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The Delusion #1
The Delusion: We All Have Our Demons
By March of Owen Edmonds’s senior year, eleven students at Masonville High School have committed suicide. Amid the media frenzy and chaos, Owen tries to remain levelheaded—until he endures his own near-death experience and wakes to a distressing new reality.
The people around him suddenly appear to be shackled and enslaved.
Owen frantically seeks a cure for what he thinks are crazed hallucinations, but his delusions become even more sinister. An army of hideous, towering beings, unseen by anyone but Owen, are preying on his girlfriend and classmates, provoking them to self-destruction.
Owen eventually arrives at a mind-bending conclusion: he’s not imagining the evil—everyone else is blind to its reality. He must warn and rescue those he loves . . . but this proves to be no simple mission. Will he be able to convince anyone to believe him before it’s too late?
Owen’s heart-pounding journey through truth and delusion will force him to reconsider everything he believes. He both longs for and fears the answers to questions that are quickly becoming too dangerous to ignore.
The people around him suddenly appear to be shackled and enslaved.
Owen frantically seeks a cure for what he thinks are crazed hallucinations, but his delusions become even more sinister. An army of hideous, towering beings, unseen by anyone but Owen, are preying on his girlfriend and classmates, provoking them to self-destruction.
Owen eventually arrives at a mind-bending conclusion: he’s not imagining the evil—everyone else is blind to its reality. He must warn and rescue those he loves . . . but this proves to be no simple mission. Will he be able to convince anyone to believe him before it’s too late?
Owen’s heart-pounding journey through truth and delusion will force him to reconsider everything he believes. He both longs for and fears the answers to questions that are quickly becoming too dangerous to ignore.
336 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2012
132 people are currently reading
2564 people want to read
About the author
Laura Gallier
13 books109 followersIn a youth culture intrigued by the paranormal yet often skeptical of biblical claims, Laura Gallier seeks to bring awareness and understanding to issues surrounding the supernatural. Having battled her own enemies of the soul throughout her teen and young adult years, she is on a mission to expose deception with the light of truth, bringing hope and healing to a generation in need. Laura lives in the greater Houston area with her husband, Patrick, and their three children. Get to know Laura better at www.lauragallier.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 247 reviews
February 3, 2022
I'm torn, but I think this is 5 stars! Closer to 4.5.
I was absolutely captivated by this book.
It had a bit of slow start, but once things get going, OH it got so good.
The Delusion is like This Present Darkness for a younger audience. We follow a senior boy in high school, and from reasons, he is able to see the spiritual realm.
I thought it was realistic but also exciting. Some of the characters were infuriating, but in a good way.
The portrayal of the demons and angels was fantastic and terrifying.
I cried multiple times when the angels interacted with the people. Beautiful.
The ending was so good!!! I am getting my hands on the next book immediately!
I was absolutely captivated by this book.
It had a bit of slow start, but once things get going, OH it got so good.
The Delusion is like This Present Darkness for a younger audience. We follow a senior boy in high school, and from reasons, he is able to see the spiritual realm.
I thought it was realistic but also exciting. Some of the characters were infuriating, but in a good way.
The portrayal of the demons and angels was fantastic and terrifying.
I cried multiple times when the angels interacted with the people. Beautiful.
The ending was so good!!! I am getting my hands on the next book immediately!
March 5, 2022
Full video review here: https://youtu.be/RvcSgt_m5sY
This is one of the most harmful things I’ve ever read in my life. Shame on this author. This book has quotes that perpetuate stigma (and subsequently, harm) against mental illness and those who struggle with it. Such as:
“My coach called me into his office and gave me what can only be described as a bipolar lecture. First he’d shout, launching white balls of spit at my face, then he’d ask if I was all right. This up-and-down interrogation went on for most of the class period.”
BIPOLAR DOES NOT MEAN WHAT THE AUTHOR THINKS IT MEANS.
“I turned again and again and again to look behind me, officially suffering from OCD now.”
“decided to search for “seeing things that aren’t there.” That didn’t help my anxiety one bit. From what I read, I was most likely suffering from schizoid personality disorder—a diagnosis that scared me so bad I slammed my laptop shut and buried every inch of my body under my covers. It’s a strange thing to hope that you have a brain tumor, but I’d take that over some incurable mental disorder. At least brain tumors are operable. Sometimes.”
“that the toothless man operating the ride was linked to a Creeper named Insanity.”
“Deranged and strung out or not, those people were under attack. And they knew it. They could see the Creepers—or at the very least, feel their presence. It made sense, I guess. Homeless people walking around swatting and mumbling into thin air. Maybe the Creepers had actually driven them out of their functional lives into panhandling and street-corner babbling. I’ll probably end up under a bridge with them someday, suffering and swinging away.”
VIDEO REVIEW HERE: https://youtu.be/RvcSgt_m5sY
This is one of the most harmful things I’ve ever read in my life. Shame on this author. This book has quotes that perpetuate stigma (and subsequently, harm) against mental illness and those who struggle with it. Such as:
“My coach called me into his office and gave me what can only be described as a bipolar lecture. First he’d shout, launching white balls of spit at my face, then he’d ask if I was all right. This up-and-down interrogation went on for most of the class period.”
BIPOLAR DOES NOT MEAN WHAT THE AUTHOR THINKS IT MEANS.
“I turned again and again and again to look behind me, officially suffering from OCD now.”
“decided to search for “seeing things that aren’t there.” That didn’t help my anxiety one bit. From what I read, I was most likely suffering from schizoid personality disorder—a diagnosis that scared me so bad I slammed my laptop shut and buried every inch of my body under my covers. It’s a strange thing to hope that you have a brain tumor, but I’d take that over some incurable mental disorder. At least brain tumors are operable. Sometimes.”
“that the toothless man operating the ride was linked to a Creeper named Insanity.”
“Deranged and strung out or not, those people were under attack. And they knew it. They could see the Creepers—or at the very least, feel their presence. It made sense, I guess. Homeless people walking around swatting and mumbling into thin air. Maybe the Creepers had actually driven them out of their functional lives into panhandling and street-corner babbling. I’ll probably end up under a bridge with them someday, suffering and swinging away.”
VIDEO REVIEW HERE: https://youtu.be/RvcSgt_m5sY
April 11, 2015
Wow. I originally picked this up because it was written by my mom's friend. It surpassed my expectations! I am a teen reader who is a big fan of action, fantasy, and suspense. This novel fits all of those categories. (Not to mention supernatural!)
This book is one of those ones that leaves you looking differently. As a Christian myself, I can say, everything in it fits in perfectly within the somewhat limited spiritual warfare I have experienced in my (rather short) lifetime. The things described within leave you wondering about what you see going on in society around you. Beautifully written, action-packed, and mysterious, I would definitely recommend it for anyone who loves a good page-turner.
This book is one of those ones that leaves you looking differently. As a Christian myself, I can say, everything in it fits in perfectly within the somewhat limited spiritual warfare I have experienced in my (rather short) lifetime. The things described within leave you wondering about what you see going on in society around you. Beautifully written, action-packed, and mysterious, I would definitely recommend it for anyone who loves a good page-turner.
April 11, 2024
Even though the students died by their own hands, their deaths were provoked - and I'm the only one who could see what tormented them. Believe me, I tried to warn people. I begged them to listen, but they wouldn't.
Owen Edmonds is ready to close the book on his most stressful year yet: his senior year, in which nearly a dozen of his classmates have committed suicide. People are saying that the school is cursed. Owen doesn't know what to think. At least until he drinks water from a mysterious well on his family's land and discovers that the townspeople are wearing invisible shackles and being hunted by hideous beings. At first he's worried that he's hallucinating, but then he comes to a terrifying conclusion: the monsters are real, and he's the only one who can see them. He sets out to save the people he loves, but this mission will be harder than he ever expected it to be.
The Delusion is yet another book that I picked up on a whim. Sometimes these books are hidden gems. Sometimes, they're books I wish I hadn't bothered with. This time, it's the latter. I'm giving The Delusion 1 star.
Time to face the most obvious point: I wasn't aware that this was Christian fiction. Christian fiction is generally not my cup of tea, but for the sake of honesty: the fact that this book was very religious was not a point where I docked stars. I'm just not sure that I actually agree with the depiction that religion had in this book. It's hard to write a review without going into religious debate, but I intend to try. For reference, I did grow up in a Christian household and have an idea of modern religious teachings.
Specifically, I struggled with some of the basic concepts the novel presents. I'm not sure that I like the fact that the Creepers--or demons--were pretty much all-powerful unless faced with those that are extremely faithful. It also suggests that the demons are to blame for all evil actions, as if humans do not have a choice in the matter or are powerless when it comes to decisions. The Watchmen, which I'm assuming are supposed to be angels, don't do anything to protect humanity unless people are actively praying for them to do so.
The concept that a higher power--specifically a merciful and forgiving God, as Christians are taught--would abandon those who need Him most does not seem to coincide with lessons many churchgoers are taught. It seemed to insinuate that only steadfast believers were protected, when I think it would be more prudent to suggest that everyone gets a second chance. Even if it is meant to be one large metaphor for believing or not believing, I was too distracted by things that didn't seem to make sense, or were too black-and-white to represent real life.
But the real reason I didn't like this book wasn't because it was unexpectedly religious, it was because I don't think it was particularly well written. For me, there was nothing that I particularly liked about this book. The writing itself felt very stagnant and formulaic to me, and I wasn't endeared to any of the characters or their issues.
It featured a narrator that was judgmental and prideful. That might have been the point, but I don't think that Owen particularly learned any real lessons nor made any large leaps in character development. His supporting cast were much the same. They were all very one-dimensional and fit inside certain niches, never expanding to become more lifelike.
This book also features a cringe-y love triangle. One would think that demons stalking your hometown would be enough on one's plate, but Owen finds time to argue with an on-again/off-again flame while falling suddenly in love with the quiet, religious girl.
Odd - one minute I was worrying about endangered souls, and the next, about petty rumors.
So, in short, I just don't think that this book was for me. The writing style was a huge issue for me from the start, and from there on I failed to be enchanted by the characters, their relationships, or their problems.
October 12, 2023
The Delusion was an amazing read. I didn't expect to love it, but I could hardly put the book down. It made me think about things differently and was just so creepy! I loved the characters and liked that there really wasn't a heavy romance story (or at least romance wasn't the main focus). It was good for a change.
