Choice of The Mighty

Chronicles of Stephen #1

by Kenyon T. Henry

On the brink of madness, Stephen returns home to St. Louis, bringing with him — a curse. His new found power allows him to read minds, which his mentor teaches him to control. He also discovers that he is not alone, but part of a community with a special lineage dating back over 3,000 years!Stephen learns this family of warriors, priests, and prophets, are engaged in a battle between good and evil, and although he wants nothing to do with the war, he finds himself unwillingly thrust directly in the middle of it.Stephen’s journey of tragedy, adventure, and hopelessness soon finds him face to face with that ultimate, universal question, “Who am I?”

Genres: Fantasy, Christian Fiction, Christian, Fiction, Action, Paranormal, Supernatural

418 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2017

About the author

I live in Northwest Georgia with my wife and kids.

Aside from writing, I enjoy the outdoors. Hiking is a favorite and one of the things I'd like to do more of. I also enjoy riding my bike (motorcycle) when I can.

You can check me out on my other social media at the below.

http://www.instagram.com/kenyon_t

http://www.facebook.com/kenyonthenry

http://www.twitter.com/kenyonthenry

Reviews

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kept me turning pages

Choice of the Mighty by Kenyon T. Henry, is the first in the Chronicles of Stephen series. The setting is in modern day St. Louis with modern day tech being referenced and actual places used as backdrops. The characters are well developed, yet mystery and layers surround them making it fascinating to watch them unfold. The plot involves more than a couple of twists. Although this is a Christian fiction, I would emphasize fiction. In the story, the Mighty are a secret sect from the bloodlines of the mighty men of King David, with supernatural powers. Part of me kept wanting to say, we have all we need in Christ, but the story line illuminated how important self restraint and true humility (thinking of others more than oneself) are in a Christian life. I enjoyed the inner struggle of the protagonist to both control his powers and to make the one decision that would truly safeguard him. Through out the novel we hear inner thoughts of the characters, but there are also some good action scenes physically and mentally and both had me turning the pages to find out what will happen next. There is also a great deal of conversation between all the characters which helped build the relationships between them. In reading a review of Henry's second book of this series, it was suggested to read this first one first. I'm glad I did. It is a good story on its own, but I look forward to reading Trials of the Mighty next.

[Lara Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Christain urban fantasy/spiritual warfare novel was probably one of the most fun books I have read in a couple of years! Seriously, if I could give it a bonus star, I would. If you like Frank Peretti's novels, you will love this one more. I had flashbacks of myself in high school reading under the covers all night and trying to take my math exams the next day with no sleep; it was that good.

I started this book mildly intrigued by the whole David's Mighty Men of Valor idea. The concept of them passing on the torch to their child and continuing as a secret society in the modern day world is something I had never seen done, so I was expecting some cool creative mystery and intrigue. Secret societies are a fun standard fantasy theme. I was taken entirely by surprise by how much I really liked all the characters and how many times I was surprised and delighted. I have read a lot of books and to surprise me with who is really the good guys and who is really the bad guys the way this book does is just awesome!

Most Christain fiction likes to draw a line in the sand and say these are the people to root for and these are the villains. In this book, it isn't so clear. You think it is at the beginning. I thought I had picked out the sides pretty early on, but then I found myself questioning things. A few surprises I did figure out before they were revealed and others just slapped me across the face. Looking back, though, the clues were there.

I was dragged along without the artificial relationship conflicts and brattiness that so many authors today think drive stories. Instead, I was compelled the same way the main character was compelled, I wanted to learn more and make a choice. The main character Stephen deals with very believable (for fantasy) internal conflicts. Nothing is just thrown in for suspense sake. He doesn't just burn bridges for the sake of it. I love honest disputes that have nothing to do with people just being jerks.

I the fact that all the characters were very human with flaws and mistakes. No one is perfect, and their merit as Christians doesn't come from their perfections. The significant mistakes various characters make or have made carry heavy consequences, but God redeems those mistakes for those who turn to him. All the characters are compelling, complex, and surprisingly human and likeable. To be honest, I really liked Vincent. Almost anything I say about why would probably ruin the fun of learning about him. Still, I was entirely prepared to see him as a flat, dull character at first, but it turns out, he is one of the most complicated in a very believable way.

This is a story about redemption, but not is a cheesy preachy sort of way. The character really struggles with significant character flaws, mistakes, guilt, hang-ups, anger, and all the other things real people feel all jumbled up. At the same time, this is an optimistic book in which I felt like I could conquer the world by the end.

I loved how many times I was reading along expecting typical Christian fantasy tropes and then get sideswiped with a twist I hadn't expected. Even at the very end, I was trying to hurry through the last chapters because I had people waiting on me, and then I got slapped in the face with a tremendously delightful surprise. Well done! I didn't see some of the events in the last chapters coming, and yet it was always there.

