The Restorers

Mindrulers #2

by Steve Pillinger

In a small nation on a distant planet, the Restorers of the Way are battling dark forces at work in society. They have killed one of the Mindbenders of Dûrion—and this has seriously inconvenienced the country’s despotic ruler, Shambor dom Beldet.

News of their achievement spreads, and thousands rally to their cause. But Shambor’s response is devastating.

Inexperienced and outnumbered, how can the ‘strangers and loners’ from Earth, with their Dûrian friends, prevail against an enemy who not only controls the army and all the resources of a nation, but also wields deadly powers of mental and spiritual oppression?

The second of three novels in The Mindrulers series, this book is written by a linguist with significant cross-cultural experience and a love of history. It is set in a richly-imagined world featuring convincing languages, fascinating cultures, and meticulously detailed maps. The setting is thoroughly worked out, creating an inner consistency and a breadth of history and geography that gives the reader a sense of reality, and of hidden vistas that may yet open up.

Paperback

Published July 1, 2020

About the author

Steve Pillinger is a linguist, Bible translator and typesetter who has worked in a number of different cross-cultural settings in Africa, the UK and the USA. He loves language, history and maps, which comes through in his books; and he's always delighted to see God’s truth revealed with fresh impact through the eyes of a different culture.
The Mindrulers series is set in the richly-imagined world he created as part of a family role-playing game, while living in Oxfordshire, UK. Now he and his wife have moved to Johannesburg, South Africa, where they continue to support the work of Bible translation. They have two adult children, a son and a daughter.
Steve’s other interests include reading, piano playing and photography.

Reviews

[Peter Younghusband · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having been fully absorbed, enthralled, and engrossed in The Mindrulers, Book 1, in this trilogy, I was not expecting to be even more so in Book 2, The Restorers. The only hint of this was from a reviewer who stated that this sequel was a better novel than its predecessor. Now having read this novel, I can totally endorse this reviewer's statement.

A common criticism of any sequel, be it novel or movie, is that the sequel is not as good as the first. We cannot apply this criticism to Pillinger and this novel. This novel surpasses The Mindrulers on every level. There is further characterisation, more plot arcs, and further development of those from Book 1, more characters introduced, the pace is more frenetic than the first, the evilness of Shambor increases to new levels.

I was left exhausted at the end. I stayed up late each night to get through this, and I did not want it to end. I experienced many emotions throughout this novel, joy, despair, anxiety, revulsion, anger, exhilaration and it has been a while that I have felt and heard my accelerated heart rate while reading. Since when does a novel produce temporary tachycardia! It is just as well I don't suffer from any heart condition. And this series is not horror! Although the evilness and practice of mind-bending that Shambor employs could definitely be considered as such.

Now I have to deal with the fact that reviewers of Book 3, The Strongholder, say the same, that this final novel is better than Book 2! But that is easy to deal with! This is an assurance that I am in for a final treat!

The reader will hit the ground running with this novel. All the events come flooding back that led up to the Restorers and their entourage's escape at the end of Book 1. Then you become fully engaged again and transported to the world of Dûrion. It was so good to be back with them and ready to experience their victories, challenges and defeats.

Pillinger knows what he is doing in his plot arcs. Just when you start to predict what is going to happen next, he cuts you off with another plot twist or character arc. It is this, amongst other constructs, that just adds to the suspense, anticipation, even anxiety about what is going to happen next and keeps you committed to reading.

There is so much happening in this novel as evidenced by my mention of the range of emotions I experienced and their physical effects. Pillinger takes you through the successful, setbacks and even failures of The Restorers. Alliances shift and are reformed. There is betrayal, deeper deception, personality conflict, rape, more occult practices, child abuse. Just on the sound of this, it could be seen as a depressing novel, but it is far from it. Sure, it is confronting and I found the child abuse in the form that Pillinger has depicted distressing and the characters response from this added to my distress.

But Pillinger shows through all this what is needed by those with a relationship with God to do. Pray. Submit their situation to God, let go of any of their control of it, including their emotions toward it. Easier said than done! But God in this novel, The One, does not leave them forsaken or to battle on this on their own. He is active in directing their path in combatting the evilness of Shambor. He does this by speaking directly into their minds, sometimes with direct instructions and guidance and others almost speaking in riddles, to encourage them to come to the answer, He wants them to.