I could really feel for the MC. It would be so weird to be able to see things that no one else sees. No one believes you and yet you know what you see. It was interesting how the demons and spiritual warfare were written. I could actually believe the plot, as it wasn't far-fetched. Read the book and you will see what I mean.
All in all, I loved The Delusion and recommend it. If you are a fan of Frank Peretti or Ted Dekker, I think you will enjoy this book. I can't wait for the next one!
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.*
▪︎Rating changed to 4 stars after 2023 reread
I could really feel for the MC. It would be so weird to be able to see things that no one else sees. No one believes you and yet you know what you see. It was interesting how the demons and spiritual warfare were written. I could actually believe the plot, as it wasn't far-fetched. Read the book and you will see what I mean.
All in all, I loved The Delusion and recommend it. If you are a fan of Frank Peretti or Ted Dekker, I think you will enjoy this book. I can't wait for the next one!
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.*
▪︎Rating changed to 4 stars after 2023 reread
January 14, 2026
3 solid stars
While the idea of the book is original (and I probably would have enjoyed it), it wasn’t executed well.
First buddy read of the year with my bestie irl, elle, so make sure to go check out her review and like it! Link to her acc: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1...
I know how to use html now, so my reviews are going to be pretty now (yay!)
Plot
In a nutshell, this guy named Owen drinks a suspicious substance that causes him to see things in the spiritual realm, things no one else can see. He sees shackles around the necks of people, along with demon-like creatures following them. He tries to find a way to help his school, which has been suffering from multiple suicides, and then he realizes that the problem goes deeper than he thought.
Content
My rating is probably 14/15+, mainly because of very dark themes in the book such as suicide, hell, demonic influence, extreme violence, occult, pre marriage pregnancy, divorce, lustful desires, and literally so much more its kinda crazy. For the most part, the content is nondescriptive (I listed the most prominent things), as it is a Christian book, besides a few violent/horrifying scenes, such as . I feel like the author writes as if students take the suicides lightly, which is definitely not realistic and in my opinion, somewhat disrespectful, until the plot just takes a really dark turn and does not come back. More in my complaints!
Characters
-Owen was kinda unrealistic, and SO annoying. Somehow every mistake he makes adds up and causes chaos. He also somehow has problems with saying the truth in any situation, no matter the circumstance. He’s also so slow to actually come to Jesus, even though it’s so obvious that He literally helps. Also holds grudges for a very long time.
-Jess is terrible girlfriend material. Even before , Jess treats Owen like trash, like forcing him to go back to get her phone in the woods, without going with him (literally scene 1). She also jumps to conclusions quickly, such as openly accusing Owen of trying to hit on another girl when he literally did nothing wrong…
-Ray Anne is supposed to be the “likable” character, but she honestly irritates me. She’s the main Christian in the story, and yet she is dating a non-Christian, who has literally shown so many red flags, and yet she’s still with him? I’d personally be leaving the first chance I got. She does have some likable traits, though.
My Thoughts
The writing style was bad (terrible), but I do like the way Gallier presents the idea of the spiritual realm. While it may not be as she described it, the spiritual realm is a very real thing, and we should be aware of it (maybe just write it in a better way).
My Complaints
- Writing Style: Overuse of cliches, somewhat repetitive, and the descriptions are really hard to grasp.
- Plot Holes: Random things like Owen’s first period teacher being a chemistry teacher, then they’re talking about book reports. Also,
- Scenes are Repetitive: Mainly consists of Owen getting mad, driving, making up again with whoever, and the cycle starting again.
_____________
That’s probably about it. Did I like this book? Not really. Did I enjoy laughing at random parts on FaceTime with my bestie? Yes. Will I be reading the rest of the series? Yes (so y’all don’t have to)
Thanks for reading if you got this far! Remember to check out elle’s review (whenever it comes out)! Pls give advice to improve my reviews for the future! Jesus loves y’all and so do I! 🫶🏻
While the idea of the book is original (and I probably would have enjoyed it), it wasn’t executed well.
First buddy read of the year with my bestie irl, elle, so make sure to go check out her review and like it! Link to her acc: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1...
I know how to use html now, so my reviews are going to be pretty now (yay!)
Plot
In a nutshell, this guy named Owen drinks a suspicious substance that causes him to see things in the spiritual realm, things no one else can see. He sees shackles around the necks of people, along with demon-like creatures following them. He tries to find a way to help his school, which has been suffering from multiple suicides, and then he realizes that the problem goes deeper than he thought.
Content
My rating is probably 14/15+, mainly because of very dark themes in the book such as suicide, hell, demonic influence, extreme violence, occult, pre marriage pregnancy, divorce, lustful desires, and literally so much more its kinda crazy. For the most part, the content is nondescriptive (I listed the most prominent things), as it is a Christian book, besides a few violent/horrifying scenes, such as . I feel like the author writes as if students take the suicides lightly, which is definitely not realistic and in my opinion, somewhat disrespectful, until the plot just takes a really dark turn and does not come back. More in my complaints!
Characters
-Owen was kinda unrealistic, and SO annoying. Somehow every mistake he makes adds up and causes chaos. He also somehow has problems with saying the truth in any situation, no matter the circumstance. He’s also so slow to actually come to Jesus, even though it’s so obvious that He literally helps. Also holds grudges for a very long time.
-Jess is terrible girlfriend material. Even before , Jess treats Owen like trash, like forcing him to go back to get her phone in the woods, without going with him (literally scene 1). She also jumps to conclusions quickly, such as openly accusing Owen of trying to hit on another girl when he literally did nothing wrong…
-Ray Anne is supposed to be the “likable” character, but she honestly irritates me. She’s the main Christian in the story, and yet she is dating a non-Christian, who has literally shown so many red flags, and yet she’s still with him? I’d personally be leaving the first chance I got. She does have some likable traits, though.
My Thoughts
The writing style was bad (terrible), but I do like the way Gallier presents the idea of the spiritual realm. While it may not be as she described it, the spiritual realm is a very real thing, and we should be aware of it (maybe just write it in a better way).
My Complaints
- Writing Style: Overuse of cliches, somewhat repetitive, and the descriptions are really hard to grasp.
- Plot Holes: Random things like Owen’s first period teacher being a chemistry teacher, then they’re talking about book reports. Also,
- Scenes are Repetitive: Mainly consists of Owen getting mad, driving, making up again with whoever, and the cycle starting again.
_____________
That’s probably about it. Did I like this book? Not really. Did I enjoy laughing at random parts on FaceTime with my bestie? Yes. Will I be reading the rest of the series? Yes (so y’all don’t have to)
Thanks for reading if you got this far! Remember to check out elle’s review (whenever it comes out)! Pls give advice to improve my reviews for the future! Jesus loves y’all and so do I! 🫶🏻
February 25, 2022
3.25 stars
The Delusion was oddly compulsive. I got sucked into the story and had a hard time putting it down. It’s disturbing, without a doubt, but has a critically important theme: spiritual warfare is real and is countered by praying Christians. I think that this crucial message got a bit mixed up in the delivery, however. In fact, I found the message rather obscure, when it should’ve been crystal clear.
The plot had quite a few holes practically speaking and also Biblically related. For example, why would Rae Anne not actually explain to Owen what it means to become a Christian and how it actually works, rather than giving him practically no information? Also, the concept that evil can only be thwarted by mankind doing something is not Biblical. We do need to pray and do our part, but the real power that we draw from is God himself, and nothing in and of ourselves. On a minor note, questions arose such as how was Owen able to pay for so many things if his mother barely worked and he didn’t have a job?
I really enjoyed Owen’s ultimate evolution and change of heart, and found it a compelling, if rather simplistically written story. I had issues with the content, but also appreciated other elements of it. I will be continuing with the series and am eager to see what happens next, since this story ended on such a cliffhanger
The Delusion was oddly compulsive. I got sucked into the story and had a hard time putting it down. It’s disturbing, without a doubt, but has a critically important theme: spiritual warfare is real and is countered by praying Christians. I think that this crucial message got a bit mixed up in the delivery, however. In fact, I found the message rather obscure, when it should’ve been crystal clear.
The plot had quite a few holes practically speaking and also Biblically related. For example, why would Rae Anne not actually explain to Owen what it means to become a Christian and how it actually works, rather than giving him practically no information? Also, the concept that evil can only be thwarted by mankind doing something is not Biblical. We do need to pray and do our part, but the real power that we draw from is God himself, and nothing in and of ourselves. On a minor note, questions arose such as how was Owen able to pay for so many things if his mother barely worked and he didn’t have a job?
I really enjoyed Owen’s ultimate evolution and change of heart, and found it a compelling, if rather simplistically written story. I had issues with the content, but also appreciated other elements of it. I will be continuing with the series and am eager to see what happens next, since this story ended on such a cliffhanger
January 20, 2025
Wow!! This is definitely at my top books that I would recommend for someone to read. First off, I want to thank Laura Gallier for writing this amazing, powerful, thought provoking book.
Let me start off with what the book is about:
This book is about Spiritual Warfare it involves a lot of spiritual things such as, Demons, the Devil, the Holy Spirit, and God. It is REALLY heavy stuff that Laura goes over in this book like, abuse, school shooting, demon possession, suicide, suicidal thoughts, and more, but those are just the main ones. Personally, I think she did a wonderful job at handling these topics. This book definitely makes you think a lot about everyday life and our world around us that is so corrupted by sin. It definitely changed the way I look at the world. It really opened my eyes, because I don’t really think about these type of things on a regular basis and It really helped me think more. About some of the touchy topics that are things that we actually see around us whether it is with a friend, family member, or just a random stranger that are covered in this book too. Such as: anxiety, depression, fear, lust, and rage.
These topics are all very heavy and this book was helpful for me in the way that I can understand more about how people actually can feel those emotions.
Now here is my review of the book:
It is a really heavy and intense book! It doesn’t have any cussing which makes the book all the more better.
I would recommend reading this book with someone or talking about it with someone who has already read it.
It doesn’t have much gore to it besides toward the end it gets more intense. As far as romance, there wasn’t a lot, but there is still the relationships between teens and the thought in there head (which can be a lot).
Overall I recommend this book! Just make sure you can handle all the stuff I mentioned above before hand please.
