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Beneath the Willow Tree
What he says he can do should be as impossible as the trust he's asking her to give.
In a world ruled by the Mark of Disace, Nova has learned to never trust anyone. Betrayal and pain are etched in her memory as the Mark is on her skin. Her one solace is the sheltering arms of a willow tree at dusk, after the long, hard days she lives.
But when she discovers a Mark-less man, everything she thought she knew is upended. The freedom he offers her should be impossible, but then again, a Mark-less man shouldn't exist either. Her past stands as reminder of what trust has cost her, and to break fear's bonds on her seems just as impossible as what he says he can do.
As things become harder, she'll have to decide whether a chance at freedom is worth risking betrayal another time. This Mark-less Man may cost her the trust she never wanted to give anyone again.
But He may also give her something no one ever has.
In a world ruled by the Mark of Disace, Nova has learned to never trust anyone. Betrayal and pain are etched in her memory as the Mark is on her skin. Her one solace is the sheltering arms of a willow tree at dusk, after the long, hard days she lives.
But when she discovers a Mark-less man, everything she thought she knew is upended. The freedom he offers her should be impossible, but then again, a Mark-less man shouldn't exist either. Her past stands as reminder of what trust has cost her, and to break fear's bonds on her seems just as impossible as what he says he can do.
As things become harder, she'll have to decide whether a chance at freedom is worth risking betrayal another time. This Mark-less Man may cost her the trust she never wanted to give anyone again.
But He may also give her something no one ever has.
49 pages, Paperback
First published December 2, 2020
2 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
Abby Burrus
2 books97 followersAbby Burrus is a Christian author who is also an equestrian and reader of all different types of fiction. Her favorite genre is Christian fantasy, her favorite color a beautiful shade of purple, and her favorite drink is coffee. She is an avid lover of horses and has a paint pony, Shorty, whom she gives treats to and works with. She enjoys finding beauty around her and wants to reflect it in her writing.
When she's not scrubbing the horse tank, petting the dogs, reading good books, experimenting in baking, or outside in the sunshine, she can be found writing stories intended to point up to God and His Goodness. To find out more about her and her books, visit
https://abbyburrus.com/
When she's not scrubbing the horse tank, petting the dogs, reading good books, experimenting in baking, or outside in the sunshine, she can be found writing stories intended to point up to God and His Goodness. To find out more about her and her books, visit
https://abbyburrus.com/
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
October 17, 2021
Characters: Nova was such a sympathetic, realistic character, and she had a great character arc over the course of the story.
Language: Clean.
Moral: Two of the main themes in this short story were trust and overcoming fear. This story was an allegory about salvation, so salvation was also a main theme.
Plot: You all know I don't give plot details for short stories. Too many chances of giving spoilers... :)
Romance: Clean. This short story didn't contain any romance.
Writing: Abby's writing style worked very well for this story. She gave good details to allow me to "see" the allegorical land where this story took place, and her writing flowed in a way that made for easy reading. I look forward to reading more by her in the future!
Overall: "Beneath the Willow Tree" was an entertaining read, and I'd recommend it for those who enjoy Christian fiction, allegories, and short stories.
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Language: Clean.
Moral: Two of the main themes in this short story were trust and overcoming fear. This story was an allegory about salvation, so salvation was also a main theme.
Plot: You all know I don't give plot details for short stories. Too many chances of giving spoilers... :)
Romance: Clean. This short story didn't contain any romance.
Writing: Abby's writing style worked very well for this story. She gave good details to allow me to "see" the allegorical land where this story took place, and her writing flowed in a way that made for easy reading. I look forward to reading more by her in the future!
Overall: "Beneath the Willow Tree" was an entertaining read, and I'd recommend it for those who enjoy Christian fiction, allegories, and short stories.
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
physical-books-i-own
February 26, 2024"When was the last time she heard the words "I love you?"
Not since she was eight years old."
"His gray sleeve pulled back. Her eyes landed on his fare arm.
His bare arm.
She froze. No Mark. There was no Mark."
