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Harbingers #1-4
Invitation
Four bestselling authors unite for thrilling supernatural thriller: Bringing together four stories, The Invitation is the first book in the Heralds series.
THE CALL by Bill Myers, THE HAUNTED by Frank Peretti, THE WATCHMEN by Angela Hunt, THE GIRL by Alton Gansky. Five characters - with gifts they don't fully understand - are mysteriously brought together to fight growing pockets of darkness across the world: Brenda, the tattoo artist who walks the streets and sees images of the future. The teacher, the ex-priest atheist ruled by logic. Andi, the professor's brilliant-but-geek assistant, who sees inexplicable patterns. Tank, the big-hearted, naive athlete with a surprising connection to healing power. Daniel, the institutionalized ten-year-old boy who can see the supernatural world.
First brought together in "The Ring", the five soon realize that pockets of darkness are rising across the world. Whether it involves a mysterious house, the inexplicable death of animals around the world, or a supernatural little girl, each puzzle they solve brings them closer to the ultimate explanation of what's going on. But will they discover the truth in time?
THE CALL by Bill Myers, THE HAUNTED by Frank Peretti, THE WATCHMEN by Angela Hunt, THE GIRL by Alton Gansky. Five characters - with gifts they don't fully understand - are mysteriously brought together to fight growing pockets of darkness across the world: Brenda, the tattoo artist who walks the streets and sees images of the future. The teacher, the ex-priest atheist ruled by logic. Andi, the professor's brilliant-but-geek assistant, who sees inexplicable patterns. Tank, the big-hearted, naive athlete with a surprising connection to healing power. Daniel, the institutionalized ten-year-old boy who can see the supernatural world.
First brought together in "The Ring", the five soon realize that pockets of darkness are rising across the world. Whether it involves a mysterious house, the inexplicable death of animals around the world, or a supernatural little girl, each puzzle they solve brings them closer to the ultimate explanation of what's going on. But will they discover the truth in time?
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Published November 15, 2017
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About the author
Bill Myers
332 books394 followersBill Myers was born into a Christian home, and although as a child he became bored with Christianity, he decided at the University of Washington quote, to "make God my boss." Ironically, at the University his worst subject was writing. He claims to have prayed, and said that he would be able to do anything for God, except write. Even so, he has become a prominent Christian writer, and has a large amount of successful books and films to his credit.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
May 1, 2017
This book was a lot of fun and weird.
There are 4 stories written by 4 different authors but it's the same characters in different situations.
From the authors:
I'm glad this was written in the beginning because I kept getting confused at who was the POV of each story and had to remember. =)
In the first story, The Call, Brenda is asked to give a tattoo by some guys to their friend, Tank. He's passed out and has no idea what's going on. Brenda does tattoo's that have a story. Tank got a tattoo with people on his arm.
Brenda ends up having to take Tank home and they run into the Professor and Andi when their plane crashes. Then they all end up at this creepy Institute where some evil and bizarre things are happening. I'm not really sure what all was going on but I liked it.
The next story, The Haunted, is about a house that haunts people. It was so very strange but it was pretty cool. There were ghosts inside that the crew had to help and it was just all strange and I loved it too.
These stories always pull the group together and they have to meet and figure things out.
Then we have, The Sentinels, I still don't understand this one. I know that animals were having their eyes removed and killed by something but . . . I think it went over my head. I am glad that a dog was healed though!
The last story, The Girl, was really creepy at first with Tank and the sheriff following these little barefoot, kid prints all through the snow and up over a roof. It turns out it was a sweet little girl and she was being chased by something, but I'm not telling you what.
I loved all of the stories accept The Sentinels because like I said, I don't know what was going on.
My favorite has to be, The Girl with The Haunted following close behind.
I enjoyed these stories and will read more of them if they continue with the series.
*I received a print copy of this book through BethanyHouse.*
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
There are 4 stories written by 4 different authors but it's the same characters in different situations.
From the authors:
RULE #1
Each of us would write as if we were one of the characters in the series:
Bill Myers would write as Brenda, the street-hustling tattoo artist who sees images of the future.
Frank Peretti would write as the professor, the atheist ex-priest ruled by logic.
Angela Hunt would write as Andi, the professor's brilliant but geeky assistant who sees inexplicable patterns.
Alton Gansky would write as Tank, the naive, big-hearted jock with a surprising connection to a healing power.
RULE #2
Instead of the four of us writing one novella together (we're friends but not crazy), we would write it like a TV series. There would be overarching storyline into which we'd plug out individual novellas, with each story written from our character's point of view:
Bill's first novella, The Call, sets the stage. It will be followed by Frank's The Haunted, Angela's The Sentinels, and Alton's The Girl. And if we keep having fun we'll begin a second round and so on until other demands pull us away or , as in TV, we get cancelled.
I'm glad this was written in the beginning because I kept getting confused at who was the POV of each story and had to remember. =)
In the first story, The Call, Brenda is asked to give a tattoo by some guys to their friend, Tank. He's passed out and has no idea what's going on. Brenda does tattoo's that have a story. Tank got a tattoo with people on his arm.
Brenda ends up having to take Tank home and they run into the Professor and Andi when their plane crashes. Then they all end up at this creepy Institute where some evil and bizarre things are happening. I'm not really sure what all was going on but I liked it.
The next story, The Haunted, is about a house that haunts people. It was so very strange but it was pretty cool. There were ghosts inside that the crew had to help and it was just all strange and I loved it too.
These stories always pull the group together and they have to meet and figure things out.
Then we have, The Sentinels, I still don't understand this one. I know that animals were having their eyes removed and killed by something but . . . I think it went over my head. I am glad that a dog was healed though!
The last story, The Girl, was really creepy at first with Tank and the sheriff following these little barefoot, kid prints all through the snow and up over a roof. It turns out it was a sweet little girl and she was being chased by something, but I'm not telling you what.
I loved all of the stories accept The Sentinels because like I said, I don't know what was going on.
My favorite has to be, The Girl with The Haunted following close behind.
I enjoyed these stories and will read more of them if they continue with the series.
*I received a print copy of this book through BethanyHouse.*
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
October 12, 2024
I really liked the first short story but unfortunately the rest were kinda boring and felt like a bunch of random action. I wanted the storyline of the first one to continue but it was more like these characters were the scooby doo crew fighting spirits and weird occurrences.
No language and no romance.
No language and no romance.
May 16, 2017
(I got a free copy in exchange for my review from Bethany House)
Um, words? anyone? This was so much fun, man! The book is essentially split into four sections, where each writer would continue the original story, taking the journey to who-knows-where. I mean, that's so cool! Normally, I would think I'd feel disconnected from the characters because of the different writers and their different voices, BUT because each author had their designated character, I think it made the whole thing come together really nicely.
I am very easily spooked by this kind of paranormal material, so I never really read books in this genre. I have read This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti, and I wasn't scared, however I think it had to do with the fact that the angels were very well prominent and present. In this book though, we see mostly evidence of darkness. YA. So I couldn't read this by myself DON'T JUDGE ME, I'M VERY SHELTERED AND I STILL GET THE SHIVERS WHEN I'M WATCHING DOCTOR JIGGLE AND MR. SLY.