I can’t wait to read the next book!!! Because of course this book leaves you on a cliff hanger. But what good book doesn’t?!!? Thanks again Laura Gallier! :)
Remember Jesus Loves You!! :)))
♥️Happy Reading♥️
PS: check out Kyera’s review
Let me start off with what the book is about:
This book is about Spiritual Warfare it involves a lot of spiritual things such as, Demons, the Devil, the Holy Spirit, and God. It is REALLY heavy stuff that Laura goes over in this book like, abuse, school shooting, demon possession, suicide, suicidal thoughts, and more, but those are just the main ones. Personally, I think she did a wonderful job at handling these topics. This book definitely makes you think a lot about everyday life and our world around us that is so corrupted by sin. It definitely changed the way I look at the world. It really opened my eyes, because I don’t really think about these type of things on a regular basis and It really helped me think more. About some of the touchy topics that are things that we actually see around us whether it is with a friend, family member, or just a random stranger that are covered in this book too. Such as: anxiety, depression, fear, lust, and rage.
These topics are all very heavy and this book was helpful for me in the way that I can understand more about how people actually can feel those emotions.
Now here is my review of the book:
It is a really heavy and intense book! It doesn’t have any cussing which makes the book all the more better.
I would recommend reading this book with someone or talking about it with someone who has already read it.
It doesn’t have much gore to it besides toward the end it gets more intense. As far as romance, there wasn’t a lot, but there is still the relationships between teens and the thought in there head (which can be a lot).
Overall I recommend this book! Just make sure you can handle all the stuff I mentioned above before hand please.
I can’t wait to read the next book!!! Because of course this book leaves you on a cliff hanger. But what good book doesn’t?!!? Thanks again Laura Gallier! :)
Remember Jesus Loves You!! :)))
♥️Happy Reading♥️
PS: check out Kyera’s review
October 6, 2023
1st Edition
From the first sentence, I was drawn right into the plot. The mystery of why so many teens were killing themselves was intriguing and Owen was a great lead character. I loved him.
Having a crowd of religious people chanting near the high school everyday seemed like a bit much. The signs they were carrying just made it even worse. Things like “The devil lives at Lincoln Forest High” and “Do you hear death?”. Not to mention the people camping out on the property next to the school and the people selling merchandise, like T-shirts reading “I survived a day at Lincoln Forest High”. The school was turning into a circus.
Jess was kind of annoying. Owen said that one of the reasons why he liked her was because she was outspoken. There is a huge difference between “speaking your mind” and being a bully. We did find out later that she had been raped a couple years prior and about the problems she was having at home. While this did make me feel for her a little, it still doesn’t justify her behavior. She was just plain mean. Also, quite a bit of Owen’s problems (misunderstandings between him and Ray Anne) wouldn’t have happened if he had just left Jess alone after they broke up. Jess is a big girl and can make her own decisions. At that point, she was no longer Owen’s responsibility.
Ray Anne was one of my favorite characters. I loved how she truly believed Owen about the Creepers, and was willing to listen and help him anyway she could. I also have to admire Ray Anne for her bravery. Even after practically being traumatized again and again by the stories Owen was telling her about the Creepers, she wanted to help him with what he was seeing so much that she went and drank the water to gain the sight.
I loved this book. It gave me the same anxiety and nervous suspense that The Pen Name by David Jacob Knight had given me. I really liked this terrifying plot idea of evil forces haunting the cast of characters that no one else could see or understand. Laura Gallier’s writing was great. The detail she went into describing the hideous and tormenting scenes was amazing.
2nd Edition (Re-written for series)
The first big change I noticed was with Jess’ character. In the original, I found her to be just plain rude from the beginning; a very unlikeable person. She did still speak her mind here, but it was in a way that made me feel for her character more. My issues with Jess came later. What irked me the most about her was the way she played with Owen. Jess kept jumping back and forth between Dan and Owen. She would keep complaining to Owen about the way Dan was treating her, Owen would tell her to break up with him, she wouldn’t listen, and then ran right back to Dan. I just didn’t understand her at all for the majority of this book. Owen should have just walked away from her completely. If she didn’t want to listen to his advice and just used him as a shoulder to cry on, then she didn’t deserve his help. And not only that, but the reason she even first went back to Dan was to try and make Owen jealous.
In one regard, I am glad the author changed the reasoning behind why Owen drank the water. It didn’t make sense to me in the first version. I mean, if Owen didn’t want Jess to drink it, he could have just poured out the bottle. In this one though, the reasoning was described as simply having a pure motive going in. Those two boys that died from drinking it just wanted to make fun of Owen.
One of the first creepy moments for me in the original book was when Owen saw his first person in chains. The descriptions that the author used helped to intensify Owen’s panic and concern in that moment. So glad that uneasy feeling was still there.
In the end, the original/standalone edition of this book would definitely have to be my favorite. There were many changes that the author made in order to make this story adaptable for a series that I didn’t care for. This book worked great as a standalone. It wasn’t necessary to turn it into this.
From the first sentence, I was drawn right into the plot. The mystery of why so many teens were killing themselves was intriguing and Owen was a great lead character. I loved him.
Having a crowd of religious people chanting near the high school everyday seemed like a bit much. The signs they were carrying just made it even worse. Things like “The devil lives at Lincoln Forest High” and “Do you hear death?”. Not to mention the people camping out on the property next to the school and the people selling merchandise, like T-shirts reading “I survived a day at Lincoln Forest High”. The school was turning into a circus.
Jess was kind of annoying. Owen said that one of the reasons why he liked her was because she was outspoken. There is a huge difference between “speaking your mind” and being a bully. We did find out later that she had been raped a couple years prior and about the problems she was having at home. While this did make me feel for her a little, it still doesn’t justify her behavior. She was just plain mean. Also, quite a bit of Owen’s problems (misunderstandings between him and Ray Anne) wouldn’t have happened if he had just left Jess alone after they broke up. Jess is a big girl and can make her own decisions. At that point, she was no longer Owen’s responsibility.
Ray Anne was one of my favorite characters. I loved how she truly believed Owen about the Creepers, and was willing to listen and help him anyway she could. I also have to admire Ray Anne for her bravery. Even after practically being traumatized again and again by the stories Owen was telling her about the Creepers, she wanted to help him with what he was seeing so much that she went and drank the water to gain the sight.
I loved this book. It gave me the same anxiety and nervous suspense that The Pen Name by David Jacob Knight had given me. I really liked this terrifying plot idea of evil forces haunting the cast of characters that no one else could see or understand. Laura Gallier’s writing was great. The detail she went into describing the hideous and tormenting scenes was amazing.
2nd Edition (Re-written for series)
The first big change I noticed was with Jess’ character. In the original, I found her to be just plain rude from the beginning; a very unlikeable person. She did still speak her mind here, but it was in a way that made me feel for her character more. My issues with Jess came later. What irked me the most about her was the way she played with Owen. Jess kept jumping back and forth between Dan and Owen. She would keep complaining to Owen about the way Dan was treating her, Owen would tell her to break up with him, she wouldn’t listen, and then ran right back to Dan. I just didn’t understand her at all for the majority of this book. Owen should have just walked away from her completely. If she didn’t want to listen to his advice and just used him as a shoulder to cry on, then she didn’t deserve his help. And not only that, but the reason she even first went back to Dan was to try and make Owen jealous.
In one regard, I am glad the author changed the reasoning behind why Owen drank the water. It didn’t make sense to me in the first version. I mean, if Owen didn’t want Jess to drink it, he could have just poured out the bottle. In this one though, the reasoning was described as simply having a pure motive going in. Those two boys that died from drinking it just wanted to make fun of Owen.
One of the first creepy moments for me in the original book was when Owen saw his first person in chains. The descriptions that the author used helped to intensify Owen’s panic and concern in that moment. So glad that uneasy feeling was still there.
In the end, the original/standalone edition of this book would definitely have to be my favorite. There were many changes that the author made in order to make this story adaptable for a series that I didn’t care for. This book worked great as a standalone. It wasn’t necessary to turn it into this.
December 30, 2017
RESEÑA COMPLETA EN ESPAÑOL
One of my favorites of the year!
This book has been compared with Frank Peretti's Piercing the Darkness and This Present Darkness, but while both treat the spiritual and the physical world, The Delusion is a novel aimed more at teenagers and young people.
This novel is one of my favorites of the year because it not only has suspense and mystery, but because it treats the spiritual world in a real way. Any young person can identify with the experiences of the characters and the situations they have to face. In addition, I liked that the author treated suicide and depression from a different perspective.
There are a few horror scenes, but I think they were necessary for the development of the story. However, if this kind of reading is not to your liking, it is better if you proceed with caution.
I have nothing more to say except to recommend this book to all the fans of this genre, and to invite you to read this first book of this series that promises a lot.
-I received a book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion, which I did-
One of my favorites of the year!
This book has been compared with Frank Peretti's Piercing the Darkness and This Present Darkness, but while both treat the spiritual and the physical world, The Delusion is a novel aimed more at teenagers and young people.
This novel is one of my favorites of the year because it not only has suspense and mystery, but because it treats the spiritual world in a real way. Any young person can identify with the experiences of the characters and the situations they have to face. In addition, I liked that the author treated suicide and depression from a different perspective.
There are a few horror scenes, but I think they were necessary for the development of the story. However, if this kind of reading is not to your liking, it is better if you proceed with caution.
I have nothing more to say except to recommend this book to all the fans of this genre, and to invite you to read this first book of this series that promises a lot.
-I received a book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion, which I did-
July 4, 2024
THIS MIGHT BE MY NEW FAVORITE BOOK.
It's a VERY CLOSE tie with The Maze Runner. First off, let me just say, "Thank you so much, Laura Gallier! You're book changed my perspective on society and I'm asking God to bless your family!"
Now let me tell y'all why I loved it so much.
This book is about a high school student named Owen, who starts to see the spiritual realm and the warfare that takes place around us every day. Though it's very intriguing(and we get to learn a lot about demons, angels, the devil, and God), it's a very heavy book. One of the main focuses is the reality of how broken our culture is. Many of Owen's classmates struggle a lot with depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. If you don't like reading about that sort of thing, I would not recommend it. Owen starts off not believing in any religion, including Christianity. But over time, through learning about the war around us, his anger at God becomes very heavy. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone under 14 years old, just because of how much spiritual depth there is. The book focuses on topics like suicide, school shootings, sexual sin, lust, and abuse. And obviously demons(and demon possessions), angels, Heaven, Hell, Satan, and God. The ultimate battle between good and evil.