Other times, Pillinger brings in examples from the Bible to show God's involvement and direction in fighting this battle. This is done to great effect and could almost be seen as straight from Pillinger's imagination if he had not mentioned where this came from. And one of these, the Ambon of Sûrilane, and how they discover to use it in harnessing God's power, plays such an important role in this novel. This is likened to the example from the Bible where Moses keeps the staff raised for his troops to win the war they were engaged in. But in this novel, Pillinger takes it to the next level, but I won't spoil it here but discussing how this is depicted. Another example is the miracle at Jericho from the Bible that fits in so well with The Restorers and their army in final battle at the Cathedral of Darthane against Bishop Shambor. And yet the third example from the Bible concerning Gideon "fleecing" God for his answer is effective here. I became concerned at this use of this biblical method as some Christian circles regard this as tempting God (whom the Bible says do not tempt God) or that it is giving Him an ultimatum (which again, you do not do with a Sovereign God). But if it is in the Bible and we use it for the same reasons,

I applaud Pillinger for how he has depicted the reactions of The Restorers at various stages of defeat, betrayal, imprisonment, torture. I felt just as crushed and defeated when Shivan leadership was questioned and put on trial (almost in a kangaroo court) and subsequently robbed of this role and position. But he turned to God, to the One, for refuge, counsel. He unburdened himself just like the Bible says in 1 Peter 5:7,

casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.

and after received refreshing council (in a specific way from God) he ceased being defeated and returned with renewed vigor and purpose and while the new leadership led them down the wrong path, The One diverted Shivan and brought together with others who are aligned with God and The Restorers quest leading them to the final play out of the plot.

Then we have Danisha seeking God in prayer and what to say when she knows she will confront Shambor concerning their imprisonment and the torture of Perrely. Rather than rely on her resources, she sought God's words as to what to say and displayed righteous anger towards him.

Perrely did not lose her faith or give in under Shambor's torture. She did not curse God or feel that He had abandoned her. This all had to do with the "pact" she made with God about being "married" to Him and given her life over to Him no matter what. She understood that He would not abandon her but allow her to come through this trial.

And like Shivan, God had a special counsel for her to work through her feelings of betrayal and deceit. Once she embraced this revelation God gave her, she became one powerful player in overthrowing Shambor and revelled in her gift of discernment and assessment of others character.

Another ploy that Pillinger employs is the use of the Word of God. We know it is powerful and acts as a two-edged sword, as described in Hebrews 4:12,

12 For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart.

and Pillinger uses this in one powerful and mighty way from one of the Restorers in a confrontation with Shambor. And the verse, he uses is one of my favourites, from Zechariah 4:6,

6 So he answered me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by strength or by might, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of Hosts.

For those readers who wondered how Shambor became the monster he is, it is all revealed in this novel and it allows the reader to understand him better but not excuse his destructive behaviour and the aftermath of it. However, this also sets the stage for what is to come in Book 3. It is interesting that Pillinger shows clearly what a child/teen/young adult will respond to when there is an oppressive element in their upbringing and the demonic makes them sacrifice all they have with its alluring nature and "solution" to this childhood deficit. And also we can see what demonic oppression has done to Gelmion in another way. He is lost within himself and utterly powerless and not coping with this and the shame of his actions. It will be interesting to see what happens to him in Book 3.

It was so good to have some of the story arcs in Book 1 solved or further explained, such as the use of the blaise, bess and bellaril together, the true identity of Father Martin (I queried this in my review of The Mindrulers) and more of the connection between the world of Durion and that of Earth. This is just another layer of the worldbuilding that Pillinger developed in Book 1 and now continues in this novel. And if Pillinger has any more revelations about some of these story arcs or elements of worldbuilding to deliver, I look forward to them being shown in Book 3.

I requested that Pillinger provide more of the backstory how Durion was founded and the account of Prince Orrénne. I am pleased to say that Pillinger is writing this and there are 3 episodes of this on his website.

I am going to wait until all his short instalments in this account are completed before I read them. Then I will get the full appreciation of this in one story. I would love to see this published as a novella. I do pray that he also write the backstory to the origin of Durion and its founders.