"The crowd's murmurs immediately died down. It was so silent a cough could've been heard. But no one dared cough."
"Hate. Deep hate. It surged through her Mark. She fought it and yet it was in her, it was her, coursing through her veins."
"The world is not a safe place to trust."
Today is the last day to enter for the giveaway for Beneath the Willow Tree! You can find out more about it on my blog!
Want to read Beneath the Willow Tree? I’m holding a giveaway for a chance to win one of two ebook copies! The deadline is February 25th, 2024! All the details in this blog post: https://abbyswriting.wixsite.com/abby...
Not since she was eight years old."
"His gray sleeve pulled back. Her eyes landed on his fare arm.
His bare arm.
She froze. No Mark. There was no Mark."
"The crowd's murmurs immediately died down. It was so silent a cough could've been heard. But no one dared cough."
"Hate. Deep hate. It surged through her Mark. She fought it and yet it was in her, it was her, coursing through her veins."
"The world is not a safe place to trust."
Today is the last day to enter for the giveaway for Beneath the Willow Tree! You can find out more about it on my blog!
Want to read Beneath the Willow Tree? I’m holding a giveaway for a chance to win one of two ebook copies! The deadline is February 25th, 2024! All the details in this blog post: https://abbyswriting.wixsite.com/abby...
November 3, 2021
Book Review on Beneath the Willow Tree, by Abby Burrus
About the Book:
Nova can’t trust. Never. Trust has only brought pain and heartbreak to her. Nothing good can come from that sort of vulnerability. Besides, what good will it bring when she is hurt and tortured as she slaves away for her masters?
But when a Man begins to tell her that there is something better, she’ll have to make the decision to either trust Him or continue on living in darkness.
Favourite Quotes:
‘ “Why did you have to remind me of this? I’m trying to forget this, and you bring it up again?”
“Because I need to bring your attention to two things: trust and pain. You have pain because you have trusted, and I can help with your pain. But you must trust me, which you think you cannot do because the pain reminds you of times before. We must deal with both issues at once,” He replied quietly.’
~ Page 16
‘ “Everyone thought me a fool. I look back now and I see that they were right. I was a fool. A fool for believing the King we betrayed would send a Redeemer who could rescue us. He can’t love us that much.”
“What if he did?”’
~ Page 17
* Oh my goodness, this made me cry when I read this.*
‘ “... I have not come just to rule a kingdom. I've come to help heal it. So many are hurting. I want to help them, if they will let me.” ‘
~ Page 24
What I enjoyed:
This was incredible. My goodness, I don’t think I’ve ever started to cry that quickly when reading. Abby did a phenomenal job in crafting this story. She retold the most beautiful Story and did it in such a remarkable way.
I found it so cool that there was a bit of Latin in this story! Monitum! (Yes, I’m a geek, I learn Latin… it’s annoying, but fun to see it and draw comparisons to other languages!)
I feel like I can go on and on about this book, but I don’t want to be too redundant, so I’ll stop. =)
What I disliked:
I don’t actually think there was anything that bothered me. Apart from the brutal taskmasters/overseers/masters, I really like this.
Overall Standpoint on BtWT:
If you have trouble reaching out to unbelievers around you, I’d say give them a copy of Beneath the Willow Tree. This story is so beautiful and conveys God’s incredibly deep, abiding love for us. We have done so many things that separate us from Him. But Jesus is the Lifeline to bring us back, and he extends that Lifeline to everyone. Will you accept that Lifeline?
*Everything expressed in this book review is based on my own thoughts. I don’t mean to offend anyone, only share what God places on my heart.*
**And thank you, Abby, for sending me a free copy in exchange for a review! This was one of the most incredible short stories I’ve ever read. I can’t wait to read more of your work in the future.**
November 3, 2021 Written by Abbigail R. B.
About the Book:
Nova can’t trust. Never. Trust has only brought pain and heartbreak to her. Nothing good can come from that sort of vulnerability. Besides, what good will it bring when she is hurt and tortured as she slaves away for her masters?
But when a Man begins to tell her that there is something better, she’ll have to make the decision to either trust Him or continue on living in darkness.
