some, but the story is definitely worth a chance. The Christian fiction aspect isn't preachy or pedantic; it just is part of the narrator/protagonist.

I enjoyed the modern mythology and pantheon of deities, and would love to know more about this world: how did it come to be, and how did the deities come to be? This book has great lore and could definitely set up for more stories set in this intriguing world. This book hit all the buttons I like, and made for a fascinating read.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. This isn’t the genre of fiction that I normally read, but I loved the story. I got hooked in the first chapter and had a very hard time putting this book down. I really liked the characters and couldn’t wait to see how the story wrapped up. This is a clean read and would be classified as Christian fiction.

[Melissa Carlstrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m in a puddle of tears right now. The whole book is so moving and inspiring. This is definitely a book that’ll be read over and over again. Thank you M. N. Henschen, for writing this beautiful story! 💜 -Melissa C-

[Robin Britt-mccoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I survived and was left loving for much more!

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of those delightful books where once I got into it (which only took a chapter or two), I didn't want to put it down. The book takes place in a refreshing take on a post-apocalyptic world where some humans have gained special powers and become "gods". Our heroine is being given as an offering to these gods. Few offerings survive to become a wife to one of the "gods". And those that do may wish they hadn't. This story has interesting characters that I fell in love with set in a world that I want to know more about. I truly hope we get more books from this author so that we can continue to explore this new world she has created for us. If you enjoy stories with strong female characters, such as The Hunger Games, then To Survive Divinity is probably for you.

[Savannah Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my new favorite book. I have NEVER in my life been this obsessed with a book I was reading. It is attention grabbing from the very first page. The plot is creative and exciting. The characters draw you in. Every page left me wanting more. I recommend this book to EVERYONE. I don't want to spoil it by going into more detail of everything I love about this book (eveything) but take my word, it's WONDERFUL.

[Sharisse Sons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't even begin to describe my love of this book.

First, the God-faith basis of this book is always a joy to read. But not just a joy in this book. A blessing. Very few books have developed the tact of bringing the idea and practice of a relationship with God into a story without feeling as though it's being shoved in your face. However, here, it is beautifully woven into the heart and character of the story so that you truly believe it.

Second,the author has done a wonderful job of creating characters with depth and layers that you get to peel back as the story progresses, without feeling like you're walking around in circles pulling your hair out. I don't know how many times I've read a book where I'm screaming at the protagonist by the end of it saying, "No one would do this! Normal people talk to each other! People move forward!" and constantly get frustrated by the self-loathing and brooding that most characters partake in. But again, M N Henschen has spared us this pain and instead has served us a delicious banquet of believable character traits that we can grow to love and cherish in each person.

I can't recommend this book enough to anyone. You'll absolutely love it!