I mean, don't get me wrong. This book was WONDERFUL. It didn't glorify any of the darkness, and it wasn't like... brutally graphic. I'm just a sensitive wiener when it comes to paranormal material. Ha.
READ MY REVIEW HERE:
http://thrivinghope.blogspot.com/2017...
Um, words? anyone? This was so much fun, man! The book is essentially split into four sections, where each writer would continue the original story, taking the journey to who-knows-where. I mean, that's so cool! Normally, I would think I'd feel disconnected from the characters because of the different writers and their different voices, BUT because each author had their designated character, I think it made the whole thing come together really nicely.
I am very easily spooked by this kind of paranormal material, so I never really read books in this genre. I have read This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti, and I wasn't scared, however I think it had to do with the fact that the angels were very well prominent and present. In this book though, we see mostly evidence of darkness. YA. So I couldn't read this by myself DON'T JUDGE ME, I'M VERY SHELTERED AND I STILL GET THE SHIVERS WHEN I'M WATCHING DOCTOR JIGGLE AND MR. SLY.
I mean, don't get me wrong. This book was WONDERFUL. It didn't glorify any of the darkness, and it wasn't like... brutally graphic. I'm just a sensitive wiener when it comes to paranormal material. Ha.
READ MY REVIEW HERE:
http://thrivinghope.blogspot.com/2017...
June 5, 2018
Invitation was a different read. I liked how all of the stories were told from different characters perspectives - it was neat to get to know each of the characters that way.
I found the plot creepy at times and I am still somewhat confused as to what is all going on...but I'm looking forward to reading The Assault (#5-8) to see what happens next.
All in all, with suspense, mystery, and some fantasy/supernatural aspects, The Invitation was a good read. I recommend it to fans of fantasy or suspense novels.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
I found the plot creepy at times and I am still somewhat confused as to what is all going on...but I'm looking forward to reading The Assault (#5-8) to see what happens next.
All in all, with suspense, mystery, and some fantasy/supernatural aspects, The Invitation was a good read. I recommend it to fans of fantasy or suspense novels.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
May 18, 2017
This was unlike any other collection of novellas I've ever read. In this case, each novella builds on the previous one. Each one was told in first person.
I was captivated immediately with this book. I've read books by these authors before, so I knew their writing styles. What I didn't expect to happen was that I was pulled completely into the book. The characters moved seamlessly from one novella to another. I cannot wait for the next installment of this series to come out.
I received this book for free from the publisher for the purpose of providing my opinion. I was not compensated in any way for this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
Recommended to fans of Bill Myers, Angela Hunt, Frank Peretti, Alton Gansky, suspense
Rating - 5 stars
I was captivated immediately with this book. I've read books by these authors before, so I knew their writing styles. What I didn't expect to happen was that I was pulled completely into the book. The characters moved seamlessly from one novella to another. I cannot wait for the next installment of this series to come out.
I received this book for free from the publisher for the purpose of providing my opinion. I was not compensated in any way for this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
Recommended to fans of Bill Myers, Angela Hunt, Frank Peretti, Alton Gansky, suspense
Rating - 5 stars
August 20, 2018
Interesting and Engaging read/listen. I really like the four author/character viewpoint.
July 27, 2024
3.5✨
These short stories were all enjoyable.
These short stories were all enjoyable.
April 24, 2017
I enjoyed this book! Something different and interesting. Looking forward to the next one!
March 9, 2017
Note: received and reviewed as a NetGalley arc
I just can't decided which one I like better. The overall stories in those were better but I did like seeing from Andi's POV (The Sentinels) the best.
These ragtag group of characters reminded me of Scooby Doo and the Gang. It was mostly The Call & The Haunted that gave off that vibe; but the way they always would call each other to come help solve a mystery was another thing that connected them to Scooby Doo.
I was disappointed that the book didn't end with the final story; I want closure from the story. I was dissatisfied with story arc of each of the short stories. There was a problem, then some kind of solution but no definite ending. The 'bad guys' each seem to be get dealt with but it all happens so fast. The most characters don't grow or change their beliefs at all. Plus they always seem to bumble from one trouble into another. There is some Godly talks but we don't delve deep into them, we don't see the characters grow in faith or with faith (except for Tank). Honestly, I would have just liked to see their story come to close so that I could have moved on.
"Truth is truth, and it remains that even if I'm the last one alive to believe it."
I won't be reviewing each of the short stories separately but I will say that The Call & The Haunted were by far the best out of the quartet.These ragtag group of characters reminded me of Scooby Doo and the Gang. It was mostly The Call & The Haunted that gave off that vibe; but the way they always would call each other to come help solve a mystery was another thing that connected them to Scooby Doo.
I was disappointed that the book didn't end with the final story; I want closure from the story. I was dissatisfied with story arc of each of the short stories. There was a problem, then some kind of solution but no definite ending. The 'bad guys' each seem to be get dealt with but it all happens so fast. The most characters don't grow or change their beliefs at all. Plus they always seem to bumble from one trouble into another. There is some Godly talks but we don't delve deep into them, we don't see the characters grow in faith or with faith (except for Tank). Honestly, I would have just liked to see their story come to close so that I could have moved on.
December 11, 2017
Invitation is a unique collection of four stories. They are Christian supernatural suspense and very intelligently written. Each story has its own author... Bill Myers, Frank Peretti, Angela Hunt and Alton Gansky... and each tale follows on chronologically but from a different character's viewpoint.
The characters each have their own skill set and gifting which they apply in an attempt to make sense of supernatural happenings that cannot be explained or understood. The reader sees that life is a battle between good and evil. We must "stay on the path" of goodness.
God speaks through dreams. He foretells what is to come so characters are prepared. We need to put our hope, faith and focus on God.
There are times when we have no words to pray. "All I remember was praying... 'Dear Jesus, dear Jesus.' " God hears the cries of our heart.
God gives us gifts. We see the gift of healing in the novel. We do not heal but God uses us to heal. "I'm just one tool in God's toolkit."
Fear can consume us and take over. "You cannot fight fear. You can only replace it." When fear threatens our lives, we need to lift our eyes to God and focus on Him. He is bigger than any fear we can ever face. "Blast this fear... What was the dark, but absence of light?" We must seek the light at all times.
Sometimes it feels like everyone is burying or twisting the truth. We need to cling on to and speak the truth at all times, in spite of those around us. "Truth is truth... even if I'm the last one alive to believe it."
There are times when we are called to fight against the forces of darkness. We are never to do this alone but in tandem with God. "The power's not in us, but God can give us the power to fight."
There is a wonderful bond between the main characters. They have each other's backs and support and trust each other.
Invitation was not my usual genre but I really enjoyed it. It was gripping and I am looking forward to reading book two in the Harbingers series. The stories were well thought out and flowed together. Not a book to be read alone or in the twilight. Make sure the lights are on.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
The characters each have their own skill set and gifting which they apply in an attempt to make sense of supernatural happenings that cannot be explained or understood. The reader sees that life is a battle between good and evil. We must "stay on the path" of goodness.
God speaks through dreams. He foretells what is to come so characters are prepared. We need to put our hope, faith and focus on God.
There are times when we have no words to pray. "All I remember was praying... 'Dear Jesus, dear Jesus.' " God hears the cries of our heart.