Favourite Quotes:
‘ “Why did you have to remind me of this? I’m trying to forget this, and you bring it up again?”
“Because I need to bring your attention to two things: trust and pain. You have pain because you have trusted, and I can help with your pain. But you must trust me, which you think you cannot do because the pain reminds you of times before. We must deal with both issues at once,” He replied quietly.’
~ Page 16
‘ “Everyone thought me a fool. I look back now and I see that they were right. I was a fool. A fool for believing the King we betrayed would send a Redeemer who could rescue us. He can’t love us that much.”
“What if he did?”’
~ Page 17
* Oh my goodness, this made me cry when I read this.*
‘ “... I have not come just to rule a kingdom. I've come to help heal it. So many are hurting. I want to help them, if they will let me.” ‘
~ Page 24
What I enjoyed:
This was incredible. My goodness, I don’t think I’ve ever started to cry that quickly when reading. Abby did a phenomenal job in crafting this story. She retold the most beautiful Story and did it in such a remarkable way.
I found it so cool that there was a bit of Latin in this story! Monitum! (Yes, I’m a geek, I learn Latin… it’s annoying, but fun to see it and draw comparisons to other languages!)
I feel like I can go on and on about this book, but I don’t want to be too redundant, so I’ll stop. =)
What I disliked:
I don’t actually think there was anything that bothered me. Apart from the brutal taskmasters/overseers/masters, I really like this.
Overall Standpoint on BtWT:
If you have trouble reaching out to unbelievers around you, I’d say give them a copy of Beneath the Willow Tree. This story is so beautiful and conveys God’s incredibly deep, abiding love for us. We have done so many things that separate us from Him. But Jesus is the Lifeline to bring us back, and he extends that Lifeline to everyone. Will you accept that Lifeline?
*Everything expressed in this book review is based on my own thoughts. I don’t mean to offend anyone, only share what God places on my heart.*
**And thank you, Abby, for sending me a free copy in exchange for a review! This was one of the most incredible short stories I’ve ever read. I can’t wait to read more of your work in the future.**
November 3, 2021 Written by Abbigail R. B.
November 29, 2021
4.5 stars
Wow, what a powerful short story! I've always thought writing a shorter work would be difficult, given there's so much less time to develop plot, characters, settings, etc., but Abby did such a great job!
This story is an allegory of salvation, told from the POV of a girl named Nova. Her fear and pain were very relatable and realistic, and the cruelty of her masters and mistress was so sad! I was a little confused about who the masters and mistress were specifically, but I definitely got the overall idea. I would've like to hear a little bit more about Nova's background, but I thought she was a great MC that was very representative of a person lost in sin. Her encounters with the Man were quite beautiful and true. How the author presented salvation as something that also comes with problems was really noteworthy. Our salvation is completely free and paid for with Christ's Blood, but we're still going to have problems after we're saved, and fighting the battle for living the life God has called us to is not easy.
Overall, this was a well-done allegory, and I think it could've even been extended! I would've loved to see how Nova's new life played out after she was saved. (After the scene with that awful ruler dude, I feel like it could be intense, but definitely realistic. But then again, this is a short story, and it ended on an amazing note.) This is a lovely story that tells the most wonderful Truth all over again. I'm looking forward to reading more from Abby in the future.
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Wow, what a powerful short story! I've always thought writing a shorter work would be difficult, given there's so much less time to develop plot, characters, settings, etc., but Abby did such a great job!
This story is an allegory of salvation, told from the POV of a girl named Nova. Her fear and pain were very relatable and realistic, and the cruelty of her masters and mistress was so sad! I was a little confused about who the masters and mistress were specifically, but I definitely got the overall idea. I would've like to hear a little bit more about Nova's background, but I thought she was a great MC that was very representative of a person lost in sin. Her encounters with the Man were quite beautiful and true. How the author presented salvation as something that also comes with problems was really noteworthy. Our salvation is completely free and paid for with Christ's Blood, but we're still going to have problems after we're saved, and fighting the battle for living the life God has called us to is not easy.