I am so impressed with this novel and series. It really should be considered a Christian classic. It is up there with my favourite novels and series. I would be devastated if Pillinger was unable to write any longer. This novel is an example of what happens when an author writes for God and allows Him to direct his path. Very much God-inspired. Very much God honouring.

Highly Recommended. 

[Lauren Salisbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first book in the series and looked forward to reading this one. It certainly did not disappoint. The characters were up against a greater threat while still learning to trust "the One," and the problems this caused them were compelling and interesting. I also enjoyed the worldbuilding and overall pace.
There were a few points I disagreed with, and my vivid imagination filled in the gaps of the frequent yet vague references to torture and recoiled.
That said, it kept me turning pages until the end, which is always my benchmark of a good book. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys stories of faith, perseverance, and God's ultimate power.

[Sean Elliot Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steve Pillinger’s “The Restorers” is an exciting adventure with great spiritual strength, compelling tender moments, and unforgettable, down-to-earth characters. Book Two of “The Mindruler” Series, the novel follows the plight of the Restorers as they face the Mindbenders and their vastly superior numbers in the land of Durian. Brought from the earth to fulfill an ancient prophecy about the overthrow of godless tyrants with the restoration of God’s Light, they face the onslaught of an enemy determined to destroy them. Brilliantly written, Pillinger has woven an exhilarating tale that touches on all aspects of human experience in a complex world—betrayal, war, self-doubt, the loss of loved ones, torture, control of one’s mind, and getting through heartbreak. And although the novel has a group of characters, the author adequately handles their individual stories in expert fashion. Great thought has gone into crafting this story which is demonstrated by the characters' arcs, all developed adequately and all having their individual roles to play as the story advances.

I loved the first novel, “The Mindruler”, but this novel takes the story to greater heights! It is the best adventure I’ve read—with great moments of spiritual truth and reality, and a tantalizing finish (complete with a twist). Quite a few times I was in awe of Pillinger’s descriptive prowess who so aptly describes the mystery of God’s presence and love as it manifests itself in certain characters—truly a wonder and joy. I was thinking how readers who happen to be nonbelievers or who have gravitated away from the Lord may experience more than just an entertaining story when they read this novel; indeed, they may sense the Lord’s love and presence pulling them to Himself. This novel also plays on themes common in our times—the struggle of staying true to the One and His Light versus the onslaught of secular mindsets where everyone does what’s right in his own eyes (Judges 21:25b). This novel is a future classic and deserves to be discovered by readers the worldover.

MY PERSONAL RATINGS [w/Key Below]:
Story Originality: 5/5
Story Inventiveness: 5+/5
Characters: 5+/5
Descriptive Power: 5+/5
True to Scripture: 5/5
Fictive Dream Strength: 5/5
Proofreading: 5/5
Cinematic Flare: 5+/5
Overall Satisfaction: 5/5

[MY KEY]
Story Originality: How creative was the concept from page one onwards?
Story Inventiveness: How surprised was I by the flow of the Plot? Any twists?
Characters: How real and how drawn was I to the story’s characters?
Descriptive Power: How well did the author control description, dialogue, etc?
True to Scripture: Were all elements true to Scripture’s worldview?
Fictive Dream Strength: How much was I immersed in the novel—wanting to read page after page?
Proofreading: How well was the book proofread (typos, etc)?
Cinematic Flare: How strong were key scenes (that I could easily see as a motion picture)?
Overall Satisfaction: What was my overall feeling/enjoyment level after reading the novel? Did I want it to end?

“The Restorers” (Book Two of the "Mindruler Series") is a unique novel. If you love adventure, great characters, spiritual truth grounded in real-world reality, and storytelling that’s rich and compelling, get this book! It is possible to read this novel without reading the first book and still enjoy it; but reading the first novel will be worthwhile and is recommended (look for my review of that novel elsewhere on this page). If you’ve read Steve Pillinger’s works, you know he’s an author to watch!