God gives us gifts. We see the gift of healing in the novel. We do not heal but God uses us to heal. "I'm just one tool in God's toolkit."
Fear can consume us and take over. "You cannot fight fear. You can only replace it." When fear threatens our lives, we need to lift our eyes to God and focus on Him. He is bigger than any fear we can ever face. "Blast this fear... What was the dark, but absence of light?" We must seek the light at all times.
Sometimes it feels like everyone is burying or twisting the truth. We need to cling on to and speak the truth at all times, in spite of those around us. "Truth is truth... even if I'm the last one alive to believe it."
There are times when we are called to fight against the forces of darkness. We are never to do this alone but in tandem with God. "The power's not in us, but God can give us the power to fight."
There is a wonderful bond between the main characters. They have each other's backs and support and trust each other.
Invitation was not my usual genre but I really enjoyed it. It was gripping and I am looking forward to reading book two in the Harbingers series. The stories were well thought out and flowed together. Not a book to be read alone or in the twilight. Make sure the lights are on.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
May 2, 2017
This is an interesting bind up of 4 novellas, each written by a different author but in stories that are connected to each other (each author narrating one of the 4 main characters in the book). It is presented like a television series with new “episodes” and at this point, there have been 18 novellas written for the series. Because of this, each story is left open-ended, which I don’t like. I’m not a fan of long book series’ so I’m not sure if I’ll continue.
Each story was enjoyable but I think my favorite was The Call by Bill Myers, told by Brenda, a tattoo artist. Each character has a special gift and they are brought together in each story to solve a problem.
The characters all had their own voice (a benefit of having 4 different authors writing each character). They were all different and well-rounded, they also had interesting background stories.
I found the overall story line of spiritual warfare interesting but struggled with the theology of some of the things that happened. When this occurred, I reminded myself that it was fictional, but I do tend to hold Christian Fiction at a higher standard than secular fiction when it comes to the lesson that is learned. Throughout the book, there weren’t really any lessons learned, which I didn’t care for.
Overall, this book was enjoyable but not something that I would read again.
My Rating: 3 and a half stars
I received this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.
Each story was enjoyable but I think my favorite was The Call by Bill Myers, told by Brenda, a tattoo artist. Each character has a special gift and they are brought together in each story to solve a problem.
The characters all had their own voice (a benefit of having 4 different authors writing each character). They were all different and well-rounded, they also had interesting background stories.
I found the overall story line of spiritual warfare interesting but struggled with the theology of some of the things that happened. When this occurred, I reminded myself that it was fictional, but I do tend to hold Christian Fiction at a higher standard than secular fiction when it comes to the lesson that is learned. Throughout the book, there weren’t really any lessons learned, which I didn’t care for.
Overall, this book was enjoyable but not something that I would read again.
My Rating: 3 and a half stars
I received this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.
April 21, 2017
I was a little bit excited to be able to read Invitation through NetGalley. It promised to be different, engaging, yet manageable in small bits. It was all those things and a few others as well. Each story within the book is a continuation of the previous from a different character's point of view. Brenda starts us out with 'The Call' and ultimately bringing most of the group together. She can sometimes see things, premonitions of people that will later become important to the story. We also meet most of the group with their own special talents. The Professor takes over from there with 'The Haunted' where the final member of the group meets up with them. The Professor is all logic all the time. Everything can be explained by science and logic. Even when he can't figure out at way he still tries. Andi takes over in 'The Sentinels' where they all come back together again. Andi sees the world in patterns and number sequences. Seriously, the girl can look at a pattern in the carpet and figure out exactly how often the pattern repeats in a set area. Finally we hear from Tank and the girl that can appear and disappear at will. Tank has a foundation in faith and in Christ, the only on of the bunch that does. Tank also has an ability to heal things, sometimes. He's OK with sometimes though because he feels that it happens when it's God's will and not just because it's his will.
While I knew this book was going to be something different there were aspects that I didn't 'get' right away and aspects I didn't expect. I get it, a harbinger is something that brings forth something else. Perhaps I'm more obtuse than I thought because I just didn't get it. I kept waiting to figure out what was coming, what was going to happen, something. Finally about the third story I realized it's all harbingers, every story is a harbinger of something more to come. By the end though I still don't know what's coming. I know that there are more books, more episodes, to come but I'm still feeling lost. The other things that threw me off a bit was how deeply supernatural it all was. I mean, I should have clued in during story one at a school for the 'gifted' (and they don't mean super smart) that was built over a well to somewhere else. I should have clued in as the special talents of the cast were put into play. Yup, kinda clueless here.
That aside, I really really liked this book. When I say I will literally read almost anything it's the truth. Faith - got it but it was a bit downplayed in this book and not as forward as I expected from this cast of authors. Supernatural - got it, and done well. Mystery - yup, at least for me since I totally missed the harbinger play on words and all. I would recommend this book to anyone who is open and likes the supernatural aspect of the world and storytelling. In this book the faith was subtle and therefore I don't feel would be a deterrent for someone who doesn't look for that in a book. I can't wait to be able to read the next episodes.
As mentioned before, I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.
Originally published at https://fizzypopcollection.blogspot.c...
While I knew this book was going to be something different there were aspects that I didn't 'get' right away and aspects I didn't expect. I get it, a harbinger is something that brings forth something else. Perhaps I'm more obtuse than I thought because I just didn't get it. I kept waiting to figure out what was coming, what was going to happen, something. Finally about the third story I realized it's all harbingers, every story is a harbinger of something more to come. By the end though I still don't know what's coming. I know that there are more books, more episodes, to come but I'm still feeling lost. The other things that threw me off a bit was how deeply supernatural it all was. I mean, I should have clued in during story one at a school for the 'gifted' (and they don't mean super smart) that was built over a well to somewhere else. I should have clued in as the special talents of the cast were put into play. Yup, kinda clueless here.
That aside, I really really liked this book. When I say I will literally read almost anything it's the truth. Faith - got it but it was a bit downplayed in this book and not as forward as I expected from this cast of authors. Supernatural - got it, and done well. Mystery - yup, at least for me since I totally missed the harbinger play on words and all. I would recommend this book to anyone who is open and likes the supernatural aspect of the world and storytelling. In this book the faith was subtle and therefore I don't feel would be a deterrent for someone who doesn't look for that in a book. I can't wait to be able to read the next episodes.
As mentioned before, I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.
Originally published at https://fizzypopcollection.blogspot.c...
April 21, 2017
This book contains four stories, each written by a different author. The authors are friends and wanted to do something different and this book is the result. They established a couple of rules. First, each author would write as if a character. Myers writes as a tattoo artist who sees images of the future. Peretti writes as a professor, an atheist ruled by logic. Hunt writes as Andi, the professor's geeky assistant who can see inexplicable patterns. Gansky writes as Tank, a big-hearted jock with healing power. The other rule was that these stories should read like a TV series with an overarching story line, with each individual story fitting in.
Myer's novella sets the stage. We learn about the major characters, are introduced to the strange training center in the desert, and experience some suspense. Peretti's novella takes us to a house in the Pacific Northwest that tells the truth and where we experience some eerie suspense. Hunt's novella finds the group on a Florida shore facing the mystery of birds and fish dying in vast numbers. Gansky's novella finds the group in Oregon, on the trail of a mysterious young girl who can walk through fences and over barns.