Now, even though there are a lot of heavy topics throughout this book, it also changes your thinking. Before reading this book, I never thought a lot about spiritual warfare. Yes, I talk to God and Jesus and I'm aware of demons existing, but now that I've read this book, my perspective has changed. I feel like I have a lot more empathy towards people, even those who hurt me. This book gives you a lot of insight into what's really going on.
For the review, I'm happy to let y'all know that there wasn't any language. No swearing or cussing at all. Secondly, there wasn't much violence. Towards the end (I'll say this without spoilers), there was a bit more but not too much. There are a few times when characters talk about their abusive parents or the relationships they're in. Not much romance, but I'll make sure to tell you all that there is some scenes when characters start to have lustful thoughts, but not awful.
There's also so many great analogies and metaphors throughout the book. So many good morals.
For those of you who get scared easily, I DO NOT RECOMMEND. This might be the scariest book I have ever read(and that's saying something), mostly because it's all somewhat real. Personally, I could handle it because I really got into the plot and I wanted to learn more about the spiritual realm. But it definitely has scenes that make me shiver and scenes that will make you cry.
Overall, I RECOMMEND READING IT HIGHLY. IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE I PROMISE YOU. NOW WHAT ARE YOU DOING??? GO READ IT!!!!
Remember Jesus loves you!:)
It's a VERY CLOSE tie with The Maze Runner. First off, let me just say, "Thank you so much, Laura Gallier! You're book changed my perspective on society and I'm asking God to bless your family!"
Now let me tell y'all why I loved it so much.
This book is about a high school student named Owen, who starts to see the spiritual realm and the warfare that takes place around us every day. Though it's very intriguing(and we get to learn a lot about demons, angels, the devil, and God), it's a very heavy book. One of the main focuses is the reality of how broken our culture is. Many of Owen's classmates struggle a lot with depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. If you don't like reading about that sort of thing, I would not recommend it. Owen starts off not believing in any religion, including Christianity. But over time, through learning about the war around us, his anger at God becomes very heavy. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone under 14 years old, just because of how much spiritual depth there is. The book focuses on topics like suicide, school shootings, sexual sin, lust, and abuse. And obviously demons(and demon possessions), angels, Heaven, Hell, Satan, and God. The ultimate battle between good and evil.
Now, even though there are a lot of heavy topics throughout this book, it also changes your thinking. Before reading this book, I never thought a lot about spiritual warfare. Yes, I talk to God and Jesus and I'm aware of demons existing, but now that I've read this book, my perspective has changed. I feel like I have a lot more empathy towards people, even those who hurt me. This book gives you a lot of insight into what's really going on.
For the review, I'm happy to let y'all know that there wasn't any language. No swearing or cussing at all. Secondly, there wasn't much violence. Towards the end (I'll say this without spoilers), there was a bit more but not too much. There are a few times when characters talk about their abusive parents or the relationships they're in. Not much romance, but I'll make sure to tell you all that there is some scenes when characters start to have lustful thoughts, but not awful.
There's also so many great analogies and metaphors throughout the book. So many good morals.
For those of you who get scared easily, I DO NOT RECOMMEND. This might be the scariest book I have ever read(and that's saying something), mostly because it's all somewhat real. Personally, I could handle it because I really got into the plot and I wanted to learn more about the spiritual realm. But it definitely has scenes that make me shiver and scenes that will make you cry.
Overall, I RECOMMEND READING IT HIGHLY. IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE I PROMISE YOU. NOW WHAT ARE YOU DOING??? GO READ IT!!!!
Remember Jesus loves you!:)
November 15, 2020
This was a really good book. I did kinda buy it on a whim, because this isn't really the genre I read a lot of, but I actually ended up really loving it! I liked Owen as a protagonist, he had flaws, issues, and personality. I really enjoyed his voice as well. He was a really realistic character that I want to read more about!
Ray Anne was pretty good too, wasn't annoying at all, which was pretty good. Unlike Jess, who I literally wanted too slap on the head and wake her senses up.
Don't even get me started with Dan. I hate that guy so, so much it makes me so mad! The whole book I was waiting for Owen to give him the biggest beating of his life, but Dan got to him first unfortunately.
I loved the whole Creepers and Watchmen sorta thing. First of all, the Watchmen are freaking awesome, second, the Creepers are are freaking scary, which I actually like sort of spooky things in the books I read, so I got the best of both worlds.
Also, don't think that this is horror. Sure, it has the occasional Demon pop out on you every so often, with a few themes, but I seriously wouldn't classify this as a horror.
Dang, the whole time I just really wish someone, anyone, would believe Owen, Gosh that got infuriating.
Overall, a really intense, suspenseful ride that grabs hold and doesn't let go until you turn the last page. I really enjoyed it and thought it was really great! The writing wasn't the best, but I'll cut the author some slack. I'l keep my eye out for the second book, especially after that (sort of) cliffhanger.
Ray Anne was pretty good too, wasn't annoying at all, which was pretty good. Unlike Jess, who I literally wanted too slap on the head and wake her senses up.
Don't even get me started with Dan. I hate that guy so, so much it makes me so mad! The whole book I was waiting for Owen to give him the biggest beating of his life, but Dan got to him first unfortunately.
I loved the whole Creepers and Watchmen sorta thing. First of all, the Watchmen are freaking awesome, second, the Creepers are are freaking scary, which I actually like sort of spooky things in the books I read, so I got the best of both worlds.
Also, don't think that this is horror. Sure, it has the occasional Demon pop out on you every so often, with a few themes, but I seriously wouldn't classify this as a horror.
Dang, the whole time I just really wish someone, anyone, would believe Owen, Gosh that got infuriating.
Overall, a really intense, suspenseful ride that grabs hold and doesn't let go until you turn the last page. I really enjoyed it and thought it was really great! The writing wasn't the best, but I'll cut the author some slack. I'l keep my eye out for the second book, especially after that (sort of) cliffhanger.
November 5, 2017
I haven't read many spiritual warfare novels so I can't say how this is similar or different to other authors who write in that genre. I did find the plot interesting and the premise held my attention I especially liked the subtitle "we all have our demons." This captured the heart of the story. I am more of a fan of historical fiction, but the hero in this book was likeable enough to make me want to see how he'd turn his life around. His sudden ability to see the spiritual realm kept the story moving along.
The novel had a YA feel to it and the author had an interesting way of storytelling. The high school had darkness surrounding it that dated back to the occult group that lived in the area over a hundred years prior. Spiritual strongholds were a big part of this story. The illustration of bondage and chains weighing people down made me think about the trappings in my life. I liked how the author showed that even people in churches have bondage sometimes, and yes, even people who have the light are susceptible to the enemy's schemes. Prayer was the one thing that called the good guys to action. The author also showed that there is always a larger story or plan beyond what we can see. Sometimes it doesn't make sense to us how things turn out, but that doesn't mean God is not aware of the situation. Good message. Good book. If you like novels about spiritual warfare then this book is for you.
The novel had a YA feel to it and the author had an interesting way of storytelling. The high school had darkness surrounding it that dated back to the occult group that lived in the area over a hundred years prior. Spiritual strongholds were a big part of this story. The illustration of bondage and chains weighing people down made me think about the trappings in my life. I liked how the author showed that even people in churches have bondage sometimes, and yes, even people who have the light are susceptible to the enemy's schemes. Prayer was the one thing that called the good guys to action. The author also showed that there is always a larger story or plan beyond what we can see. Sometimes it doesn't make sense to us how things turn out, but that doesn't mean God is not aware of the situation. Good message. Good book. If you like novels about spiritual warfare then this book is for you.
September 25, 2018
I entered the Goodreads giveaway because I thought this would be a creepy paranormal story. Instead it's a religious book with bad writing.
January 15, 2022
read this a few years ago (before i really loved reading)
it changed my perspective on life and was fast pace and kept my attention. sooooo good. fiction but a look into the spiritual world.
it changed my perspective on life and was fast pace and kept my attention. sooooo good. fiction but a look into the spiritual world.
October 23, 2023
3.5 star
I love reading books that have been on my tbr for over 6 years lol, feels like such an accomplishment.
I received a copy of this book through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review, which does not effect my opinion of this book
phew nothing like getting to an ARC only 6 years later oops. I wasn't sure what to think about this book at first, it reminds me of Odd Thomas (the movie) and I liked the build of the storyline at first. However, about midway through I started to become annoyed with how the main character (Owen) was handling the situation.
So Owen is in his senior year of high school when his life changes... At his school, students are dying monthly and for some reason, the school isn't under investigation from this?? Owen decides to drink water (from a well with a random stranger) which ends up giving him a terrible stomachache (who would have guessed). Shortly after he's able to see things that he couldn't before. He starts to question what he knows and his reality.
What really held this book together for me was Ray Anne, she was the sweetest girl and most compassionate girl in the book. Even though she couldn't see what Owen did, she still supported him during this time period. To me, she made the book and I would only continue the series knowing that she's in them.
Overall, a good book but I wouldn't read again. I found myself annoyed at the situation the school was in and how students are able to still attend with all the deaths of their friends and acquaintances.
I love reading books that have been on my tbr for over 6 years lol, feels like such an accomplishment.
I received a copy of this book through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review, which does not effect my opinion of this book
phew nothing like getting to an ARC only 6 years later oops. I wasn't sure what to think about this book at first, it reminds me of Odd Thomas (the movie) and I liked the build of the storyline at first. However, about midway through I started to become annoyed with how the main character (Owen) was handling the situation.
So Owen is in his senior year of high school when his life changes... At his school, students are dying monthly and for some reason, the school isn't under investigation from this?? Owen decides to drink water (from a well with a random stranger) which ends up giving him a terrible stomachache (who would have guessed). Shortly after he's able to see things that he couldn't before. He starts to question what he knows and his reality.
What really held this book together for me was Ray Anne, she was the sweetest girl and most compassionate girl in the book. Even though she couldn't see what Owen did, she still supported him during this time period. To me, she made the book and I would only continue the series knowing that she's in them.
Overall, a good book but I wouldn't read again. I found myself annoyed at the situation the school was in and how students are able to still attend with all the deaths of their friends and acquaintances.