[C.S. Wachter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shivan (Steve), Danisha (Denise), Alanya (Lannie), and Gelmion (Gil) are four British subjects who find themselves transported to another world where they are called to defeat the evil Bishop Shambor, overcome the corrupt Mindbender cult, and restore true faith in God. This is Christian fantasy on an epic scale where life and death hang in the balance, lives are lost in battles, and evil is not glossed over. Horrible things happen—though nothing is described in graphic detail—and Earthly Bible stories find parallels as the action progresses.

Pillinger’s worldbuilding is smooth and convincing. Though Durian is not the world we know, there are enough similarities between the two that the details given express the otherness without yanking one out of the story in confusion. Detailed maps and a list of characters also help.

There were times when I cringed, times when I yelled, and times when my heart sang while reading The Restorers. Though it took a bit for me to bond with the characters (I made the mistake of reading book 2 of the series first), by the end I felt a connection with each main character—well, most of them. And, there were also several minor characters I grew to care about.

Bishop Shambor is deranged and creepy, even if certain incidents in his childhood propelled him down the path to his current position as head Mindbender and ruler of Durian, his need to control things by inflicting pain has always been a part of his dark personality. That this very sick individual can control the minds of so many is ample evidence that the prophesied Restorers have their work cut out for them.

Pillinger also pulls no punches when portraying God. He is active; he communicates with his people and, in his perfect timing, acts on behalf of his people. His actions are not contrived or manipulated but flow naturally within the well-structured story line.

I recommend this book for Christians who enjoy a large-scale fantasy where God is not relegated to the position of a bit-player on the world stage. And for Christians who don’t normally read fantasy, this is a good choice for an introduction to the genre.

[M.H. Elrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Today I am continuing my review of the book series, Mindrulers, by Steve Pillinger. The second in the series, called The Restorers, is just as good, if not better, than the first. The plot was even more enthralling than the first, and the characters were just as good, the setting magnificent. The content is more subdued than the first, but it maintains its PG-13 rating.

Plot

Oh, my, this plot! It had me turning the pages from the beginning. And, I can say that it is one of the few books that I wanted to throw against the wall. Plots that can cause emotional reaction means that they were good! So, throwing against the wall was not because I didn’t love it, it was because I was so passionately invested in the plot. The plot was fast-moving, barely pausing for rest before plunging on to the next scene of action. The heart-pounding action of the story made it great from beginning to end.

Characters

This story helped the character arcs progress much further than the first book, especially the main protagonist and antagonist. The development of Shivan, the leader of the resistance, is awesome to read about. The antagonist is also more fully fleshed out, making him both relatable and more villainous. I also was more attached to the returning characters because it is the second in the series. It was awesome to see more from characters like Fira, the twins Shirin and Carin, Father Martin, Frengor and Captain Garset. I definitely look forward to seeing how those other characters contribute to the next in the series.

Setting

As I mentioned in my previous review, one of Mr. Pillinger’s strengths is his worldbuilding. The language is incorporated throughout the story, but not in a way that takes away from the plot. Instead, it enriches the world and makes it believable. The fact that Mr. Pillinger has names for every city and mountain range is equally impressive. He accompanies his book with many maps as well, for those who want to examine and discover exactly where the travelers are located. He also does a great job of developing the various cultures so that they seem believable.

Overall Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars

I decided to give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars because the author has improved with his character development in this second novel. This isn’t because the book is bad; rather, it is great! I highly recommend it to those who like epic fantasy. However, just like my problem with the first book, there is one particular character whose development feels stinted. But again, this is a really minor complaint, and for those who love plot-driven books with compelling characters, it is still an awesome book to read. Plus, in terms of content, it was significantly tamed.

Content Advisory: There are fewer cuss words than the first book and fewer mentions of sex or rape. The presence of such content may still affect younger readers, which is why I have mentioned it here. Definitely a PG-13 rating still.

[Laura A. Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

“When God had a hand in things, everything tied together in such an amazing way.”

This was quite the epic fantasy! A wide variety of characters and lands that definitely portrayed just how large this world is.

Though I would encourage readers to read book one before diving into The Restorers, the author did a great job of introducing characters readers might have not read about previously. I was especially impressed with the character guide and very detailed maps. That was awesome!

My favorite character was Jomel. Her story of faith very much spoke to me and reminded me that God always hears our prayers. Like her, we can freely come to Him and share our fears, worries, joys, and even more with Him. Loved that!

