What do you think?
Rate this book
Adventures In Odyssey: Passages #5
Draven's Defiance
Scott is transported to the parallel world of Marus, where he finds himself destined to help Draven, a prophet of the Unseen One, challenge the idolatry of the Supreme Commander Mobeck.
208 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2000
4 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
Paul McCusker
182 books229 followersPaul McCusker is a writer of many different kinds of things. You may know him from Adventures In Odyssey and Focus On The Family Radio Theatre. Or the Father Gilbert Mysteries. Or the Augustine Institute audio dramas Brother Francis: The Barefoot Saint of Assisi and The Trials of Saint Patrick. Or plays like The First Church of Pete's Garage and Catacombs. Or C.S. Lewis projects like The Chronicles of Narnia audio dramas or The Annotated Screwtape Letters. Or the film Beyond The Mask. Or lots of other dramas, novels, scripts and lyrics. He simply can't make up his mind what he likes to write.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 10, 2025
One of the best from the series both in how McCusker builds on the world and lore of Marus but also expertly infuses a difficult biblical story into a contemporary one in a way that is both imaginative and unique in ways I was not expecting.
The twist at the end also subverted my expectations both in this story but also for what is possible in this whole series not to mention also instilling the same values and lessons we pull from the actual biblical story which is a feat in of itself.
Kid me would have loved this one.
The twist at the end also subverted my expectations both in this story but also for what is possible in this whole series not to mention also instilling the same values and lessons we pull from the actual biblical story which is a feat in of itself.
Kid me would have loved this one.
March 3, 2015
McCusker does it again, this time with the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal. Draven is a follower of the Unseen One who lives in the home of a widow. Unlike all the homes in the surrounding area, her garden is lush and green. Even more unusual, she and her family appear to be aging at a normal rate. The rest of the country is barren and oddly outside of time. The king and his wicked wife hate Draven and the Unseen One. On live TV, he challenges her new-age think tank and psychobabbling "experts" to a showdown at the large clock in the town square.
I continue to enjoy the Passages series and it's adaptations of the familiar Bible stories. Putting them in a new setting can help the reader think about aspects of Bible History they may have forgotten or overlooked simply because of familiarity. Add to that the fact that these stories are simply well told fiction and it's win-win all the way.
I continue to enjoy the Passages series and it's adaptations of the familiar Bible stories. Putting them in a new setting can help the reader think about aspects of Bible History they may have forgotten or overlooked simply because of familiarity. Add to that the fact that these stories are simply well told fiction and it's win-win all the way.
April 20, 2015
I've read the first 3 Passages books, and when I finished this one, I thought it was the best yet! I think Mr. McCusker improved his writing of the series quite a bit ;-) Compared to the first Passages book, Draven's Defiance, this one was much better written and more action packed.
The Biblical story, Elijah, is one of my favorites. It's also interesting in that it introduces something not seen in Passages so far— We are also introduced to a bit of Marutian history. The allegorical plot points are very clever.
As there's only one more book to finish the Passages series, the suspense of the Marus experiences and stories themselves is building too. Whit and Jack discover more about Marus and have to figure out what they believe. I can't wait to finish the series!
The Biblical story, Elijah, is one of my favorites. It's also interesting in that it introduces something not seen in Passages so far— We are also introduced to a bit of Marutian history. The allegorical plot points are very clever.
As there's only one more book to finish the Passages series, the suspense of the Marus experiences and stories themselves is building too. Whit and Jack discover more about Marus and have to figure out what they believe. I can't wait to finish the series!
April 22, 2021
This story was okay. A very easy read and I think would be fun for young teens who enjoy Adventures in Odyssey. If you know the audio drama Adventures in Odyssey, this honestly just feels like one of the imagination station adventures from the show, only longer, and you are reading it. Since I am familiar with the show, I could imagine Whit and Jack Allen's voices in my head at the beginning and end of the story.
It's a slightly different take on the story of Elijah and the famous battle on Mt. Carmel from the Bible, only set in a world mostly like World War II time (though the timeline is a little mixed up from our history's point of view). I honestly think it could have been much more interesting, and bit more creative in presenting the story in a different light. Everything after the famous battle (in this case trying to get a clock to move because time had stood still) was really very dull. The main boy in the story was completely superfluous to the plot too.
It's a slightly different take on the story of Elijah and the famous battle on Mt. Carmel from the Bible, only set in a world mostly like World War II time (though the timeline is a little mixed up from our history's point of view). I honestly think it could have been much more interesting, and bit more creative in presenting the story in a different light. Everything after the famous battle (in this case trying to get a clock to move because time had stood still) was really very dull. The main boy in the story was completely superfluous to the plot too.
September 14, 2018
I think this is the best one out of the series yet. It hides the Bible story of Elijah and the prophets of baal so good and I loved. It gives you a great perspective of the every detail. It even involves modern technology and artillery. I recommend this book because it show a different and adventurous way of telling that story of Elijah.
August 24, 2021
Turtle: great! Return to library. Turtle wants to read more in this series.
Read
September 23, 2024arguably the best book in the series
an amazing retelling of the story of Elijah with a world war 2, Narnia vibe.
an amazing retelling of the story of Elijah with a world war 2, Narnia vibe.
January 6, 2025
I used to say Darien was my favorite, but my sister just read this for the first time, and I decided this is my favorite. I also decided a re-read might be in order.
March 1, 2010
caught up in a fantasy world during a war-time much like Nazi Germany, one person must make a choice to help the new world
FUN!! I am on the edge of my seat and can't wait for the ending of this high action seris.
FUN!! I am on the edge of my seat and can't wait for the ending of this high action seris.
June 16, 2012
Draven's Defiance is the fifth book in the Passages series. In this installment of the Passages series a boy suddenly finds himself in a different world. This book is based off of the Bible story of Elijah. If your a fan of Adventures in Odyssey you'll love this book.
September 7, 2015
(I have just realized that, though I read these several years ago, I didn't mark them as read on here. So, in case your jaw just hit the floor, I did not read the entire series in one day. :p)
Read
April 8, 2010F McCU aio passages bk.5
August 10, 2012
Check out my video review here...
http://youtu.be/FI3E0Ju7nfE
http://youtu.be/FI3E0Ju7nfE
July 18, 2015
These books are just fun.
December 11, 2015
Elijah's climactic battle, in a World War II Marus setting!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews