Manacle: Some bonds can't be broken

by Chris Aslan

'Imaginative, authentic, and evocative.'- Gerard Kelly, author

There is a dark presence in Phin's life. His step-father is a drunk and his malevolence poisons their home.

One evening the violence gets out of control and as Phin's mother drags his broken body away, she can only think of one place to take to the local healer. But this healer deals in more than medicinal remedies and at her insistence he calls on the spirits to ensure Phin is never harmed again.

However, his words are more than a call, they are invitation - one that the spirits welcome as a legion descend and take root within Phin. Phin awakens to discover he is no longer in control of his mind or his body, and something is certainly inhabiting his soul. He possesses super-human strength and immediately takes revenge on his step-father. This would have sated Phin, but the spirits have other ideas - they drive him into the wilderness and all who go to him quickly rue the day.

As he terrorises the village, soldiers come to remove him - but how do you restrain a man who can break the strongest of manacles. And is there any hope for one who has been overcome by darkness?

Genres: Fiction

224 pages, Paperback

Published November 17, 2017

About the author

Chris Aslan was born in Turkey (hence the name Aslan) and spent his childhood there and in war-torn Beirut. After school, Chris spent two years at sea before studying Media and journalism at Leicester University. He then moved to Khiva, a desert oasis in Uzbekistan, establishing a UNESCO workshop reviving fifteenth century carpet designs and embroideries, and becoming the largest non-government employer in town. He was expelled as part of an anti-Western purge, and took a year in Cambridge to write A Carpet Ride to Khiva. Chris then spent three years in the Pamirs mountains of Tajikistan, training yak herders to comb their yaks for their cashmere-like down. Next came a couple of years in Kyrgyzstan living in the world’s largest natural walnut forest and establishing a wood-carving workshop. Since then, Chris has studied and rowed at Oxford, lectures internationally, and regularly returns to Central Asia, having left a large chunk of his heart there. He's based in North Cyprus in a mountainous village overlooking the sea, and is overrun with cats.

Reviews

[Sharon Bollen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fictionalised account of "Legion" the possessed young man from Mark 5 and Luke 8, seen before, during and after the possession.
Graphic, sad, uplifting and moving in turns this is a book that I found more gripping than I was expecting when I first picked it up. The author doesn't shy away from the horror of the situation, nor some of the things a possessed young man might do;Christian fiction has a certain tone that is entirely missing from this book and is all the better for it.
A really good, quite compact read that I would thoroughly recommend.

[Alison B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. However this book is written with such graphic detail, that it for the first part at least, is very disturbing. The author paints a realistic picture of the account from the bible, bringing to life this enormous event and all it's consequences.
I was very moved by this book. The ending was unexpected but strangely positive. I would have to think carefully who I recommended this book to, but I do recommend it.

[Caroline P · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really excellent book based on events around Jesus’ healing miracles. I love the way Chris Aslan writes a beautifully crafted mystery . He manages to create a very clear atmospheric context for New Testament times! I found it gripping and heart wrenching as the author explores the dark impact of battling with evil and the cost involved in finding deliverance. Highly recommended!

[Chris Jager · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well done. What was it like to be a demonic? Then when you are healed and you wish to return home, would your village welcome you back after you had terrorized them for years?

Interesting, well written and not an easy read. I recommend for all fans of Biblical fiction.

[Ruth · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is one of the most disturbing books I've read in my life. While I appreciate the fact that Aslan breaks new ground in the realm of Biblical fiction by exploring the story of the demoniac in Luke 8, I cannot recommend this book as it is easily the darkest, most starkly horrific story I've ever read. It is absolutely unflinching in its portrayal of the effects of demonic possession. Yes, there is hope in Christ. But I cannot recommend a book so steeped in horrific acts and (for the first half) demonic point of view. While one can argue that its starkly realized portrayal of the circumstances and time period are true to life, I found this book so incredibly dark and depressing that the hope of redemption -- or the moving, heart-breaking final chapter -- could not negate this book's deeply disturbing impact or tone. For those interested in fictional representations of very real spiritual warfare, I would recommend Peretti's classics This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness as alternatives. Stylistically I found the writing somewhat simplistic, with occasional flashes of nicely-executed prose. And there are moments of redemption that bring dimension and depth to the Luke 8 narrative. But there is not enough to outweigh the fact that, for me, the utterly dark, disturbing tone and point of view outweigh the all-too-brief flash of redemptive light.

[Chesca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Immersive fictional account of the man possessed by “Legion” and freed by Jesus. The first 25% or so is in 2nd person and from the demons’ perspective—absolutely awful, disturbing, gross, graphically violent, and tragic. The rest of the story is in 1st person and follows the main character in his quest for more of Jesus, deeper healing, and reconciliation with those he had harmed. The writing is decent; the setting and world description rings with authenticity; and there is beautiful spiritual depth.

The New Testament story this is based on has long been a meaningful, favorite story of mine and I’m glad I found this. It did my heart good, in spite of the disturbing content.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book. Interesting story and interesting insights into life in New Testament times. I’ve enjoyed the previous two books in thé series which have used a lot of artistic licence. Somehow I felt this one overdid it a bit. It was very thought provoking but I felt it limited thé completeness of Jesus’ transformational healing. Nevertheless a good read and plenty to think about.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Undoubtably well written. But not for me.