Overall, this was a well-done allegory, and I think it could've even been extended! I would've loved to see how Nova's new life played out after she was saved. (After the scene with that awful ruler dude, I feel like it could be intense, but definitely realistic. But then again, this is a short story, and it ended on an amazing note.) This is a lovely story that tells the most wonderful Truth all over again. I'm looking forward to reading more from Abby in the future.
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
May 7, 2022
Wow! What a beautifully written story of trust! I'm like....unable to word my feelings right now....
First off, I loved the classic feel of this short story. The way it was worded and everything was so cool to me! Personally, loved that bit!
But man the meaning packs a punch. I have trust issues, not afraid to admit that. I'm foster kid so my birth parents and I have some trust problems to work out in the future and that has affected how I trust other people...which is basically I don't. I'm a control freak, I build walls to keep myself safe...but man, this story! Tearing all my walls down and making me tear up.
See the thing with walls is they keep everyone out. I tend to want to do things my way so I don't get hurt and end up getting hurt but don't seem to learn my lesson...man, Nova's story hit me so hard.
I can relate to her all too well. Her fear, her control, everything. Wanna hug her!
Abby, does great at emotionally impacting the reader. That ending....oh, guys! So beautiful! I loved this so much!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author and was not required to leave a good review. All thoughts, opinions, and views expressed in this review are my own
.
First off, I loved the classic feel of this short story. The way it was worded and everything was so cool to me! Personally, loved that bit!
But man the meaning packs a punch. I have trust issues, not afraid to admit that. I'm foster kid so my birth parents and I have some trust problems to work out in the future and that has affected how I trust other people...which is basically I don't. I'm a control freak, I build walls to keep myself safe...but man, this story! Tearing all my walls down and making me tear up.
See the thing with walls is they keep everyone out. I tend to want to do things my way so I don't get hurt and end up getting hurt but don't seem to learn my lesson...man, Nova's story hit me so hard.
I can relate to her all too well. Her fear, her control, everything. Wanna hug her!
Abby, does great at emotionally impacting the reader. That ending....oh, guys! So beautiful! I loved this so much!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author and was not required to leave a good review. All thoughts, opinions, and views expressed in this review are my own
.
January 12, 2022
Nova is a slave. Every day she is tormented and treated unfairly, and anytime she doesn't please her masters, she is engulfed in terrible pain from the mark on her arm. Every day, Nova lives in fear and despair—until one day she meets Him. He is the only person who looks on her with love and cares for her. Then He tells her that He is the Redeemer that was promised to come. He says He can take her mark away, but it comes with a cost. When her mark is taken away, she will be given a new mark, and she will become His.
Nova is scared. After countless times of being hurt by people and having her trust broken, she doesn't know if she's willing to trust again. But He asked her to. Nova finally must decide between continuing to live in fear and torment and stepping out in faith and trust into the unknown, into His arms.
A beautifully written story about forgiveness, love, and trust in Jesus. The book was short, snappy, and to the point, and I love the cover art.
The allegory of Nova's slavery and the Mark on all humankind was a good reminder of God's amazing love and His inexorable mercy and compassion. How incredible it is that He, the Son of God, the Creator of the universe, would humble Himself into the form of a lowly man. How unimaginably wondrous it is that He would look on a fallen people in love and come down from His beautiful throne on high to this filthy, messy world of bondage and thralldom, to free from slavery and save from sin the very ones who had betrayed Him and turned away from Him.
The writing was simple and easy to read, had no ambiguous or overly complicated sentences, and plainly presented the message. There were several grammatical errors (missing modifiers, incorrect passive, misspelled words, missing subject, run-ons, etc), but they weren't serious enough to confuse the reader or obscure the meaning of the text. I would recommend this short story to anyone who enjoys Christian fiction.
I received a free review copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, and all the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Nova is scared. After countless times of being hurt by people and having her trust broken, she doesn't know if she's willing to trust again. But He asked her to. Nova finally must decide between continuing to live in fear and torment and stepping out in faith and trust into the unknown, into His arms.