March 6, 2021
3.5 Stars
Spoiler Free TLDR:
A book written in first person, the POV is a high schooler who becomes aware about spiritual warfare occuring around him that results in his classmates' suicides. It has a really good plot, fantastic world building, good writing, and okay characters.
This book deals with a lot of heavy things, so there is a list of Trigger Warnings below. As such, I recommend for ages 18+. The writing is reminiscent to 'A Monster Calls', so if you enjoyed the writing of that book, you'll probably enjoy the one in this. This is a Christian Fiction book, so if that isn't your cup of tea then you definitely won't like this book.
---
TW: Mentions of: Suicide, Cutting, Alcoholic Parent, Abusive Parents, Cults, Rape, and School Shooting.
---
Thoughts and (major) Spoilers Below:
Plot: 3.5/5
(Basic Summary)
The book begins with 14 students who have committed suicide at the MC's school.
After the MC drinks pure water from a well on his property, he begins to see "Creepers" (demons) who haunt the people around him. He tries to warn his friends and mom, but no one can him can see the demons and mock him. The MC eventually finds a girl (his eventual crush) who "glows" and has no chains around her (like everyone else he knows). He learns that she's a Christian, and the MC realizes that the only people who do glow are Christians.
The MC deteriorates throughout the book, feeling guilt over the death of his friends who died (after drinking the pure water the MC drank), anger at his mother, lusting over his crush (and thinking pretty creepy stuff about her), and developing hatred towards his ex-girfriends boyfriend. After his crush drinks the pure water and begins to see like he does, she remarks that he is chained, just like everyone else, which drives him towards despair.
Running away from home after it is revealed that the MC's mother lied to the MC about his father, the MC researches about his father, learning that his father met his death as a Evangelist. Inspired by his late Father's life, the MC returns to school with his crush, only to find that it is overran by Creepers who cause a school shooting. The shooting results in the MC's crush getting shot and rushed to the hospital. The MC realizes his pride, and turns to God repenting and surrending. The book ends with the MC realizing that he, too, now glows.
------
Writing: 3/5
------
World Building: 5/5
I 100% highly enjoyed the world building in this book.
-"Creepers" (demons) plague humanity, waiting for any chance they get to enshackle their prey and influence their minds
-"Watchman" (angels) watch the humans, but are only allowed to intervene when prayer is unleashed
-Christians glow and are unaffected by Creepers, as long as they are surrended in prayer
There is a lot of intricacies that are delved upon in this book, and unfortunately I didn't take notes of it all- instead choosing just to read and enjoy the book without notes. It was all set up in a very intriguing way, though.
------
Characters' Rating: 2.5/5
The MC goes from decent, to unlikable, to a bit better at the end of the book.
The side characters are basic. The only thing that made them intriguing was the MC being able to read their vices. If not, these characters would have all been flat.
------
Overall Enjoyment: 3.5/5
This book definitely was world-building focused heavy type of book. Which is great, I absolutely love worldbuilding. The only thing was that it left it's characters a bit lacking.
However, I enjoyed this book for the most part and watching how everything unfolded. The ending chapter or two is what saved this book, as I really grew to dislike the MC during certain parts.
------
Notable Quotes:
-“Of course, but all that proves is that we’re all rebellious. Our innocence isn’t stolen, Owen. We give it up. We act selfish by our own choice, over and over without being sorry, and darkness rushes in. How can you blame that on God?”
Spoiler Free TLDR:
A book written in first person, the POV is a high schooler who becomes aware about spiritual warfare occuring around him that results in his classmates' suicides. It has a really good plot, fantastic world building, good writing, and okay characters.
This book deals with a lot of heavy things, so there is a list of Trigger Warnings below. As such, I recommend for ages 18+. The writing is reminiscent to 'A Monster Calls', so if you enjoyed the writing of that book, you'll probably enjoy the one in this. This is a Christian Fiction book, so if that isn't your cup of tea then you definitely won't like this book.
---
TW: Mentions of: Suicide, Cutting, Alcoholic Parent, Abusive Parents, Cults, Rape, and School Shooting.
---
Thoughts and (major) Spoilers Below:
Plot: 3.5/5
(Basic Summary)
The book begins with 14 students who have committed suicide at the MC's school.
After the MC drinks pure water from a well on his property, he begins to see "Creepers" (demons) who haunt the people around him. He tries to warn his friends and mom, but no one can him can see the demons and mock him. The MC eventually finds a girl (his eventual crush) who "glows" and has no chains around her (like everyone else he knows). He learns that she's a Christian, and the MC realizes that the only people who do glow are Christians.
The MC deteriorates throughout the book, feeling guilt over the death of his friends who died (after drinking the pure water the MC drank), anger at his mother, lusting over his crush (and thinking pretty creepy stuff about her), and developing hatred towards his ex-girfriends boyfriend. After his crush drinks the pure water and begins to see like he does, she remarks that he is chained, just like everyone else, which drives him towards despair.
Running away from home after it is revealed that the MC's mother lied to the MC about his father, the MC researches about his father, learning that his father met his death as a Evangelist. Inspired by his late Father's life, the MC returns to school with his crush, only to find that it is overran by Creepers who cause a school shooting. The shooting results in the MC's crush getting shot and rushed to the hospital. The MC realizes his pride, and turns to God repenting and surrending. The book ends with the MC realizing that he, too, now glows.
------
Writing: 3/5
------
World Building: 5/5
I 100% highly enjoyed the world building in this book.
-"Creepers" (demons) plague humanity, waiting for any chance they get to enshackle their prey and influence their minds
-"Watchman" (angels) watch the humans, but are only allowed to intervene when prayer is unleashed
-Christians glow and are unaffected by Creepers, as long as they are surrended in prayer
There is a lot of intricacies that are delved upon in this book, and unfortunately I didn't take notes of it all- instead choosing just to read and enjoy the book without notes. It was all set up in a very intriguing way, though.
------
Characters' Rating: 2.5/5
The MC goes from decent, to unlikable, to a bit better at the end of the book.
The side characters are basic. The only thing that made them intriguing was the MC being able to read their vices. If not, these characters would have all been flat.
------
Overall Enjoyment: 3.5/5
This book definitely was world-building focused heavy type of book. Which is great, I absolutely love worldbuilding. The only thing was that it left it's characters a bit lacking.
However, I enjoyed this book for the most part and watching how everything unfolded. The ending chapter or two is what saved this book, as I really grew to dislike the MC during certain parts.
------
Notable Quotes:
-“Of course, but all that proves is that we’re all rebellious. Our innocence isn’t stolen, Owen. We give it up. We act selfish by our own choice, over and over without being sorry, and darkness rushes in. How can you blame that on God?”
February 26, 2013
I do not normally write reviews but for this book I needed to. I am immensely happy I stumbled upon this book. Wow what a read, the author does a great job showing how our sin shackles us as we see through the eyes of the main character Owen. We also get to see the battle for our very souls as the demons delight in “attaching” more of our sins to the chains. She also lets us see the glows that we have once we give our lives to Christ, but beware the demons are ever present to see us stumble. It is only through Prayer and Faith in Christ that allows us to truly remain unshackled as we get to see through the character of Ray Anne. It was great to see the Spiritual battle between the Angles and demons. I would recommend this book to both teens and adults. The author reminds me of two of my favorite authors, Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti. I can not wait for the sequel and I hope it does get turned into a movie!
July 12, 2019
I absolutely loved this book. It a novel I think everyone should read. It is very well written and the characters develop a lot. When you read this book you will fall in love with the characters and connect with them. I read this as a buddy read with https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/9...
I own the book club below, and we are reading this book as our July Read
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
I own the book club below, and we are reading this book as our July Read
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
July 23, 2014
This is like the new "This Present Darkness," by Peretti. Fascinating. Chilling. I thought about it for weeks.
February 24, 2020
Flawless.
Read
April 7, 2023DNF at page 200 🥺.
I seriously dislike dnf-ing books but I also was seriously done trying to immerse myself in this one.
The writing and storytelling in general seemed targeted to a much younger demographic, like middle grade. Because of that, I found it so hard to get past the narrator’s immature way of speaking and recounting the story’s events. I feel like I would’ve loved this book when I was 13 though, since it has that feel of the books I was into at that time.
What drew me to this book is simply the fact that I love books that show the reality of spiritual warfare through the eyes of someone who can actually see into the spiritual realm. Chuck Black’s Wars of the Realm series is one of my absolute favorite series ever and I came into this story expecting something similar to WOTR. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this one at all.
Although it is told from a high schoolers perspective, all the characters, including the main character, acted like middle schoolers which was frustrating for me. Even the way the main character talks and narrates the story felt like a middle schooler (it reminded me very much of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson type narration). The way the MC calls the demons “creepers” and angels “watchers” felt extremely juvenile to me.
I also didn’t really like the way spiritual warfare was presented (through chains). It felt very unrealistic and far fetched. I feel so bad but throughout the book I was comparing it to WOTR and what I loved about that series is that the author uses the Bible and the Bible’s definition of spiritual warfare as the cornerstone of the plot. But in this book, the author seems to be taking a lot of liberties of what spiritual warfare may look like without having any biblical support.
The plot was also extremely slow moving. I made it through more than half of the book before giving up and even then the plot wasn’t moving forward much at all. I think that’s what ultimately sealed the deal for me to just move on, because aside from me not enjoying the main character’s narration, the plot was also pretty much going nowhere.
So yeah, these are the reasons why I ultimately gave up on this book. All of these are personal opinions and reasoning, at the end of the day I don’t see anything inherently wrong with this book. It just wasn’t my cup of tea.
I don’t rate books I don’t finish but from what I read, I think I ultimately would’ve come down to a 2 1/2 star rating.
I seriously dislike dnf-ing books but I also was seriously done trying to immerse myself in this one.
The writing and storytelling in general seemed targeted to a much younger demographic, like middle grade. Because of that, I found it so hard to get past the narrator’s immature way of speaking and recounting the story’s events. I feel like I would’ve loved this book when I was 13 though, since it has that feel of the books I was into at that time.
What drew me to this book is simply the fact that I love books that show the reality of spiritual warfare through the eyes of someone who can actually see into the spiritual realm. Chuck Black’s Wars of the Realm series is one of my absolute favorite series ever and I came into this story expecting something similar to WOTR. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this one at all.
