Malachi is an angel. More than anything, he wants to rise to the ranks of the Elite Guard, the guardians of the Throne of God. But the closer he comes to achieving his goal, the more he realizes things aren't what they seem. When God departs Heaven to begin a new creation, the faith of the angelic host is tested. As tensions build in the Holy City, Malachi will be faced with a difficult choice, and the impact of that decision will have ramifications for all of God's creations; those in Heaven and those on the new Earth.
Nathan Crocker was born in Bogalusa, LA but grew up in Memphis, TN, where he lived for 18 years.
His love of writing began at a young age, and he came up with the basic idea for his debut novel, The Loyal Angel when he was only fourteen years old. However, as often happens, life gets in the way, and Nathan put off his dream of writing a novel for twenty-five years.
Nathan enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1999. He spent a year in Okinawa, Japan before rotating back to the states where he was assigned to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. He was undergoing training for that deployment when America was attacked on September 11, 2001. He participated in numerous operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and was part of the advance team to Kuwait in the lead-up to the second Iraq war. He concluded his honorable service in August of 2003 as a Sergeant of Marines.
His debut novel, The Loyal Angel, was published in August of 2018. His second book, What We May Be, a historical biopic, was published in October of 2020.
He is currently working on the sequel to The Loyal Angel, which is tentatively titled, A New Beginning, and will feature the angel Malachi in a story focused on Noah and the Ark.
Nathan lives in Belmont, North Carolina, with his wife Tara and his many children.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book & while I have initially read it on KU, I have bought a copy since I know I will be rereading it. I don't pick up every book about angels. My allegiance is to the Lord...not to His creation. Speculative fiction has it's place though. We each decide what we believe based on what the Bible says & what we “take with a grain of salt” for the sake of the story. For me, this story drew me closer to the Lord & made me more aware of the spiritual warfare that continually goes on around us. While there is more detail here than can be Biblically referenced, I didn't find anything to be glaringly opposed. It was a fascinating story that was hard to put down & has lingered long after I have finished reading. Through the day, I find myself reminded how important our choices really are. It's not a cute little cartoon of a little devil whispering in our ear on one shoulder while a little angel sits on the other telling us what we should do. There are real blessings & real consequences to the choices we make. We have been given the gift of free will & we need to accept responsibility for our choices. Peek into heaven & see the stir that results as the earth & mankind are created. Watch as Lucifer, thinking himself equal to God, rallies a third of the angels to his side & becomes committed to destroying mankind. Why was this rebellion & the consequences for sin that men must live with allowed? There is SO much to this story that I will examining my notes for a long time to come.
This was different than many 'angel' Christian fiction.
It starts with the apostle Paul in prison being visited by his 'guardian ' angel, who gives Paul, his (the angel), personal history (how he almost fell under Satan's charisma and subsequent rebellion). It goes from there to the Creation and history of man.
I thought that there was so much insightful ideas of how pride and sin works. There was about 2 percent that I felt was not scripturally correct, but then nobody is 100 percent correct. The author is very Biblically based.
And the interactions of God's Holy angels with the fallen ones was well done.
I was really amazed ( and warned) when God's angels 'greatly underestimate' a lowly demon as just a 'nuisance' (they were focused on the much more powerful ones).
That was a wake-up call to me, that letting little things continually go in your mind as not much more than annoying, could or might, be a big big mistake!
The Loyal Angel is fantastic! The scope of this book is incredible. You feel like you're present in every moment shared, from before creation to Paul's stay in Philipi.
It's plausible, fun, and exciting from beginning to end.
This book brings understanding to spiritual warfare in a way that both wakes you up to how serious it is and encourages you at the same time. I was very much impressed by the depth and hope filling the pages.
I liked that Malachi wasn't perfect. Angels see way more than we do, and know things we have to take on faith. But even they need to trust God. They also have free will, or there wouldn't be fallen angels.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Biblical fiction. And I would ask this Biblical fiction author about a sequel. Who will Malachi {or Grigori} visit next? What stories will he share? The flood / Caanan's story? Maybe Esther or Daniel?
📌I received a copy of the book from the author. I chose to review it here. All thoughts are my own.
A wonderful reminder of God's power at work in the world
This book is a moving reminder of the power of prayer, of the everyday battles being fought on the Christian's behalf, and the relentless will of God being worked out in the spirit realm. It reminds me of Frank Peretti's book, THIS PRESENT DARKNESS, which dealt with the same issues. I especially liked the way the author took us back to creation, how sin entered the world, and how Paul and Silas were protected from Satan's evil plans. At times, there were grammatical problems. For instance, an individual Angel was called a 'host'. This word should be used for the 'heavenly host' as a group. An individual member of the heavenly host should be called an angel or whatever entity he is. I won't go into other problems. Suffice it to say that this was a good read and recommended to anyone that needs some hope in a crazy world. And that God is in control! Praise the Lord!!