A beautifully written story about forgiveness, love, and trust in Jesus. The book was short, snappy, and to the point, and I love the cover art.
The allegory of Nova's slavery and the Mark on all humankind was a good reminder of God's amazing love and His inexorable mercy and compassion. How incredible it is that He, the Son of God, the Creator of the universe, would humble Himself into the form of a lowly man. How unimaginably wondrous it is that He would look on a fallen people in love and come down from His beautiful throne on high to this filthy, messy world of bondage and thralldom, to free from slavery and save from sin the very ones who had betrayed Him and turned away from Him.
The writing was simple and easy to read, had no ambiguous or overly complicated sentences, and plainly presented the message. There were several grammatical errors (missing modifiers, incorrect passive, misspelled words, missing subject, run-ons, etc), but they weren't serious enough to confuse the reader or obscure the meaning of the text. I would recommend this short story to anyone who enjoys Christian fiction.
I received a free review copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, and all the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
August 12, 2022
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this short story, and it left me wanting more.
It's obviously a "retelling" of Jesus coming to Earth, and I really appreciated the being brought out of bondage aspect. Another thing I was glad of was that, although the new mark brought Nova peace and happiness, she wasn't guaranteed to always have a good time. It's an easy pit to fall into when your mark gives you joy to make it as if the Christians can't ever have sadness again.
The tension at the end was very good, but that did make me wonder what was going to happen next. Of course, I know the story of Jesus, but it was interesting seeing it told in this way, and I wondered how the author might go about filling in the story further.
Nova's anxiety was very palpable, especially during the stitching scenes. I can't stitch neatly either, but I've never risked so much because of it! The contrast with the very real calm and peace beneath the willow tree was clear and sweet.
The only two gripes I have are that there are some punctuation mistakes and that the chapter titles just didn't feel right to me.
So yeah, I definitely recommend this short story! It's a quick but intense read, and a beautiful way of telling the story of a new believer.
I really enjoyed this short story, and it left me wanting more.
It's obviously a "retelling" of Jesus coming to Earth, and I really appreciated the being brought out of bondage aspect. Another thing I was glad of was that, although the new mark brought Nova peace and happiness, she wasn't guaranteed to always have a good time. It's an easy pit to fall into when your mark gives you joy to make it as if the Christians can't ever have sadness again.
The tension at the end was very good, but that did make me wonder what was going to happen next. Of course, I know the story of Jesus, but it was interesting seeing it told in this way, and I wondered how the author might go about filling in the story further.
Nova's anxiety was very palpable, especially during the stitching scenes. I can't stitch neatly either, but I've never risked so much because of it! The contrast with the very real calm and peace beneath the willow tree was clear and sweet.
The only two gripes I have are that there are some punctuation mistakes and that the chapter titles just didn't feel right to me.
So yeah, I definitely recommend this short story! It's a quick but intense read, and a beautiful way of telling the story of a new believer.
October 16, 2021
Wow! What a wonderful book! I was able to read it in one sitting. Even if I couldn’t have, I may have kept reading. I knew what would happen, but I still wanted to see how. It’s such a beautiful story of surrender and choosing Jesus to reign in our lives. I like how it spoke truth that she would be persecuted for believing but the Redempter would be with her. Following and obeying Jesus is NOT easy.
January 20, 2024
Beautiful. Just beautiful 😭.
I tried not to cry y’all but the ending just hit. 💜 🥲
*I received this book free from kindle, all opinions expressed are my own*
I tried not to cry y’all but the ending just hit. 💜 🥲
*I received this book free from kindle, all opinions expressed are my own*
February 11, 2022
Beneath the Willow Tree by Abby Burrus was a quick, thoughtful, and entertaining short story. I enjoy short stories since they are great for a quick start to finish in an hour or less type of book. However, I think this one could have used a little more length. I wanted to know more about the land and how the marks appeared. I think that as a fantasy reader, I expect a little more world-building and details to my stories, but as an inspirational or Christian reader, I don’t always expect that. Beneath the Willow Tree straddles those worlds for me so I keep going back and forth on whether or not I wanted to be longer.