I enjoyed this collection of stories, following the ongoing adventures of the motley collection of characters. Each novella reveals a little more about the characters, their back grounds, etc. There is a prominent spiritual aspect to these stories, on both the good side and the dark side. There is a bit of spiritual warfare that goes on. Tank is the godly character while the professor is an avowed atheist. There are some good theological points made through the dialog between the characters.
Various authors sometimes means difference in writing quality but I was happy to find that the writing was quite consistent. It was a little disconcerting to change points of view with each novella. And I felt like it was all unfinished business when I got to the end. The stories are entertaining but there is no resolution at the end of this collection. I sensed that the evil forces, what ever they are, were getting stronger. One would need to read the next collections, two releasing later this year, to get the ultimate message. I trust the battle of good and evil will continue.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
Myer's novella sets the stage. We learn about the major characters, are introduced to the strange training center in the desert, and experience some suspense. Peretti's novella takes us to a house in the Pacific Northwest that tells the truth and where we experience some eerie suspense. Hunt's novella finds the group on a Florida shore facing the mystery of birds and fish dying in vast numbers. Gansky's novella finds the group in Oregon, on the trail of a mysterious young girl who can walk through fences and over barns.
I enjoyed this collection of stories, following the ongoing adventures of the motley collection of characters. Each novella reveals a little more about the characters, their back grounds, etc. There is a prominent spiritual aspect to these stories, on both the good side and the dark side. There is a bit of spiritual warfare that goes on. Tank is the godly character while the professor is an avowed atheist. There are some good theological points made through the dialog between the characters.
Various authors sometimes means difference in writing quality but I was happy to find that the writing was quite consistent. It was a little disconcerting to change points of view with each novella. And I felt like it was all unfinished business when I got to the end. The stories are entertaining but there is no resolution at the end of this collection. I sensed that the evil forces, what ever they are, were getting stronger. One would need to read the next collections, two releasing later this year, to get the ultimate message. I trust the battle of good and evil will continue.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
April 5, 2017
Invitation is a collection of four interconnected stories by authors Frank Peretti, Angela Hunt, Bill Myers, and Alton Gansky. This volume contains the first four stories in the Harbingers Series, an ongoing series with additional stories already available that was created by these Christian authors. In the series a team of four widely diverse people join together to use their individual skills to solve a mystery or help someone.
The author's set up two rules for their collaboration:
Rule #1 Each author would write as one of the characters in the series: Bill Myers's character is Brenda, the street-hustling tattoo artist who sees images of the future. Frank Peretti's character is the professor, the atheist ex-priest ruled by logic. Angela Hunt's character is Andi, the professor’s brilliant but geeky assistant who sees inexplicable patterns. Alton Gansky's character is Tank, the naïve, big-hearted jock with a surprising connection to a healing power.
Rule #2 They would write the stories like a TV series with an overarching storyline. The series part would be their individual stories, novellas, written from their character’s point of view.
The first four stories in this volume include:
"The Call" by Bill Myers: We are introduced to the characters and their first team effort to help a student at the Institute for Advanced Psychic Studies.
"The Haunted" by Frank Peretti: The four try to solve a murder mystery centered around a mysterious house.
"The Sentinels" by Angela Hunt: Animals are mysteriously dying and discovered with their eyes missing.
"The Girl" by Alton Gansky: A young barefoot girl is found holding a scroll after walking for miles in the snowy countryside.
There is no doubt that the writing is excellent and the individual stories are compelling; however, there are some pros and cons to the series. The premise that the stories are written like a TV series, with each story/author focusing on one character, is unique. This makes it easy to quickly read one story and know the next one will be a new adventure from a different character's point-of-view. This is also the downfall of the series - or at least this first volume. Because it is written as an ongoing series and this volume is just the first four stories, there is no concluding resolution and the character growth is limited. Invitation is only the first four of the sixteen individual stories already written for the series. In the end the real questions for readers are: Do you like episodic ongoing stories? How much time are you willing to invest in an ongoing series?
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of the publisher/author.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2017/0...
The author's set up two rules for their collaboration:
Rule #1 Each author would write as one of the characters in the series: Bill Myers's character is Brenda, the street-hustling tattoo artist who sees images of the future. Frank Peretti's character is the professor, the atheist ex-priest ruled by logic. Angela Hunt's character is Andi, the professor’s brilliant but geeky assistant who sees inexplicable patterns. Alton Gansky's character is Tank, the naïve, big-hearted jock with a surprising connection to a healing power.
Rule #2 They would write the stories like a TV series with an overarching storyline. The series part would be their individual stories, novellas, written from their character’s point of view.
The first four stories in this volume include:
"The Call" by Bill Myers: We are introduced to the characters and their first team effort to help a student at the Institute for Advanced Psychic Studies.
"The Haunted" by Frank Peretti: The four try to solve a murder mystery centered around a mysterious house.
"The Sentinels" by Angela Hunt: Animals are mysteriously dying and discovered with their eyes missing.
"The Girl" by Alton Gansky: A young barefoot girl is found holding a scroll after walking for miles in the snowy countryside.
There is no doubt that the writing is excellent and the individual stories are compelling; however, there are some pros and cons to the series. The premise that the stories are written like a TV series, with each story/author focusing on one character, is unique. This makes it easy to quickly read one story and know the next one will be a new adventure from a different character's point-of-view. This is also the downfall of the series - or at least this first volume. Because it is written as an ongoing series and this volume is just the first four stories, there is no concluding resolution and the character growth is limited. Invitation is only the first four of the sixteen individual stories already written for the series. In the end the real questions for readers are: Do you like episodic ongoing stories? How much time are you willing to invest in an ongoing series?
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of the publisher/author.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2017/0...
June 22, 2017
Twilight Zone with a twist of faith.
Invitation follows the format so popular with TV show these days -- where diverse characters with unique gifts band together to fight evil. Only instead of superpowers we have divine gifts. And there's definitely a supernatural quality to these novellas which gradually develops over the course of the four stories. Love the ragtag team of reluctant heroes. Diverse doesn't begin to describe this very eclectic group.
There's Brenda the African American tattoo artist who wears her cynicism on her sleeve. She's snarky and sarcastic and pretends she doesn't care. At all. But she does. And she hates that she does. Then there's the Professor -- an intellectual snob with a gigantic sense of entitlement. Insufferably short-tempered and so annoying! Andi is his geeky assistant (translation: slave.) She has an uncanny ability to create pattern out of chaos which comes in handy more than a time or two. And last of all there's bighearted, football hero, Tank. His gentleness and pure faith are at odds with his 'tank' physique. He might appear to be a plain ol' simple country boy but he possesses a spiritual depth that I found inspiring.
These four definitely aren't kindred spirits but they find themselves thrown together in an unprecedented fight to thwart pockets of darkness that threaten to smother the world. Each novella is told in first person point of view from one of the character's perspectives. And in the process we get some backstory and insight into what makes each of them tick.
Enthralling. A little bit creepy. Eerily good and a definite must read for fans of speculative fiction fans.
An a note to sensitive readers -- there is some crude language in a couple of the stories.
Invitation follows the format so popular with TV show these days -- where diverse characters with unique gifts band together to fight evil. Only instead of superpowers we have divine gifts. And there's definitely a supernatural quality to these novellas which gradually develops over the course of the four stories. Love the ragtag team of reluctant heroes. Diverse doesn't begin to describe this very eclectic group.