Overall, this was a good read. Sometimes I felt a little lost in backstories and didn’t always agree with the use of language, but it was an interesting story and one I found encouragement from.

*(I received an e-copy from the author and was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts expressed are my own.)*

[R.J. Gilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

In his second book of the Mindrulers series, Pillinger returns to the masterfully crafted world of Durion, following four heroes from Earth in their quest to restore the religion of Light to the corrupted Durian kingdoms. Fresh from their victory over a powerful Mindruler, young Shivan leads his motley group of heroes into the wilderness to escape from the furious vengeance of Bishop Shambor. Each carrying a relic that promises to help them restore good to the land, they set out to find the one symbol that can prove to the people of this kingdom that they are truly God’s chosen Restorers. But, of course, in this Christian blend of grimdark fantasy and mature spiritual growth, that isn’t as easy—or as pleasant—as it sounds.

Pillinger does a wonderful job of keeping the reader guessing: introducing new characters, plot twists, and even some surprising “world mechanics” to the story that kept me wondering what was going to happen next. He has also done well to keep the story from focusing on only one character. Often switching back and forth between the four heroes, several key Durion players, and even following the main villain through the course of his campaign to bring revenge and ruin upon the “Restorers,” Pillinger succeeds not only in giving the reader a meaningful view of spiritual depravity, but also introduces us to the titular villain of the next book in the series: The Strongholder. Along the way we grow to understand the motivations and spiritual pitfalls that created the vile Bishop who seeks only to destroy the heroes of this adventure.

As I pointed out in my review of the first book in this series, this is not a high fantasy for the faint of heart. Evil does happen, good characters die, and sometimes it seems like the good guys lost more than they won. But this is also a wonderful illustration of the fallen world into which we, as Christians, find ourselves. Having marveled at the well-polished writing and carefully constructed characters and world-building, I was honestly surprised to discover that this book was not published by a mainstream publishing company. In fact, so long it has been since I have read a book so well-written, edited, and with such moving and relevant spiritual themes, I would almost say that the “mantle” of Christian literature has a new owner.

Pillinger did so well to bring me into his world and to deliver several strong, spiritual messages through its characters that I am honestly eager for the release of the third and final book in this series. I can only hope that release will come soon.

[Stan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Restorers by Steve Pillinger is the second book in the Mindrulers series.

I found the first book to be delightfully creative – one of the most creative works of Christian fiction I’ve ever read. Great world building, created language(s), original creatures, and amazing characters who grow as the story progresses. Amazing! If you haven’t read it, grab it now!

Of course, when the first book is that good, one wonders how the sequel will be! Can an new author write the sequel as good as or better then the first story? Not always! But, Pillinger far exceeded the first story in the sequel! As I got nearer the end I found myself putting the book down just so it wouldn’t end too soon!

There is continued character development for the protagonists. Each continues to deal with his or her past and how that shapes who they are and threatens to limit who they are becoming. A few characters who were minor in the first story grow and blossom in the second story, especially Jomel. Goodness what a story arc of transformation!

And, Pillinger did an amazing job of overcoming one of my pet peeves of Christian fiction. Too often, we don’t see the plot and plans of the antagonist. Here, you almost get too much of Shambor’s plot and plans. I found myself longing for the moment that the protagonists would discover his treachery. For pages and pages, and even chapters I was longing for that moment! The author did an amazing job in informing the reader and keeping his heroes in the dark (in more ways than one!).

Along the way he gave snippets of a story thread that seemed unrelated. Cruel, but apparently unrelated. Then, the pieces fell into place in an anguishing, despairing way.

You should know, this one is just as gritty as the first story. Adult themes carry through the whole story, but not in a brash manner. Some have assessed this to be PG-13 writing. The story contains much treachery, but much victory, despair and hope, cruelty and kindness. And, honestly, as the end approached I wasn’t sure where the author would leave us. The story literally resolves in the final 10-20 pages (or the last 10% of the book on my Kindle).

So, kudos to Steve Pillinger! He’s given us an even more amazing sequel! I can’t wait to see what book three holds, but I know I want this series to be more than a trilogy! Get the first two and enjoy them fully!

[Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, it’s book 2 of a trilogy, so you don’t expect plain sailing for our band of slightly-confused-chosen-ones (“Restorers of the Way”), even though they’ve now had some months to get used to the language, culture and oppressive government of the strange world to which Divine Providence has unexpectedly yanked them from our world. Shivan (Steven) struggles with the burdens and challenges of leading a rebellion with too few he can trust. Lannie struggles to put truth ahead of relationships. Gil continues to deal with the aftermath of having been mindbent into a brutal minion in book 1, even though the link was broken. The whole lot of them are being pursued by bad guys, are running towards the land of the mysterious ogre-like Gruzhack, and don’t have a whole lot of plan.

I enjoyed this more than book 1 – the pacing was fast and effective throughout, and the last few chapters kept me up past my bedtime on a work night wanting to finish. I am glad I read them in order, though, as I think The Restorers would have been much less convincing if read standalone. The gaggle of POVs continued, but served the story pretty well here, and the use of one villain POV was surprisingly effective in unpacking his backstory and setting up the ending. (Can’t say more without spoilers). The invented language and worldbuilding flowed convincingly and didn’t get in the way. The book is very dark, though, with a high body count and some very unpleasant scenes. Not worse than much of modern adult fantasy, and not explicit, but rather grimmer than I normally read. Props for not sticking to the clean-cut stereotype of Christian fantasy though.

There are direct divine actions at critical plot points but that’s a deliberate thematic choice channelling Biblical stories, so you’ll either love it or hate it.

* free copy received in exchange for an honest review

[Allen Steadham · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Restorers by Steve Pillinger is a Christian fantasy fiction novel mostly set in the land of Dûrion. It is the second book in The Mindrulers series.

I have very mixed feelings about this book.

While it takes a strong Christian stance for good/light over evil/dark, I have concerns about the author's means to achieving that end. Particularly for a Christian novel, I question the extensive (and almost casual) use of torture (both mental and physical), rape, and profanity. While it is true that such evils exist in the world, it is my opinion that they are given enough attention in other entertainment. Frankly put, they risk taking away from the other fine points this novel is making.

Also, there are way too many characters in this book. It made it very difficult to connect with what seemed to be the core characters of Shivan, Perrely, Alanya (Lannie) and Danisha (Neesh).

Among the positives, the author excelled at praising God and Jesus Christ (in their English and Dûrion names). He also showed good character development for the main characters, including the villains Shambor and Gil. Shambor's development was as interesting as it was tragic.

There was impressive world-building in The Restorers. Pillinger includes a wide array of lands, cultures, races, and languages. Scenery description was good and immersive. There were some interesting and unpredictable twists. Many of the emotional trials the characters go through are compelling and handled realistically.

What I took away from The Restorers is that at it's heart is a desire to praise God. That comes through loud and clear. There are strong characters, themes, and rich world exploration. I would just caution any author on the use of torture, rape, and profanity in a Christian fiction novel.

[Kala Barnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall, I very much enjoyed “The Restorers” and can’t wait to read the next book in the series and find out the conclusion to this saga. It has been an exciting read and set up the premise for the rest of the story in the third book.
Generally, when a book series comes out you have the character development, build up, and a decent ending in the first book. With the second one kind of just being tagged into to third book not really doing much but moving the story along. Finally, the third book is concluding all that was developed in the first book. This story was unlike most 2nd books in a series it kept me engaged the entire time I was reading it.
As the continuation of story this one added a few new personalities and disbanded some loved characters. I particularly enjoy the relationships between a child and one of the Restorers, it was a sweet interaction that was so innocent reminding me that innocence is something to be cherished and not degraded.
One of the major themes in the book was one of betrayal and loyalty to a cause. As far as plot twists go there was a big one that I really didn’t see coming. I was almost upset by it; mostly because of the dishonesty and deception that came along with it.

[andrew everitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoever controls the mind....

An excellent read from start to finish. As a Christian whose favourite genre is sci-fi/fantasy this well written book fully satisfied on many levels. Were I not a believer then the storyline itself would have kept me interested throughout. As a believer this enabled me to see my own faith and how God delights to interact with His friends and how grace abounds. So looking forward to book 3.