Although it is told from a high schoolers perspective, all the characters, including the main character, acted like middle schoolers which was frustrating for me. Even the way the main character talks and narrates the story felt like a middle schooler (it reminded me very much of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson type narration). The way the MC calls the demons “creepers” and angels “watchers” felt extremely juvenile to me.
I also didn’t really like the way spiritual warfare was presented (through chains). It felt very unrealistic and far fetched. I feel so bad but throughout the book I was comparing it to WOTR and what I loved about that series is that the author uses the Bible and the Bible’s definition of spiritual warfare as the cornerstone of the plot. But in this book, the author seems to be taking a lot of liberties of what spiritual warfare may look like without having any biblical support.
The plot was also extremely slow moving. I made it through more than half of the book before giving up and even then the plot wasn’t moving forward much at all. I think that’s what ultimately sealed the deal for me to just move on, because aside from me not enjoying the main character’s narration, the plot was also pretty much going nowhere.
So yeah, these are the reasons why I ultimately gave up on this book. All of these are personal opinions and reasoning, at the end of the day I don’t see anything inherently wrong with this book. It just wasn’t my cup of tea.
I don’t rate books I don’t finish but from what I read, I think I ultimately would’ve come down to a 2 1/2 star rating.
December 1, 2017
About the Book
By March of Owen Edmonds's senior year, eleven students at Masonville High School have committed suicide. Amid the media frenzy and chaos, Owen tries to remain levelheaded--until he endures his own near-death experience and wakes to a distressing new reality.
The people around him suddenly appear to be shackled and enslaved.
Owen frantically seeks a cure for what he thinks are crazed hallucinations, but his delusions become even more sinister. An army of hideous, towering beings, unseen by anyone but Owen, are preying on his girlfriend and classmates, provoking them to self-destruction.
Owen eventually arrives at a mind-bending conclusion: he's not imagining the evil--everyone else is blind to its reality. He must warn and rescue those he loves . . . but this proves to be no simple mission. Will he be able to convince anyone to believe him before it's too late?
Owen's heart-pounding journey through truth and delusion will force him to reconsider everything he believes. He both longs for and fears the answers to questions that are quickly becoming too dangerous to ignore.
My Review
The Delusion by Laura Gallier is a Young Adult Supernatural Thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat and awake at night because you won't want to go to sleep until you finish the whole thing. Laura Gallier's The Delusion is reminiscent of Frank Peretti and Craig Parshall's Supernatural Thrillers and I believe Laura has made a place for herself in this genre and I can't wait to see what Laura will release next.
By March of Owen Edmonds's senior year, eleven students at Masonville High School have committed suicide. Amid the media frenzy and chaos, Owen tries to remain levelheaded--until he endures his own near-death experience and wakes to a distressing new reality.
The people around him suddenly appear to be shackled and enslaved.
Owen frantically seeks a cure for what he thinks are crazed hallucinations, but his delusions become even more sinister. An army of hideous, towering beings, unseen by anyone but Owen, are preying on his girlfriend and classmates, provoking them to self-destruction.
Owen eventually arrives at a mind-bending conclusion: he's not imagining the evil--everyone else is blind to its reality. He must warn and rescue those he loves . . . but this proves to be no simple mission. Will he be able to convince anyone to believe him before it's too late?
Owen's heart-pounding journey through truth and delusion will force him to reconsider everything he believes. He both longs for and fears the answers to questions that are quickly becoming too dangerous to ignore.
My Review
The Delusion by Laura Gallier is a Young Adult Supernatural Thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat and awake at night because you won't want to go to sleep until you finish the whole thing. Laura Gallier's The Delusion is reminiscent of Frank Peretti and Craig Parshall's Supernatural Thrillers and I believe Laura has made a place for herself in this genre and I can't wait to see what Laura will release next.
January 10, 2013
It doesn't matter whether you want to be in a spiritual battle or not - you are in one. The battle is between good and evil, and you are the prize. ~ Charles Stanley
"By March of my senior year, eleven students at my high school had committed suicide. What a sickening realization it was to discover their deaths had been provoked. I could see what was tormenting and inciting them, but it didn't matter. I was hard pressed to get anyone to believe me.
I realize you likely won't believe me either. Admittedly, my story is twisted an bizarre and nearly impossible to accept. Still, I'm holding out hope that, in the end, you'll turn out to be one of the rare ones - one of a small minority willing to venture beyond the five senses to see what is almost always completely and intentionally unseen.
It all began on what I assumed would be a typical Monday." (pg 1).
In the debut novel Delusion by Laura Gallier, she introduces us to what could be any high school senior, Owen Edmonds. While walking through Franklin Park one afternoon with his girlfriend, Jess, they happen upon an buried underground water source. Not knowing where it came from or where it ends, Jess, has Owen scoop up some of the liquid in a water bottle. When they bring it back up from the ground, it appears like normal water. However under the ground it glows with a phosphorous light and appears warm. When Jess threatens to drink it, Owen does one better and drinks it instead. What happens after that will change life for Owen forever.
After becoming violently ill, Owen gains a rare glimpse into the spiritual world. At first he doesn't believe what he is experiencing because he isn't the type to believe in things like God and demons. Yet when he sees demonic beings he calls Creepers and shackles around 90% of the people he encounters, he believes he has completely lost his mind. His mother has them around her neck and their are labeled, braided cords coming from the back of her head with things like humiliation, shame, guilt and more. Owen is used to seeing his mom drunk and now things have been taken to a whole new level. The more people he attempts to tell, the more people think he has lost his mind. The school believes that Owen is just one of the many students in the school that could be having suicidal thoughts and offers him counseling. How can he convince people that what he can see is real even though no one else can?
Owen does have hope when he sees what he calls Warriors, angelic-like beings that show up just when Creepers are about to intervene in the life of a girl called Misty who is having suicidal thoughts. However no matter how much Owen tries to communicate with them, they seem to ignore him. Not all the students at Lincoln Forest High School are chained and shackled, there are some that admit a glowing light that seems to repel the Creepers. Owen is more than fascinated by their power and their ability that not everyone seems to have. He feels that they are the answer to what is happening at his high school and he has to find out before anyone else dies.
I received The Delusion by Laura Gallier compliments of AdminiSmith, The Publishing Navigator and the author for my honest review. I've been addicted to Christian Speculative Fiction for many years now and was honored and excited to have the opportunity to read and review this one. Speculative Fiction is now the new label assigned to what some would consider Christian Horror and this one is right in that category. In fact once I started this book, I literally could not put it down. I was carrying with me wherever I was going through my day. I made the mistake of reading this one late at night as we had a huge rain and windstorm. Not a great idea. I scared myself with all the noises that were happening outside and the fact I was reading this book. Yet to me, that's the sign of a terrific novel.
Laura takes the reader right into the spiritual world that remains unseen for most. Only a few have had the opportunity to gain insight and what Owen sees would literally make any of us think we are crazy. Not only does he see angels and demons but he can see how people are used by the enemy. I think this line from the book captures the essence perfectly,
"Think about it. To destroy an opponent, what better strategy is there than to go stealth? Do your most damaging work under the cloak of invisibility? And even if some cursed soul like me happens to discover what's really going on, the truth is so outlandish and farfetched no one would believe it. My stories sounded more like the plot of a bestselling fiction than a real life dilemma. And I was sure that was exactly the way they wanted it." (pg 93).
"I mentally debated which was worse, to see wickedness at work or not see it at all? Both felt like a death sentence" (pg 104).
If you are fans of books dealing with spiritual warfare like Frank Peretti or Ted Dekker, you might just want to pick up a copy of this amazing book. I personally give this one a 5 out of 5 stars! Be forewarned however, I wouldn't recommend reading it late at night, not only will it keep you up all night wanting to see what happens next but it just might make you wonder what is in the world we can not see right around us. This book is perfect for opening up those conversations with non believers!!!
"By March of my senior year, eleven students at my high school had committed suicide. What a sickening realization it was to discover their deaths had been provoked. I could see what was tormenting and inciting them, but it didn't matter. I was hard pressed to get anyone to believe me.
I realize you likely won't believe me either. Admittedly, my story is twisted an bizarre and nearly impossible to accept. Still, I'm holding out hope that, in the end, you'll turn out to be one of the rare ones - one of a small minority willing to venture beyond the five senses to see what is almost always completely and intentionally unseen.
It all began on what I assumed would be a typical Monday." (pg 1).
In the debut novel Delusion by Laura Gallier, she introduces us to what could be any high school senior, Owen Edmonds. While walking through Franklin Park one afternoon with his girlfriend, Jess, they happen upon an buried underground water source. Not knowing where it came from or where it ends, Jess, has Owen scoop up some of the liquid in a water bottle. When they bring it back up from the ground, it appears like normal water. However under the ground it glows with a phosphorous light and appears warm. When Jess threatens to drink it, Owen does one better and drinks it instead. What happens after that will change life for Owen forever.
After becoming violently ill, Owen gains a rare glimpse into the spiritual world. At first he doesn't believe what he is experiencing because he isn't the type to believe in things like God and demons. Yet when he sees demonic beings he calls Creepers and shackles around 90% of the people he encounters, he believes he has completely lost his mind. His mother has them around her neck and their are labeled, braided cords coming from the back of her head with things like humiliation, shame, guilt and more. Owen is used to seeing his mom drunk and now things have been taken to a whole new level. The more people he attempts to tell, the more people think he has lost his mind. The school believes that Owen is just one of the many students in the school that could be having suicidal thoughts and offers him counseling. How can he convince people that what he can see is real even though no one else can?
Owen does have hope when he sees what he calls Warriors, angelic-like beings that show up just when Creepers are about to intervene in the life of a girl called Misty who is having suicidal thoughts. However no matter how much Owen tries to communicate with them, they seem to ignore him. Not all the students at Lincoln Forest High School are chained and shackled, there are some that admit a glowing light that seems to repel the Creepers. Owen is more than fascinated by their power and their ability that not everyone seems to have. He feels that they are the answer to what is happening at his high school and he has to find out before anyone else dies.
I received The Delusion by Laura Gallier compliments of AdminiSmith, The Publishing Navigator and the author for my honest review. I've been addicted to Christian Speculative Fiction for many years now and was honored and excited to have the opportunity to read and review this one. Speculative Fiction is now the new label assigned to what some would consider Christian Horror and this one is right in that category. In fact once I started this book, I literally could not put it down. I was carrying with me wherever I was going through my day. I made the mistake of reading this one late at night as we had a huge rain and windstorm. Not a great idea. I scared myself with all the noises that were happening outside and the fact I was reading this book. Yet to me, that's the sign of a terrific novel.