There's Brenda the African American tattoo artist who wears her cynicism on her sleeve. She's snarky and sarcastic and pretends she doesn't care. At all. But she does. And she hates that she does. Then there's the Professor -- an intellectual snob with a gigantic sense of entitlement. Insufferably short-tempered and so annoying! Andi is his geeky assistant (translation: slave.) She has an uncanny ability to create pattern out of chaos which comes in handy more than a time or two. And last of all there's bighearted, football hero, Tank. His gentleness and pure faith are at odds with his 'tank' physique. He might appear to be a plain ol' simple country boy but he possesses a spiritual depth that I found inspiring.
These four definitely aren't kindred spirits but they find themselves thrown together in an unprecedented fight to thwart pockets of darkness that threaten to smother the world. Each novella is told in first person point of view from one of the character's perspectives. And in the process we get some backstory and insight into what makes each of them tick.
Enthralling. A little bit creepy. Eerily good and a definite must read for fans of speculative fiction fans.
An a note to sensitive readers -- there is some crude language in a couple of the stories.
April 17, 2017
"But what if God has an enemy, and his time is running out? He could be feelin' the pressure, and be determined to destroy as much as he can in the short time he has left."
By definition, "harbingers" are heralds of things to come. Could the Almighty possibly use a once-priest-turned-atheist professor, a brilliant young professorial assistant, a cagey tattoo artist, and an over-sized athlete with a heart as big as his stature to deliver His message to all of creation? Together they seem to have formed an allegiance not all their own, as they inexplicably see and experience the supernatural in various forms, none of which are pleasant.
Four very talented authors have joined talents to write what is in their own words, " like a TV series. . . . Instead of the four of us writing one novella together . . there would be an overarching story line into which we'd plug our individual novellas, with each story written from our character's point of view."
And the result? A compilation of extraordinary, supernatural events introducing unforgettable characters who find themselves inserted into a game of survival that is nearly impossible to play. And as the great Sherlock Holmes once said, "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."
Bill Myers, Frank Peretti, Angela Hunt, and Alton Gansky have started something that I for one, hope that they finish. For what began as a story entirely outside of my comfort zone, gained momentum somewhere along the way, and I was grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The above comments are entirely my own.
By definition, "harbingers" are heralds of things to come. Could the Almighty possibly use a once-priest-turned-atheist professor, a brilliant young professorial assistant, a cagey tattoo artist, and an over-sized athlete with a heart as big as his stature to deliver His message to all of creation? Together they seem to have formed an allegiance not all their own, as they inexplicably see and experience the supernatural in various forms, none of which are pleasant.
Four very talented authors have joined talents to write what is in their own words, " like a TV series. . . . Instead of the four of us writing one novella together . . there would be an overarching story line into which we'd plug our individual novellas, with each story written from our character's point of view."
And the result? A compilation of extraordinary, supernatural events introducing unforgettable characters who find themselves inserted into a game of survival that is nearly impossible to play. And as the great Sherlock Holmes once said, "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."
Bill Myers, Frank Peretti, Angela Hunt, and Alton Gansky have started something that I for one, hope that they finish. For what began as a story entirely outside of my comfort zone, gained momentum somewhere along the way, and I was grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The above comments are entirely my own.
April 12, 2017
Invitation by Bill Myers, Frank Peretti, Angela Hunt and Alton Gansky is like christian version of Stephen King's TV series Haven.
It was interesting. Every story is different and all of them are nicely entwined together, but ... they all have a conundrum to solve and an evil entity to defeat and the story is nicely built into the final confrontation, but what is missing is the confrontation. Usually the conundrum is kind on solved and the evil entity just somehow goes away and then there is epilogue and that's it. Maybe the following stories are more revealing and in that case the unresolved suspense in the first stories is understandable, but maybe not.
It's readable, but I would have wanted more.
It was interesting. Every story is different and all of them are nicely entwined together, but ... they all have a conundrum to solve and an evil entity to defeat and the story is nicely built into the final confrontation, but what is missing is the confrontation. Usually the conundrum is kind on solved and the evil entity just somehow goes away and then there is epilogue and that's it. Maybe the following stories are more revealing and in that case the unresolved suspense in the first stories is understandable, but maybe not.
It's readable, but I would have wanted more.
October 27, 2018
X Men? The story opens with a collection of characters that appear to meet by chance - they all possess a seemingly supernatural gift. Not only, that, they all have the same dream one night and are shocked at the fact. Weird things are happening and they seem to keep on finding themselves coming together by seemingly sheer chance whilst strange events are taking place.
The book is divided into four sections -each one speaking from the perspective of one of these four characters.
Although Frank Peretti contributes to the book, it isn’t like his ‘This Present Darkness’ type books.
Not my usual kind of book, but I'm curious enough to maybe read the others in this collection - Invitation is the first book.
The book is divided into four sections -each one speaking from the perspective of one of these four characters.
Although Frank Peretti contributes to the book, it isn’t like his ‘This Present Darkness’ type books.
Not my usual kind of book, but I'm curious enough to maybe read the others in this collection - Invitation is the first book.
November 30, 2022
This book was weird, creepy, and edging on supernatural, but also one I couldn't stop listening to.
Weird things are happening and is it a science element or aliens or something else...After reading the first collection of stories, I am not sure but will read the next collection.
Each Chapter of the collection is written by a different author and from the POV of a different character and I enjoyed each one. I think currently I love Tank and enjoyed his POV the most.
Different narrators also told each installment, and the audio was well delivered.
*I listened to the audiobook on Scribd.*
Weird things are happening and is it a science element or aliens or something else...After reading the first collection of stories, I am not sure but will read the next collection.
Each Chapter of the collection is written by a different author and from the POV of a different character and I enjoyed each one. I think currently I love Tank and enjoyed his POV the most.
Different narrators also told each installment, and the audio was well delivered.
*I listened to the audiobook on Scribd.*
August 24, 2024
What a fun ride! The authors created a bit of a game for themselves when writing this first entry for this series, and the joy they shared infects the reader quickly! There is a bit of a need to embrace the fantastic if you are going to read this, but it is well worth it! I was previously familiar with the work of Frank Peretti (I’ve been a fan since the early 99’s when I read This Present Darkness), but now I am anxious to learn more about the other collaborators. I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series!
July 31, 2017
Ugh this book series is so good!!!!! I'd loved all the stories and it was a great read!!
5/5 stars for sure!
I think my favorite characters are Tank and Andi. Though I like all of them! Can't wait for the next for to come out!! I think sometime in August.
5/5 stars for sure!
I think my favorite characters are Tank and Andi. Though I like all of them! Can't wait for the next for to come out!! I think sometime in August.
January 27, 2018
What?!?! Can't wait to read the other books...