I really enjoyed how the message is obvious, but not preachy. (I really dislike preachy books.) There is no missing it, but it’s woven in as such an integral part of the story that you just absorb it along with all the rest and it just fits very well.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
I really enjoyed how the message is obvious, but not preachy. (I really dislike preachy books.) There is no missing it, but it’s woven in as such an integral part of the story that you just absorb it along with all the rest and it just fits very well.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
May 6, 2024
This was a sweet story with a good allegory. I didn't connect 100% with the style, but the message was good, and I recommend it, especially for young readers. It also addressed certain aspects of sin and salvation that I don't see done very often in allegories, which was really nice. <3
November 17, 2021
It's hard to write Christian Fantasy. Because it's been done so many times, the writer tends to end up being too heavy-handed, turning off fantasy readers as well as most Christian readers with the terrible writing and painful theology.
This is not one of those stories.
It's light fantasy, maybe not the most original but nothing if not well-written, with the message of the story woven into the plot instead of shoved in last-minute. It's still very readable for someone who is not reading solely for the sermon. The message isn't too blatant or too shy but walks the perfect middle—think C.S. Lewis meets John Bunyan in a short fantasy.
Great read for 8+
This is not one of those stories.
It's light fantasy, maybe not the most original but nothing if not well-written, with the message of the story woven into the plot instead of shoved in last-minute. It's still very readable for someone who is not reading solely for the sermon. The message isn't too blatant or too shy but walks the perfect middle—think C.S. Lewis meets John Bunyan in a short fantasy.
Great read for 8+
November 1, 2021
Great short novelette! It is a Christian fiction book about how Nova is challenged to trade her pain and hurt for the compassion, hope, trust and care of a Man that she meets. What happens at the willow tree? You will have to find out. I won't spoil the ending, because I hope that you read it. Keep writing, Abby! I'll be waiting for your next one.
DISCLOSURE: I was given a free copy of this book by the author to review and critique it independently. This disclosure is provided in compliance with 16 CFR, Part 255 of the FTC.
DISCLOSURE: I was given a free copy of this book by the author to review and critique it independently. This disclosure is provided in compliance with 16 CFR, Part 255 of the FTC.
August 16, 2022
FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for a review. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Overview: What a sweet little story! I wasn’t quite sure what it would be about when I started reading it, but I was quickly swept into this world where everyone is enslaved to the cruel Disace and trapped by their own shortcomings.
Characters: Nova was a great protagonist, relatable and remarkably fleshed out for this being such a short story. Her choices are realistic and understandable. I was drawn into her world from the very beginning, and she quickly became someone I cared about.
Content: A man is killed. Cruel overseers delight in bringing pain to their slaves.
Writing: Burrus has a beautiful writing style that draws the reader in and creates a compelling story. I loved the descriptions of the scenery; it was easy to imagine I was actually in the world. She also successfully pulls off an allegory without coming across as preachy or cheesy. There are a few typos/grammatical errors throughout, but they don’t detract from the story’s main message.
Summary: This is definitely a hidden gem of a story! It’s a powerful allegory of sinful nature and how only Christ can set us free. I would recommend this to anyone aged 9+.
Overview: What a sweet little story! I wasn’t quite sure what it would be about when I started reading it, but I was quickly swept into this world where everyone is enslaved to the cruel Disace and trapped by their own shortcomings.
Characters: Nova was a great protagonist, relatable and remarkably fleshed out for this being such a short story. Her choices are realistic and understandable. I was drawn into her world from the very beginning, and she quickly became someone I cared about.
Content: A man is killed. Cruel overseers delight in bringing pain to their slaves.
Writing: Burrus has a beautiful writing style that draws the reader in and creates a compelling story. I loved the descriptions of the scenery; it was easy to imagine I was actually in the world. She also successfully pulls off an allegory without coming across as preachy or cheesy. There are a few typos/grammatical errors throughout, but they don’t detract from the story’s main message.