Laura takes the reader right into the spiritual world that remains unseen for most. Only a few have had the opportunity to gain insight and what Owen sees would literally make any of us think we are crazy. Not only does he see angels and demons but he can see how people are used by the enemy. I think this line from the book captures the essence perfectly,
"Think about it. To destroy an opponent, what better strategy is there than to go stealth? Do your most damaging work under the cloak of invisibility? And even if some cursed soul like me happens to discover what's really going on, the truth is so outlandish and farfetched no one would believe it. My stories sounded more like the plot of a bestselling fiction than a real life dilemma. And I was sure that was exactly the way they wanted it." (pg 93).
"I mentally debated which was worse, to see wickedness at work or not see it at all? Both felt like a death sentence" (pg 104).
If you are fans of books dealing with spiritual warfare like Frank Peretti or Ted Dekker, you might just want to pick up a copy of this amazing book. I personally give this one a 5 out of 5 stars! Be forewarned however, I wouldn't recommend reading it late at night, not only will it keep you up all night wanting to see what happens next but it just might make you wonder what is in the world we can not see right around us. This book is perfect for opening up those conversations with non believers!!!
June 14, 2022
This book should have been categorized as YA fiction/fantasy but wasn’t. As soon as my mind started to wander excessively, I was done. I don’t love YA or fantasy and that’s my own personal problem. Someone who likes both of these would probably love this book.
February 16, 2013
Forced and superficial. That sums up my impression of this Christian novel about spiritual warfare. The plot and the characters all seemed forced to fit the author's understanding of spiritual warfare. Nothing seemed organic or complete in itself, i.e. having any other purpose than fitting into the author's pre-planned message.
*Spoilers ahead!*
The characters are uni-dimensional and never bear any personal responsibility. Personal injuries through the years leave them open to demonic manipulation, but blinded to this reality. They come across as helpless victims, who never have a real choice to either own (and then repent of) their own sins or to resist the demons which force them into violent or self-destructive behavior. This makes one scene particularly disturbing - when the main character witnesses demons dragging the soul of a suicide victim off to hell. The reader cannot help but detest Gallier's God who never offers any real hope or help to any of the characters except a privileged few; and who damns a poor girl whose only visible sin was to give in to the misery which overpowered her. I am going to give the author the benefit of the doubt and assume she does not intend to present God as unfair and heartless but that is the only conclusion a reader can reach. Most Christians will not recognize the god in this novel or this version of spiritual warfare.
As an eclectic reader, I often set my own beliefs and understanding of reality aside to enter into the reality of a book. I do, however, expect that the author will be true to the world she creates. Gallier fails at this miserably. One simple example, out of scores, of this is that her demons, aka Creepers, are spiritual beings who touch and even torture humans completely unperceived -- until the climax. Then suddenly they can engage in physical combat and punch, bite and kick the protagonist. At this point, the reader wonders why the Creepers have worked so hard throughout the story to manipulate humans to do their dirty work, if they are able to interact physically?
Gallier's lazy storytelling is also evident in what she does not write. Her new dimension rests entirely on her imaginative descriptions, she never even attempts an explanation for the wild happenings. For example, she begins the story emphasizing the *many* suicides among the senior class at Lincoln Forest High. Suicide eventually whittles down the graduating class to half its original size. Demons are behind this but one has no idea why they targeted this particular school. The reader is also asked to wholeheartedly accept without explanation that access to the spirit world is through the water of an underground river easily discovered by kids. "Admittedly, my story is twisted and bizarre and nearly impossible to accept." Choosing the first person for this novel seems to be nothing but a way to dodge any true depth and all reason in this strange world.
The author also neglects the opportunity to delve into the tough questions that are begged when bad things happen. Where is God? Does He care? Why doesn't He help? Is He able to intervene? Why do some people suffer intense pain but others do not? These essential themes should have been thoroughly explored, all the more so once the author fingered demons as the direct cause of so much misery. Gallier seems to know this and brings up a few of the questions. But after asking the questions, she drops them, preferring to invest in elaborate visions of the spirit world, even hell itself, instead. What a disservice to her readers!
In this novel, God is entirely absent. His angels show up occasionally but even their presence is shrouded in mystery with a hint that prayer *might* bring their help. For some very odd reason, again - never touched upon, God has apparently decided to bestow spiritual vision on an atheistic teenager and leave him on his own to fight the horrible beasties he sees preying on nearly every other human being. Moreover, his new abilities come from the underground river. Huh? One is left with the impression that God is unwilling or unable to help the vast majority of mankind, who are left to the merciless attacks of Satan and his minions.
Finally, the ending comes suddenly, with little denouement. More than anything else in the story, this feels forced, rushed and entirely unsatisfactory. Woo-hoo for Owen, who suddenly capitulates to this far-away God. But what about the others who are still suffering and are never offered any real hope? Apparently true freedom and joy come not from believing in the Son of God's vicarious atonement and victory over Satan and sin but only in believing one boy's sudden, and entirely unexplained, visions of demonic activity.
This book is free on Amazon Kindle right now. But be warned. It may not take your money but your time could surely be spent in a better way. Worse than that, it has the real potential to leave you with a skewed view of God. Though I sense that is not the author's intention, it is a nonetheless a far greater drawback than the poor storytelling here.
*Spoilers ahead!*
The characters are uni-dimensional and never bear any personal responsibility. Personal injuries through the years leave them open to demonic manipulation, but blinded to this reality. They come across as helpless victims, who never have a real choice to either own (and then repent of) their own sins or to resist the demons which force them into violent or self-destructive behavior. This makes one scene particularly disturbing - when the main character witnesses demons dragging the soul of a suicide victim off to hell. The reader cannot help but detest Gallier's God who never offers any real hope or help to any of the characters except a privileged few; and who damns a poor girl whose only visible sin was to give in to the misery which overpowered her. I am going to give the author the benefit of the doubt and assume she does not intend to present God as unfair and heartless but that is the only conclusion a reader can reach. Most Christians will not recognize the god in this novel or this version of spiritual warfare.
As an eclectic reader, I often set my own beliefs and understanding of reality aside to enter into the reality of a book. I do, however, expect that the author will be true to the world she creates. Gallier fails at this miserably. One simple example, out of scores, of this is that her demons, aka Creepers, are spiritual beings who touch and even torture humans completely unperceived -- until the climax. Then suddenly they can engage in physical combat and punch, bite and kick the protagonist. At this point, the reader wonders why the Creepers have worked so hard throughout the story to manipulate humans to do their dirty work, if they are able to interact physically?
Gallier's lazy storytelling is also evident in what she does not write. Her new dimension rests entirely on her imaginative descriptions, she never even attempts an explanation for the wild happenings. For example, she begins the story emphasizing the *many* suicides among the senior class at Lincoln Forest High. Suicide eventually whittles down the graduating class to half its original size. Demons are behind this but one has no idea why they targeted this particular school. The reader is also asked to wholeheartedly accept without explanation that access to the spirit world is through the water of an underground river easily discovered by kids. "Admittedly, my story is twisted and bizarre and nearly impossible to accept." Choosing the first person for this novel seems to be nothing but a way to dodge any true depth and all reason in this strange world.
The author also neglects the opportunity to delve into the tough questions that are begged when bad things happen. Where is God? Does He care? Why doesn't He help? Is He able to intervene? Why do some people suffer intense pain but others do not? These essential themes should have been thoroughly explored, all the more so once the author fingered demons as the direct cause of so much misery. Gallier seems to know this and brings up a few of the questions. But after asking the questions, she drops them, preferring to invest in elaborate visions of the spirit world, even hell itself, instead. What a disservice to her readers!
In this novel, God is entirely absent. His angels show up occasionally but even their presence is shrouded in mystery with a hint that prayer *might* bring their help. For some very odd reason, again - never touched upon, God has apparently decided to bestow spiritual vision on an atheistic teenager and leave him on his own to fight the horrible beasties he sees preying on nearly every other human being. Moreover, his new abilities come from the underground river. Huh? One is left with the impression that God is unwilling or unable to help the vast majority of mankind, who are left to the merciless attacks of Satan and his minions.
Finally, the ending comes suddenly, with little denouement. More than anything else in the story, this feels forced, rushed and entirely unsatisfactory. Woo-hoo for Owen, who suddenly capitulates to this far-away God. But what about the others who are still suffering and are never offered any real hope? Apparently true freedom and joy come not from believing in the Son of God's vicarious atonement and victory over Satan and sin but only in believing one boy's sudden, and entirely unexplained, visions of demonic activity.
This book is free on Amazon Kindle right now. But be warned. It may not take your money but your time could surely be spent in a better way. Worse than that, it has the real potential to leave you with a skewed view of God. Though I sense that is not the author's intention, it is a nonetheless a far greater drawback than the poor storytelling here.
August 10, 2023
This was a wild ride. I really liked this book, though it was quite disturbing, scary, and intense.
This book follows Owen, who is a normal teen in his last year of high school. Students at his school are committing suicide left and right. No one knows why there are so many suicides at one school until Owen drinks some water that changes the way he sees the world forever.
There were a lot of teenagery things that I didn't like in this book, and Owen could act pretty stupid sometimes, but somehow that didn't make me like the book less. It was intense, enjoyable, terrifying, and brought up a lot of questions. I am really happy that this book shows spiritual warfare as a real thing. I think spiritual warfare is something that a lot of Christians can pretend isn't really there, and it's really refreshing to read a book about it. I am really looking forward to reading the next book in the series because it ends on such a cliffhanger!!
This book follows Owen, who is a normal teen in his last year of high school. Students at his school are committing suicide left and right. No one knows why there are so many suicides at one school until Owen drinks some water that changes the way he sees the world forever.
There were a lot of teenagery things that I didn't like in this book, and Owen could act pretty stupid sometimes, but somehow that didn't make me like the book less. It was intense, enjoyable, terrifying, and brought up a lot of questions. I am really happy that this book shows spiritual warfare as a real thing. I think spiritual warfare is something that a lot of Christians can pretend isn't really there, and it's really refreshing to read a book about it. I am really looking forward to reading the next book in the series because it ends on such a cliffhanger!!