May 2, 2017
Invitation is one of the most creative books I have ever read. You have four characters and each character has their very own author (Christian) can you beat that? I would give this a six if I could. This is part of the Harbinger series - it is the starter set and boy is it a send off. Each book is Supernatural, although it had to be - didn't it - with Alton Gansky and the man himself, Frank Perretti. So much happens in the series, like a house that haunts - crazy things like that - Invitation is like four books in one. The characters - they mee each other in the weirdest of ways and only one of them is aware and uses their special gift that GOD gave them to help others. This book is mysterious, supernatural, adventurous, eclectic, and Spiritual. You will not believe the way this book goes - it is so amazing how this all works together with four different point of views working together. I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
if you would like to read more of my Christian book reviews go to christianlybookreviewers.blogspot.com
if you would like to read more of my Christian book reviews go to christianlybookreviewers.blogspot.com
November 15, 2024
I just couldn't get through the second story.
October 10, 2019
Okay *cracks knuckles* Here we go. So many spoilers.
TL:DR If you don't like things that go bump in the night, don't read this book. I'll be reading the next one.
TL:DR If you don't like things that go bump in the night, don't read this book. I'll be reading the next one.
June 8, 2017
This first compilation of the "Harbingers" tales is an imaginative, clever collection like nothing else you have ever read! I absolutely adore this concept of having authors come together with an overarching storyline but still crafting their own novellas starring their character. The result is a series of stories that make for quick reads, each equally engaging and addictive. I am one of those readers who naturally gravitates to stories that mix together suspense with the supernatural, so this book is everything I could have hoped for!
The characters in "Invitation" are fun and exciting, and I like the splashes of humour throughout the stories as they interact in unexpected ways. Now, this unique concept makes for some challenges in terms of character development, and the shortness of each novella means that not every question will be answered perhaps as satisfactorily as you would have liked. But I for one am happy to give and take a little with this series because I simply enjoyed the stories so much. Overall, I found each author's writing to be solid and filled with exciting plot twists. The way the characters experience continuity in how they are depicted from story to story is also remarkable to behold!
And so, I finished the fourth part of this story wishing that I had all of the rest of the novellas of the whole series at hand as well! If you enjoy books blending suspense and the supernatural with characters you are going to adore, then plan on joining the journey of the Harbingers. I award this book a solid rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
The characters in "Invitation" are fun and exciting, and I like the splashes of humour throughout the stories as they interact in unexpected ways. Now, this unique concept makes for some challenges in terms of character development, and the shortness of each novella means that not every question will be answered perhaps as satisfactorily as you would have liked. But I for one am happy to give and take a little with this series because I simply enjoyed the stories so much. Overall, I found each author's writing to be solid and filled with exciting plot twists. The way the characters experience continuity in how they are depicted from story to story is also remarkable to behold!
And so, I finished the fourth part of this story wishing that I had all of the rest of the novellas of the whole series at hand as well! If you enjoy books blending suspense and the supernatural with characters you are going to adore, then plan on joining the journey of the Harbingers. I award this book a solid rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
February 21, 2017
This unique, fast-paced group of four interconnected stories somewhat works, yet also falls a bit short. These stories are quick to read, and the humor is wonderful. The characters are fantastic and are very well-thought-out, each one communicating their own distinct personality and role in the story. The stories themselves feel a bit disjointed, however, and nothing is really resolved at the end. Although it is clear that the book is a set up for many more stories (quite a few of which have been written and released independently), readers do expect some resolution to feel satisfied with a purchase.
Four strangers meet under odd circumstances. Each person has a unique ability, and together they are able to accomplish some amazing things. In "The Call," the four meet and join together to help liberate a student held at the mysterious Institute for Advanced Psychic Studies. "The Haunted" deals with murder and a strange house that can change locations. "The Sentinels" has strange animal deaths occurring around the world, and the four come back together after some time apart to try to get to the bottom of things. Finally, "The Girl" has a young girl who appears in a snowstorm and may not be exactly who or what they think she is.
https://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-re...
Four strangers meet under odd circumstances. Each person has a unique ability, and together they are able to accomplish some amazing things. In "The Call," the four meet and join together to help liberate a student held at the mysterious Institute for Advanced Psychic Studies. "The Haunted" deals with murder and a strange house that can change locations. "The Sentinels" has strange animal deaths occurring around the world, and the four come back together after some time apart to try to get to the bottom of things. Finally, "The Girl" has a young girl who appears in a snowstorm and may not be exactly who or what they think she is.
https://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-re...
July 17, 2018
The best of Christian fiction authors come together to write a what I can only describe as a novel written in the spirit of an RPG (role playing game): Bill Meyers writes as the tattoo artist, Brenda; Frank Peretti writes as the atheistic professor; Angela Hunt writes as the geeky professor's assistant, Andi; and Alton Gansky writes as the Christian jock, Tank. In an attempt to write episodically like a TV series, these four Christian authors take turns telling novellas that develop into a larger story.
I personally fangirled when I found this book. The series is such a quirky phenomenon that it's actually hard to find much about it online. Almost as if the authors didn't mean for it to be widespread. Almost as if we readers stumbled upon their own writing practices that weren't meant for public viewing.
But they are. And I couldn't be happier.
With writers such as Meyers and Peretti in the mix, you can assume the book delves into quite a bit of Christian paranormal. Four characters inexplicably come together to repeatedly stop evil, often satanic forces, from disrupting the world. And no matter how much the characters may differ from each other, and no matter how much they try to go about their own lives, they continually are brought back together.
The writing of each other is vastly different from the others. This can be both a strength and weakness for the series. Bill Meyers tends to write with very short sentences and enjoys testing your suspicion of disbelief, with little to no description or dialogue tags. In his writing, the characters can only show their greatest emotions with no filter or social grace to keep them reserved as we would expect most people to be in typical situations. Everything is an extreme, and while this works well for a high-risk, fast-paced climax or action scene, it struggles when the entire piece is paced this way. The book as a whole may suffer because Meyers's notable style is the first of the four, and if this style irritates some readers, they may not read beyond the first novella. However, those who enjoy Meyers's writing style will find him as familiar as an old friend and enjoy how he crafts the characters differently from the others.
Personally, I most enjoyed Frank Peretti's novella. It reminisced of his and Dekker's 'House' standalone novel because of the mysterious and inexplicable mansion that appeared in different places throughout town. In fact, it seemed as if Peretti took several of his story concepts and reintroduced them here. Not only House, but This Present Darkness seemed to have a few moments of inspiration that then affected the rest of the book. Frank Peretti's style is so intense that it left me, a twenty-year-old college student, afraid of the dark. Ha! After I finished the book, I discovered a YouTube video of Peretti reading the first chapters of his novella in his deep, suspense-radio-drama voice. Definitely worth the search if that kind of stuff interests you.
As a disclaimer, this is a grittier Christian fiction than typical in its genre. Few of the main characters are religious, and the one character who does identify as Christian was written as young and naive (though overall still likable). The book handles things like paranormal and satanic influences, and while the characters are all united in fighting the evil, like a TV series, the ending doesn't fully resolve, but instead promises more to come. My one main frustration was that some of the authors chose to insert questionable language. While some of the offensive language is merely crude, others border on taking the name of God in vain, even though I think the authors meant the outbursts to be a prayer of some sort.
Each of the four authors do a gripping job at writing the characters in the book and sucking you in with the same kind of attraction Netflix does with Stranger Things. This is a binge-worthy book.