"The Loyal Angel" is a very entertaining, and refreshing adventure featuring an angel in heaven, prior to the birth of Jesus. Malachi and a friend join the Legion of the Morning Star, Lucifer's band of angels during a call for new recruits that Lucifer initiates before his confrontation with the Lord, where he demands to be "promoted" to the Prince of Heaven.
When God refuses the request and rebukes Lucifer, there is a "war in heaven", but Malachi doesn't side with his legion against the angels of Heaven. As a result, he is spared the fate of Lucifer's legionaries, and is taken back to Heaven.
What I found most enjoyable about the story is that it recounts the Book of Genesis, including the story of Adam and Eve, with a very interesting twist to that little plot. "The Loyal Angel" is told in a refreshing, contemporary style. It is not pedantic or trite in any way. I simply had to read it from start to finish. It was too good to put down.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, having never read or heard of the author. I guess I was afraid it would be a bit cheesy. But it was the opposite. A solid, well-developed plot, intriguing enough to keep me glued to the pages. This book isn’t just for believers. In fact, I think non believers will be surprised how interesting it is because it’s definitely not preachy and solidly fiction (though plausible enough for believers to enjoy). I loved the details and drama about the war in heaven, Lucifer’s personality, the temptations. The fighting between the angels and demons was funny but serious, something again plausible and woven into the plot to show how these invisible influences affect free will. And the emphasis on free will, even knowing the outcome, was brilliantly done.
I look forward to more from Nathan Crocker. I borrowed this book, but will likely buy it and read again. Highly recommended!
I love how Mr. Crocker thought through what might have happened during the fall. I fell in love with Malachi who proved how worthy and loyal he was, as well as his enduring faith and trust in God. This was one of the most inspirational and biblically based books that I have ever read! At the end of the book he provides all the scriptures he used to base the story off of. I love how he thought out how to write the book based on what you can take from scripture and apply it to a fictional story and still keep the heart of the scripture. You can also see his military background by how he sets the story and terms he uses. He said he was told to "write what he knew which was the Bible and the Military" and he does so very well. If you want a fun book that will challenge you as well, this is a must read!
This book presents an interesting fictional story of Lucifer (later to be renamed Satan) and his rise to power within God’s Heavenly Host of angels and why Lucifer and a third of the angels rebel against God, choose to go to battle with God’s loyal angels after God creates earth and how they are thrown out of heaven. The story continues on with fall of Adam and Eve, more details about their life after their, and most interesting but tragic story of the why Cain mudered his brother Abel. All of these accounts are fictional and show how angels and demons are involved in the everyday lives of humans in an eternal battle between God and Satan for the souls of humans, who have been given free will to choose their fates. I really enjoyed these fictional accounts about real Biblical events.
I wanted to read this book because I love Christian fiction on spiritual warfare. I thought the whole book was going to be about the lead up to Lucifer's fall, and as I started, wasn't sure how an over 300 page book would keep my attention. The beginning leading up to the fall was a bit long in my opinion and I found myself fast forwarding through much of it. But I loved the part after the fall with Cain and Abel, and getting to look "behind the scenes" at the downfall of Cain and the next generation. I enjoyed the author's take on the first family, details that aren't really explained in the Bible. The rest of the book flowed easily and I couldn't wait to get to the end. I will definitely recommend this book to friends!
A Novel Way of Weaving The Stories in Scripture Through the Perspective of An Angel
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this entertaining story as told from an angel' s perspective. Beginning with his training experiences and dealings within the ranks of the heavenly hosts, Malachi shares stories of creation, the fallen angels, and mankind's struggles with sin as told to Paul. One can easily use their imagination while reading, as none of us can know the extent that God uses his servants to carry out his will in our lives. We have the understanding of what Scripture shares, but I believe I will be surprised when it is fully revealed to me.
I was a little apprehensive about this book as I began reading it. I realize it is easy to stray from solid biblically based systematic theology, to somewhat dicey ground when writing fiction on subjects that may not be fully expounded in Scripture. The author has succeeded, in my opinion, with a very well written story that seems to me to be, at the very least, very plausible. I was a little uncomfortable at first with the very human emotions coming from the Angelic Host, but this flaw is very minor and perhaps unavoidable to progress the story forward. I look forward to more from this author! I highly recommended this book!
This was a great read. To view creation and the beginning of our relationship with God, the angelic army that protects us against Satans warfare gave me alot to ponder. This perspective on the story of Cain and Abel was eye opening. This work is backed up by scripture, so it serves the word of God in the same way a great illustrative sermon would.
Thank you Nathan Crocker, this book is a gem that I will keep along with C S Lewis's Screwtape letters and Randy Alcorns Lord Foulgrin.
The lion roams about seeking whom he may devour. And then sometimes it is done through small insidous whispers.
I started reading the story not sure where it was going, expecting the story to be set in heaven only. I was pleasantly surprised to see how it was very scripturally based fiction with a storyline that makes a plausible revelation of angels and demons interacting throughout the history of Gods creation. It reminded me of Frank Peretti novels. I liked everything about this story, it strengthened my faith and convicted me of sins in my own life. Who would think a novel could do that? Read it for yourself and prepare to be blessed. I pray there Will be a sequel that picks up where it left off with the story of Noah to follow...