October 3, 2017
***a thought-provoking, complex & gripping tale with a powerful punch***
Laura Gallier takes readers into the chillingly realistic and mysterious world of spiritual warfare, angels and demons in her debut release, "The Delusion." The first-person story, told by high school senior Owen Edmonds who knows little about anything spiritual, will capture all audiences, young and old alike.
Owens move to Masonville High School halfway through his senior year gave him the distinction of "new guy" at school. While that was bad enough, "...that wasn't the worst of it." Eight high school students had committed suicide since September and soon four more would follow garnering the high school and town the headline: "Masonville Suicide Saga."
The suicides and move had made life more difficult for Owen who already had to cope with his mother's drinking. Still, he had earned a place on the high school’s track team, met Jess, his soon-to-be-girlfriend and was surrounded by a group of great new friends even though they couldn't understand why he never invited them home.
When Owen unexpectedly met a weird old man in the woods behind the school who promised to tell him what was causing the suicide epidemic if Own drank water drawn from an underground water source, he did. The water had tasted normal going down and then sudden pain "hijacked his gut with the worst stomachache ever and his head throbbed!" Overwhelmed with the pain, Owens's last fear-laden thought was "I don't want to be number thirteen!"
Soon Owen will see chains around his mother, friends, teachers and classmate’s necks with braids that protrude from the back of their heads labeled humiliation, shame, guilt and more. He will also see other dark beings like demoniacs he identifies as Creepers and angelic beings he's convinced are Warrior angels. Yet Own is the only one who sees these things.
Thus, begins a darkly sinister narrative of demonic activity and supernatural illusions in a fictionalized account of good versus evil with human souls as the prize.
After reading a third of "The Delusion," I thought the story very dark and wondered if teens should read it. Until the introduction of Ray Anne who has no shackles, chains or cords, who instead emits "a brilliant, golden glow" and Owen sets out to learn her secret and the story changes.
This well-drawn story elaborates on and reveals how Satan entraps people with negative feelings, experiences and behaviors. Gallier writes from a biblical perspective about a thought-provoking spiritual realm with a complex and gripping tale that carries a powerful punch. Fans of Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti will enjoy this action-packed story.
‘The Delusion: We All Have Our Demons,’ by Laura Gallier, Tyndale House Publishers, 336 Pages, 978-1496422378, $15.99
Midwest Book Reviews: "Gail's Bookshelf" September 2017
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Laura Gallier takes readers into the chillingly realistic and mysterious world of spiritual warfare, angels and demons in her debut release, "The Delusion." The first-person story, told by high school senior Owen Edmonds who knows little about anything spiritual, will capture all audiences, young and old alike.
Owens move to Masonville High School halfway through his senior year gave him the distinction of "new guy" at school. While that was bad enough, "...that wasn't the worst of it." Eight high school students had committed suicide since September and soon four more would follow garnering the high school and town the headline: "Masonville Suicide Saga."
The suicides and move had made life more difficult for Owen who already had to cope with his mother's drinking. Still, he had earned a place on the high school’s track team, met Jess, his soon-to-be-girlfriend and was surrounded by a group of great new friends even though they couldn't understand why he never invited them home.
When Owen unexpectedly met a weird old man in the woods behind the school who promised to tell him what was causing the suicide epidemic if Own drank water drawn from an underground water source, he did. The water had tasted normal going down and then sudden pain "hijacked his gut with the worst stomachache ever and his head throbbed!" Overwhelmed with the pain, Owens's last fear-laden thought was "I don't want to be number thirteen!"
Soon Owen will see chains around his mother, friends, teachers and classmate’s necks with braids that protrude from the back of their heads labeled humiliation, shame, guilt and more. He will also see other dark beings like demoniacs he identifies as Creepers and angelic beings he's convinced are Warrior angels. Yet Own is the only one who sees these things.
Thus, begins a darkly sinister narrative of demonic activity and supernatural illusions in a fictionalized account of good versus evil with human souls as the prize.
After reading a third of "The Delusion," I thought the story very dark and wondered if teens should read it. Until the introduction of Ray Anne who has no shackles, chains or cords, who instead emits "a brilliant, golden glow" and Owen sets out to learn her secret and the story changes.
This well-drawn story elaborates on and reveals how Satan entraps people with negative feelings, experiences and behaviors. Gallier writes from a biblical perspective about a thought-provoking spiritual realm with a complex and gripping tale that carries a powerful punch. Fans of Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti will enjoy this action-packed story.
‘The Delusion: We All Have Our Demons,’ by Laura Gallier, Tyndale House Publishers, 336 Pages, 978-1496422378, $15.99
Midwest Book Reviews: "Gail's Bookshelf" September 2017
Google+GailWelborn
Pinterest: GailWelborn
Twitter: @GailWelborn
FaceBook: Gail Welborn
FaceBook Reviews: Gail Welborn
July 31, 2022
purplemanatees.org
Title: The Delusion
Author: Laura Gallier
Pages: 316
Genre: Paranormal, Horror, Young Adult
Rating: 1 out of 5 Stars
Just a warning, this book is about students committing suicide and a lot of death occurs throughout and is described as well. It is also super religious and filled with Christian metaphors and allegories.
The main character, Owen Edmonds, drinks some water one day and is somehow able to see shackles and chains on everyone he sees. He is also able to see things called Creepers, which are controlling his fellow classmates and egging them on to do heinous acts. It's up to Owen to single-handedly figure out what is happening and how to fight against these monsters.
Oh No's
First of all, Jess is a basic bitch whose boyfriend is obviously going through something seriously traumatic and her biggest worry is prom? Really? With everything going on in this school, she didn't even worry about him and just waved off all of his problems. Also, she was a character I would have loved to just disappear but no, she was there throughout the entire book, reminding us of how basic she is.
This book took forever to read! I just wanted it to finish and it was torture to read. The story was good but it was not my cup of tea. I've never really got into the paranormal genre. This is actually reminiscent of Odd Thomas (although I've only seen the movie).
The buildup of the story led to a great climax scene. The situation was unexpected but greatly hinted upon throughout the novel. Although, the very end was horrible. A total cliffhanger for a supposed series that I have no interest in continuing in. Also there is no true answer to how to fight these creepers in the end. Owen still is pretty much unable to do anything significant, he is just simply able to keep the creepers at bay-- kinda.
Yay's
Ray Anne was a beam of sunshine in this dim book. Her attitude was great and to be honest, she stayed true to her religion throughout everything Owen told her. I respect that. She was also super sweet and stuck to her guns the entire time.
I imagined all of the creepers as No-Face from Spirited Away. This made the book quite enjoyable thinking a familiar face was attacking everyone. I hope anyone who reads this book, imagines this as well.
.
To be honest, this book was not as enjoyable as I wish it had been. There was a lot of potential but the constant high school bickering and temper tantrums got in the way of a good story. The thought process of this world of creepers and watchmen was astounding though and if you are looking for a paranormal read, this is right up your alley.
Favorite Quote
"I refuse to sit back or run in fear and leave it up to someone else to try and save these people."
Pg. 295
Title: The Delusion
Author: Laura Gallier
Pages: 316
Genre: Paranormal, Horror, Young Adult
Rating: 1 out of 5 Stars
Just a warning, this book is about students committing suicide and a lot of death occurs throughout and is described as well. It is also super religious and filled with Christian metaphors and allegories.
The main character, Owen Edmonds, drinks some water one day and is somehow able to see shackles and chains on everyone he sees. He is also able to see things called Creepers, which are controlling his fellow classmates and egging them on to do heinous acts. It's up to Owen to single-handedly figure out what is happening and how to fight against these monsters.
Oh No's
First of all, Jess is a basic bitch whose boyfriend is obviously going through something seriously traumatic and her biggest worry is prom? Really? With everything going on in this school, she didn't even worry about him and just waved off all of his problems. Also, she was a character I would have loved to just disappear but no, she was there throughout the entire book, reminding us of how basic she is.
This book took forever to read! I just wanted it to finish and it was torture to read. The story was good but it was not my cup of tea. I've never really got into the paranormal genre. This is actually reminiscent of Odd Thomas (although I've only seen the movie).
The buildup of the story led to a great climax scene. The situation was unexpected but greatly hinted upon throughout the novel. Although, the very end was horrible. A total cliffhanger for a supposed series that I have no interest in continuing in. Also there is no true answer to how to fight these creepers in the end. Owen still is pretty much unable to do anything significant, he is just simply able to keep the creepers at bay-- kinda.
Yay's
Ray Anne was a beam of sunshine in this dim book. Her attitude was great and to be honest, she stayed true to her religion throughout everything Owen told her. I respect that. She was also super sweet and stuck to her guns the entire time.
I imagined all of the creepers as No-Face from Spirited Away. This made the book quite enjoyable thinking a familiar face was attacking everyone. I hope anyone who reads this book, imagines this as well.
.
To be honest, this book was not as enjoyable as I wish it had been. There was a lot of potential but the constant high school bickering and temper tantrums got in the way of a good story. The thought process of this world of creepers and watchmen was astounding though and if you are looking for a paranormal read, this is right up your alley.
Favorite Quote
"I refuse to sit back or run in fear and leave it up to someone else to try and save these people."
Pg. 295
March 10, 2023
4.3/5 stars
Perfect for all that it is. That is, a beautifully written, young adult fiction on the spiritual world. It is exactly what it promises and that is refreshing.
This is a young man's journey of having his sight awakened to the spiritual realm and therefore to the spiritual reality that we are in a war against an enemy who despises us and we have no power of our to defeat.
I loved everything about this book. Its waste-no time pace, the perspective of Owen, and the artful representation of both the good and dark side of the spiritual realm. The entire story was gripping and the characters were incredibly human. Most importantly, I could not ignore the message. It will be with me for the rest of my life.
Perfect for all that it is. That is, a beautifully written, young adult fiction on the spiritual world. It is exactly what it promises and that is refreshing.
This is a young man's journey of having his sight awakened to the spiritual realm and therefore to the spiritual reality that we are in a war against an enemy who despises us and we have no power of our to defeat.
I loved everything about this book. Its waste-no time pace, the perspective of Owen, and the artful representation of both the good and dark side of the spiritual realm. The entire story was gripping and the characters were incredibly human. Most importantly, I could not ignore the message. It will be with me for the rest of my life.
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