Things to Watch Out For:
Sex: A comment about "sexual desires" pg 139
Language: screw-1 pg 95, a-1 pg 122, p-2 pg 15, 122, crap-1 pg 122, "she flipped me off"-1 pg 123, G-1 (possibly a prayer) pg 142; G's sake-1 pg 146; several prayerful comments in the last quarter from a Lutheran character, but some of them seem to border on being flippant. "Blessed J" (supposedly reverent) pg 288
Violence: Characters run from peril and satanic forces. A mysterious house afflicts characters with hyper-realistic nightmares. Child kidnapping. Murder. Several characters are dragged toward a door to Hell. Characters are forced to be presumably possessed with the Devil. A child is stabbed.
Drugs: None that I specifically remember.
Nudity: NA
Other: Demonic activity and situations involving demon possession. A character is a tattoo artist and can see into the future. Characters each have special, unexplainable gifts such as healing, visions, etc.
I personally fangirled when I found this book. The series is such a quirky phenomenon that it's actually hard to find much about it online. Almost as if the authors didn't mean for it to be widespread. Almost as if we readers stumbled upon their own writing practices that weren't meant for public viewing.
But they are. And I couldn't be happier.
With writers such as Meyers and Peretti in the mix, you can assume the book delves into quite a bit of Christian paranormal. Four characters inexplicably come together to repeatedly stop evil, often satanic forces, from disrupting the world. And no matter how much the characters may differ from each other, and no matter how much they try to go about their own lives, they continually are brought back together.
The writing of each other is vastly different from the others. This can be both a strength and weakness for the series. Bill Meyers tends to write with very short sentences and enjoys testing your suspicion of disbelief, with little to no description or dialogue tags. In his writing, the characters can only show their greatest emotions with no filter or social grace to keep them reserved as we would expect most people to be in typical situations. Everything is an extreme, and while this works well for a high-risk, fast-paced climax or action scene, it struggles when the entire piece is paced this way. The book as a whole may suffer because Meyers's notable style is the first of the four, and if this style irritates some readers, they may not read beyond the first novella. However, those who enjoy Meyers's writing style will find him as familiar as an old friend and enjoy how he crafts the characters differently from the others.
Personally, I most enjoyed Frank Peretti's novella. It reminisced of his and Dekker's 'House' standalone novel because of the mysterious and inexplicable mansion that appeared in different places throughout town. In fact, it seemed as if Peretti took several of his story concepts and reintroduced them here. Not only House, but This Present Darkness seemed to have a few moments of inspiration that then affected the rest of the book. Frank Peretti's style is so intense that it left me, a twenty-year-old college student, afraid of the dark. Ha! After I finished the book, I discovered a YouTube video of Peretti reading the first chapters of his novella in his deep, suspense-radio-drama voice. Definitely worth the search if that kind of stuff interests you.
As a disclaimer, this is a grittier Christian fiction than typical in its genre. Few of the main characters are religious, and the one character who does identify as Christian was written as young and naive (though overall still likable). The book handles things like paranormal and satanic influences, and while the characters are all united in fighting the evil, like a TV series, the ending doesn't fully resolve, but instead promises more to come. My one main frustration was that some of the authors chose to insert questionable language. While some of the offensive language is merely crude, others border on taking the name of God in vain, even though I think the authors meant the outbursts to be a prayer of some sort.
Each of the four authors do a gripping job at writing the characters in the book and sucking you in with the same kind of attraction Netflix does with Stranger Things. This is a binge-worthy book.
Things to Watch Out For:
Sex: A comment about "sexual desires" pg 139
Language: screw-1 pg 95, a-1 pg 122, p-2 pg 15, 122, crap-1 pg 122, "she flipped me off"-1 pg 123, G-1 (possibly a prayer) pg 142; G's sake-1 pg 146; several prayerful comments in the last quarter from a Lutheran character, but some of them seem to border on being flippant. "Blessed J" (supposedly reverent) pg 288
Violence: Characters run from peril and satanic forces. A mysterious house afflicts characters with hyper-realistic nightmares. Child kidnapping. Murder. Several characters are dragged toward a door to Hell. Characters are forced to be presumably possessed with the Devil. A child is stabbed.
Drugs: None that I specifically remember.
Nudity: NA
Other: Demonic activity and situations involving demon possession. A character is a tattoo artist and can see into the future. Characters each have special, unexplainable gifts such as healing, visions, etc.
July 19, 2017
I was intrigued by the concept of four well-known, talented, and unique authors writing a series of short stories together. In the introduction, the authors explain that the stories were written independently yet joined together with an overarching storyline in a manner similar to a tv series. I have read novels by all four of the authors and their writing styles are quite distinct. I had no idea that they were friends… fun. With the combined creativity of these authors, it is no surprise to me that they came up with such an ingenious concept.
So, while I found myself intrigued I was also dubious. Could the series be cohesive with the distinct writing styles of four different authors? Would it be confusing?
I found Invitation to be quite an experience. The story arc is cohesive, flowing naturally from one short story to the next. The reason that it works so well is twofold.
First, each author is writing from the point of view (POV) of one character. Each author's personality, creativity, and style shine when you have one character highlighted by one author All good authors can write distinct characters in their novels. This game just took the experience one step further, allowing a more diverse look into a character.
Second, just as the characters are given a unique POV, so are the events that occurred in each story. Each authors style and strengths are portrayed, but they play nicely together.
____________________
The Call by Bill Myers
Myers is known for pushing past boundaries, bringing the reader into a deeper understanding of the mysteries of God. Myers doesn't disappoint in The Call. He quickly amps up the intrigue and delves you into a supernatural and mysterious view of the world. The action moved so quickly yet I found it to be entirely satiating.
spiritual nugget - The security field at the Institute for Advanced Psychic Studies attacks the fears of the unfortunate person caught in its field. It is a quasi-mechanical creation that highlights the snares that Satan sets for us. The Call reminded me that we are often ruled by our fears instead of our faith.
____________________
The Haunted by Frank Peretti
I believe that anyone familiar with Frank Peretti’s novels understands his particular brand of uniqueness. His stories are always a bit spooky and are imbued with the supernatural. If Stephen King were saved he would likely write books that would appeal to Peretti’s fans. Could there be a better name for his short story?
spiritual nugget - This is one scary haunted house! The House required me to look at what I value… who I worship.
____________________
The Sentinels by Angela Hunt
Angela Hunt has an encouraging style. In many ways, she seems to have a teachers soul. In The Sentinels, courage and strength are discovered by the main characters. Their need for faith is explored.
spiritual nugget - Faith is required!
____________________
The Girl by Alton Gansky
Gansky delves further into my favorite character, Tank. Tank doesn’t seem very nuanced until Gansky gets his hands on him. Tank represents the characteristics that I want to have. He is smart in all the important ways, kind, and fully dependent and in love with God.
spiritual nugget - God is truth!
This game was well-played!
As a reviewer for Bethany House Bloggers, I received a review copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. My thanks to Bethany House Publishers and the authors.
For all of my reviews visit blessed and bewildered
So, while I found myself intrigued I was also dubious. Could the series be cohesive with the distinct writing styles of four different authors? Would it be confusing?
I found Invitation to be quite an experience. The story arc is cohesive, flowing naturally from one short story to the next. The reason that it works so well is twofold.
First, each author is writing from the point of view (POV) of one character. Each author's personality, creativity, and style shine when you have one character highlighted by one author All good authors can write distinct characters in their novels. This game just took the experience one step further, allowing a more diverse look into a character.