If you’ve read your Bible, you know that there are good and bad angels. For most people, that is the extent of their knowledge of angelic warfare. This book is absolutely a page turner regarding lucifers fall from heaven and the angels that took part in that crucial event. I loved this book. It is captivating from the very first paragraphs until the very last. I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading. I will definitely give it five stars and will probably read it a second time.
I began reading unsure of how I would react to a tale of the angels’ war in heaven and the resulting casting out of Lucifer and his followers. The narrative was believable, with various angels’ characters well developed .The rest of the story stays true to the Bible. This was a massive undertaking joining Christian fact with plausibly consistent imaginings. I appreciate the author’s skill in creating this story and his inclusion in the appendix of the actual Bible stories he used as his story’s structure.
Loved this book from beginning to end! I was sad when the book ended because the exciting adventure was over. The author was exceptionally good at drawing the reader into the story immediately; there are no slow moments, a real page turner! Other Christian Fantasy books can have an amateur vibe to them. This book is as smooth as silk. There is a nice, even flow to the writing style and storyline that makes it an exceptionally enjoyable read! I couldn’t put it down! I Highly recommend this book to any fans of This Present Darkness or any Christian Fantasy fans. Loved this book very much!
I love this book! I found the idea of what the story of heaven and creation could have been like, from the angels' point of view, very interesting! I gained a new insight of how God sees us and what our place is in His creation of the universe. Truly amazing. Thank you, Nathan Crocker, for expanding my understanding and strengthening my faith in God, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
I love so much about this book. I liked the set up of it being Malachi telling the story to Paul and Paul listening but asking questions along the way. I loved the descriptions of God and His light. I liked the reminder of what an amazing world we live in and how it cycles. I loved the emphasis on free will and the consequences of forcing an action or opinion on someone. I really enjoyed reading this book and I will be looking for more titles by this author.
Good read really fun. Remember it’s fiction and not biblical or a new revelation as we already have that which is perfect, but has the capacity to get non believers asking questions. To sum up I will use a quote from the book.
“It was a powerful illustration of the unpredictable ramifications of sin, how it destroys not only the lives of those who commit the sin but also those others affected by our choices.”
Mr. Crocker managed to take my breathe away with an epic novel about the creation of heaven and earth. It’s vivid description generated such colorful images in my mind. Everything the author describes aligns with scripture And his words rang loud and clear in my mind.
this book did not disappoint. It is prolific and a must read. I have to buy a copy for my aunt and mom
Really enjoyed this book! Great to see things going on from an angels perspective. This opens up a whole different way of looking into the spiritual realms and gives us insight as to how these same things are happening even in our lives today behind the scenes. Without a doubt both forces of God's good and those of Satan's realm are battling it out! I would recommend reading this insightful story!
Very pleasantly surprised! The way it was written, a story being told within a story along with the smooth inclusion of scripture, was brilliant! The author provided a much clearer image to help us understand what transpired during creation and the fallen. For me, it helped put so many things in much clearer perspective and understanding. Cleverly written and totally engaging! Thank you Nathan Crocker!
A fascinating and comprehensive telling of the Heavenly Hosts. An angel visits Paul in the jail of Phillipi and recounts his personal story about heaven, creation, Lucifer, and the war between the heavenly hosts because of Lucifer’s pride. I couldn’t put it down easily and know the story will resonate with me for a very long time.
It has been rare that I have found a book that truly captivated and entertained as much as this one did. I literally could not fall asleep. It took simple stories from the Bible and the author have them a depth that I couldn't imagine. The author stays true to the Bible while giving another view to some of my favorite and tragic Bible stories. Just read it.
Although fiction it is very inspiring to have some of the blanks filled in. The loyal angel does a great job of telling Paul the full story from his point of view. There is quite a bit of scripture which I found very refreshing. Loved it! Keep up the great work! Thank you.
This is an anointed reading, one once started will be difficult to put down! God is in control is made plain Granting the illusion of very human appearing Angels, the story tells the message of the Good News in a Suspense -filled tale of redemption that is scripturally based and will leave you cheering for God's Gracious Plan
I enjoyed this book so much! Though I am familiar with the Bible, to read it in this format was truly enjoyable! It swept me up and reminded me that while I have faith, I still have a lot to work on. I plan on reading all of this author's books because he has a blessed hand! Great work!
What a wonderfully written account that travels through so many different centuries. It poses interesting answers to questions asked over the ages. I enjoyed this book very much.
So Thought Provoking, So Inspiring, So Awesome is our God! I read this story and reflected on today and all the hatred, selfishness, and no compassion. God is still in control but not happy!
I always like books that imagine what roles demons and angels play in life. This author does a very convincing job of that! It reminded me of important concepts I had forgotten. I enjoyed the reminder!