Summary: This is definitely a hidden gem of a story! It’s a powerful allegory of sinful nature and how only Christ can set us free. I would recommend this to anyone aged 9+.
November 29, 2022
Content:
Language: Clean.
Violence: None.
Sexual: None.
This is a short little story featuring themes of redemption and salvation from a Christian standpoint. Nova is a slave bearing a mark, like everyone. She has been betrayed over and over and feels little hope for her life. Until she meets a man without a mark named Redempter.
This is a straightforward story, featuring an allegory of accepting Christ into your life. It was a sweet read and totally transparent in its correlations. There was a lot that could have been delved into, but wasn't. I was disappointed in that, because Nova's past was only barely alluded to, and I wasn't all that attached to her being redeemed because of it. There was such a vague feel to the whole of it, because it's focused on the mark thing, that I found myself not feeling very strongly about it at all. It had potential to be better.
Language: Clean.
Violence: None.
Sexual: None.
This is a short little story featuring themes of redemption and salvation from a Christian standpoint. Nova is a slave bearing a mark, like everyone. She has been betrayed over and over and feels little hope for her life. Until she meets a man without a mark named Redempter.
This is a straightforward story, featuring an allegory of accepting Christ into your life. It was a sweet read and totally transparent in its correlations. There was a lot that could have been delved into, but wasn't. I was disappointed in that, because Nova's past was only barely alluded to, and I wasn't all that attached to her being redeemed because of it. There was such a vague feel to the whole of it, because it's focused on the mark thing, that I found myself not feeling very strongly about it at all. It had potential to be better.
November 27, 2022
The opposite to fear isn’t courage like most think, it’s trust. Nova has lived with nothing but pain and hatred leading her life which in turn has made her choices to be led by an intense overwhelming fear. Slavery is all she knows. She has vague memories of compassion but her trust has been broken so many times that the fear has truly taken over. The mark is an interesting layer being a physical manifestation of the good or evil spirits that can guide you or harm you. All in all a nice quick read that makes you think, and not just of religion.
January 18, 2025
The allegorical elements of this were great, and I applaud the author's effort in taking the time to write and publish this.
That being said, this needs a line edit and proofread. Frequent typos and weak prose make reading it more difficult than necessary and get in the way of the message. Should it ever be edited, I'd like to read it again to more fully experience the true heart of this piece.
That being said, this needs a line edit and proofread. Frequent typos and weak prose make reading it more difficult than necessary and get in the way of the message. Should it ever be edited, I'd like to read it again to more fully experience the true heart of this piece.
November 29, 2025
Heartwarming short story with a main character I truly cared about.
February 14, 2022
This story is a allegory of a sinner and how Christ finds us and takes away our sins. Unfortunately, the character's are stiff and feel unreal. The message is clear, but I lost the feel of what I should have felt at her final choice. I think the characters need more work and I was walking through faceless characters of evil intent.
October 21, 2024
4✨!
I loved this little book! 🤗 The story was beautiful, and obviously such an important message for everyone, even those who haven't yet realized. I loved this, Abby! 🥰
💕CWs: Very little! ⬇️
Romance: N/A Language: N/A Violence: Nova and her fellow slaves are often punished cruelly, but it is not graphic or strictly violent, more mental. 💕
I loved this little book! 🤗 The story was beautiful, and obviously such an important message for everyone, even those who haven't yet realized. I loved this, Abby! 🥰
💕CWs: Very little! ⬇️
Romance: N/A Language: N/A Violence: Nova and her fellow slaves are often punished cruelly, but it is not graphic or strictly violent, more mental. 💕
September 15, 2024
Fabulous book! Young author Abby Burrus captures the essence of Jesus' love for us and the gift He offers us. Fabulous book, very well written. Will be planning on buying this for many of my friends.
September 1, 2024
Abby is a good friend of mine and I was so excited to get my own copy, especially after creating some art to match her book cover! The allegory and the depth of themes she packed into so short a story was amazing! And not to mention, the prose was stunning! ✨
✨ 4 Stars ✨
✨ 4 Stars ✨
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