Second, just as the characters are given a unique POV, so are the events that occurred in each story. Each authors style and strengths are portrayed, but they play nicely together.
____________________
The Call by Bill Myers
Myers is known for pushing past boundaries, bringing the reader into a deeper understanding of the mysteries of God. Myers doesn't disappoint in The Call. He quickly amps up the intrigue and delves you into a supernatural and mysterious view of the world. The action moved so quickly yet I found it to be entirely satiating.
spiritual nugget - The security field at the Institute for Advanced Psychic Studies attacks the fears of the unfortunate person caught in its field. It is a quasi-mechanical creation that highlights the snares that Satan sets for us. The Call reminded me that we are often ruled by our fears instead of our faith.
____________________
The Haunted by Frank Peretti
I believe that anyone familiar with Frank Peretti’s novels understands his particular brand of uniqueness. His stories are always a bit spooky and are imbued with the supernatural. If Stephen King were saved he would likely write books that would appeal to Peretti’s fans. Could there be a better name for his short story?
spiritual nugget - This is one scary haunted house! The House required me to look at what I value… who I worship.
____________________
The Sentinels by Angela Hunt
Angela Hunt has an encouraging style. In many ways, she seems to have a teachers soul. In The Sentinels, courage and strength are discovered by the main characters. Their need for faith is explored.
spiritual nugget - Faith is required!
“The impossible began with a single step toward the possible.” Andi quoting her Sabba
____________________
The Girl by Alton Gansky
Gansky delves further into my favorite character, Tank. Tank doesn’t seem very nuanced until Gansky gets his hands on him. Tank represents the characteristics that I want to have. He is smart in all the important ways, kind, and fully dependent and in love with God.
spiritual nugget - God is truth!
“Truth is truth, and it remains that even if I’m the last one alive to believe it.” Tank
This game was well-played!
As a reviewer for Bethany House Bloggers, I received a review copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. My thanks to Bethany House Publishers and the authors.
For all of my reviews visit blessed and bewildered
October 23, 2020
I've been under enough stress that I probably shouldn't have read a Frank Peretti story, but one of my kids asked me to and 'tis the Halloween season for spooky stuff, so I thought I'd give it a try.
In this book, Peretti teamed up with 3 other writers to chronicle very strange other-worldly adventures. I'm not even sure how to describe them without giving a synopsis. Four extremely quirky, eccentric people joined together to investigate a series of bizarre happenings. X-Files? The bizarreness of the stories were enough to hold me spellbound, but I can't really think of any deeper meaning to them, although that might come as the series progresses.
Peretti's books usually have a more unified thought or theme to them than this. A purpose. Although I saw how these four stories wove together chronologically, I don't see how they connect together plot-wise. One of the other reviewers commented that because the book's subtitle is "Harbingers," we could've anticipated that it would only announce things to come, only give a taste of things to come, so the threads may very well develop further ties later on.
The passage from Ezekiel 3 was disturbing. I've thought it was disturbing before - and the thought that we are held accountable for those we don't warn. But how do we warn those who might only show us animosity?
I'm not sure that the two sides of the professor's character "fit" very well together - that of arrogant skeptic, and that of gentle, compassionate former priest. The arrogant skeptic didn't seem to care about anyone but himself, and maybe Andi, but the compassionate former priest could draw out a timid child. I doubt the arrogant skeptic would have the patience or the gentleness required for that. That made me think that his compassion wasn't genuine, but a tool. The TV series "Leverage" had an ex-priest character with conflicting, interwoven sides that was better done.
One reviewer compared this book to a writing game or exercise. In fact, I've even played that writing game as a teen, where each person writes a chapter and then hands the book to the next person. In my experience, what happens in that game is that the various authors begin to argue about the direction of the story. "But why did you do that to this character?" Or "I set that up beautifully; why didn't you follow through?" Hopefully, these authors will have better synergy than my experience at it. (And, of course, I was much younger, and more hot-headed myself.) I think if they've published a book together, they hopefully have some agreed-upon over-arching plot, even if we don't see it yet.
Another reviewer compared these characters to "Scooby Doo" characters. And except that I thought the comment was funny, I wouldn't dignify that with a response. This book is much better.
I did enjoy the stories, even if I don't see a common thread yet. And I'd recommend them, so I'd rate this a solid 4. I doubt I'd reread them, though, my qualification for a 5. There's few books I reread.
Each story was short enough that the suspense wasn't interminable, which probably made it easier to cope with the suspense.
"When some people met unanswerable logic, they raised their voices. The professor raised a glass." Well, that would explain a great deal of the public discourse on politics lately.
"They are evil and they did this because they hate... That kind of hatred was elemental; it did not discriminate, but it loved to destroy innocence."
In this book, Peretti teamed up with 3 other writers to chronicle very strange other-worldly adventures. I'm not even sure how to describe them without giving a synopsis. Four extremely quirky, eccentric people joined together to investigate a series of bizarre happenings. X-Files? The bizarreness of the stories were enough to hold me spellbound, but I can't really think of any deeper meaning to them, although that might come as the series progresses.
Peretti's books usually have a more unified thought or theme to them than this. A purpose. Although I saw how these four stories wove together chronologically, I don't see how they connect together plot-wise. One of the other reviewers commented that because the book's subtitle is "Harbingers," we could've anticipated that it would only announce things to come, only give a taste of things to come, so the threads may very well develop further ties later on.
The passage from Ezekiel 3 was disturbing. I've thought it was disturbing before - and the thought that we are held accountable for those we don't warn. But how do we warn those who might only show us animosity?
I'm not sure that the two sides of the professor's character "fit" very well together - that of arrogant skeptic, and that of gentle, compassionate former priest. The arrogant skeptic didn't seem to care about anyone but himself, and maybe Andi, but the compassionate former priest could draw out a timid child. I doubt the arrogant skeptic would have the patience or the gentleness required for that. That made me think that his compassion wasn't genuine, but a tool. The TV series "Leverage" had an ex-priest character with conflicting, interwoven sides that was better done.
One reviewer compared this book to a writing game or exercise. In fact, I've even played that writing game as a teen, where each person writes a chapter and then hands the book to the next person. In my experience, what happens in that game is that the various authors begin to argue about the direction of the story. "But why did you do that to this character?" Or "I set that up beautifully; why didn't you follow through?" Hopefully, these authors will have better synergy than my experience at it. (And, of course, I was much younger, and more hot-headed myself.) I think if they've published a book together, they hopefully have some agreed-upon over-arching plot, even if we don't see it yet.
Another reviewer compared these characters to "Scooby Doo" characters. And except that I thought the comment was funny, I wouldn't dignify that with a response. This book is much better.
I did enjoy the stories, even if I don't see a common thread yet. And I'd recommend them, so I'd rate this a solid 4. I doubt I'd reread them, though, my qualification for a 5. There's few books I reread.
Each story was short enough that the suspense wasn't interminable, which probably made it easier to cope with the suspense.
"When some people met unanswerable logic, they raised their voices. The professor raised a glass." Well, that would explain a great deal of the public discourse on politics lately.
"They are evil and they did this because they hate... That kind of hatred was elemental; it did not discriminate, but it loved to destroy innocence."
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