Fantastic beginning, a focused middle, and a resolution at the end that finishes this story arch and yet has me eager to buy the next book, so I can see what this character does next in a new conflict. If the next book is as good as this one, Mr Henry has found a loyal fan. Well done!

[C.S. Wachter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the premise: Descendants of David’s Mighty Men continuing the fight of good versus evil into the present day. Stephen returns home after being on his own for the last five years, still struggling to understand the strange abilities growing in him that had driven him away. He had tried to use them for good (like his hero Superman) but instead he caused the death of a man he used as a pawn. He now questions if he is a monster. He also battles paranoia; he is certain he is being watched. He has returned home to seek guidance and help from the man who raised him, Waltz. Waltz tells him he must make a choice.

It took me a bit to connect with Stephen and invest in his story, but once I did, the book moved quickly, pulling me forward to the end.
Though Vincent was a secondary character, I found myself liking the socially stiff lawyer and appreciated seeing more of him as the story progressed.
As the action began to pick up I debated between giving this book a four-star rating, or a three-star rating. But, as a reader, two things bothered me enough to consider a three-star rating.
The first was technical (i.e. missing words, words used improperly). Though the technical problems weren’t enough to stop me from continuing the story, they did pull me out of the stream of thought often enough to present a problem for me.
The second area that presented a difficulty for me was the apparent lack of concern about extra-marital sex among the Mighty. (Don’t get me wrong, there is NO sex in this book. It’s clean in that respect.) But … Stephen’s biological father assumed Stephen had been fathered by another man. There is no mention of marriage or divorce, just that he found out about his son after Stephen’s mother had died. As followers of Christ, I would think the Mighty would honor the marriage covenant.
In summary, this was an interesting story with a wonderful premise and a plot that picked up speed as we moved along. The characters were growing not only in the story but in my mind. But, for me, the two difficulties I mentioned were enough to reduce the stars by one.

[David Bergsland · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun story! Spiritually, not so much

This another of the "Old Testament descendants with superpowers" plots. Spiritually, they’re very problematic, but the story’s good this time. That's largely because of the characters. The people are likable, intriguing, and believable. It took awhile for the suspension of disbelief to kick in. But, I enjoyed the tale a lot. Entertaining, but only vaguely Christian.

[Tyrone Harbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was indeed an awesome read! Not since I first picked up a copy of Frank Peretti's THIS PRESENT DARKNESS had i been captivated by this genre! I really enjoyed the story and characters; If you enjoy stuff like MORTAL INSTRUMENTS your sure to love this story! i am looking forward to future additions to this tale and anxious to see where the epic is going, this book serves as a good intro...a well savored appetizer that has only made me anticipate the next book!
I will not critique the novel. I am very theological minded and when it comes to Christian novels I have a tendency to put up a magnifying glass about doctrine, like when I tried to read the entire LEFT BEHIND fiction! However I did not have any "roadblocks" that were so severe to make me put it down as I have so many other books..Mr Henry's book managed to keep me tuned to the channel..sure I had to pause a bit..and I am glad to have finished the read and am truly looking forward to the next episode in the Chronicles Of Stephen!
I had the good fortune to meet Mr.Henry and purchased my autographed copy directly from him. he is a great guy and very personable, If you ever have the chance to meet him and chat about the book..please do..He is very sincere about his work and I'm sure he would love the chat..and feel free to mention this review :)

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story centers around, Stephen, the main character. In the story, Stephen has abilities which he has discovered, and they are new to him. He tries to find out the why of these new-found abilities. He returns to an old friend to help lead him and direct him along the way. Which way will he turn, towards good or evil? Many twist and turns as Stephen uncovers answers and the new answers just lead to new questions. The journey to discover, control, and understand these new abilities takes him places he hasn’t expected.

I have really enjoyed reading this book. This is the first book by this talented author. I understand that there will be a sequel. What I enjoy about most books I read is finding out if it is a well written story and the character are developed quite well. Unsurprisingly, this one does not disappoint. I was unable to put the book down.

I highly recommend this book.

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved reading this book! Stephen, the main character, seemed realistic and this book was very hard to stop reading. After I finished reading my first thought was "I can't wait for the next one!" I received this book free with the intention to review, this didn't effect my opinion of the book.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

After developing supernatural powers, Stephen leaves his family behind to make his way in the world and stretch his wings. He soon gets in over his head, and like the prodigal son, he comes home. His adopted father is there waiting on him and turns out to be exactly the right person to help Stephen grow his powers. Stephen begins learning to control his powers while he discovers his heritage and makes new friends. He struggles with protecting his loved ones and with forgiving himself for past mistakes. He must also make the biggest decision of his life. He must decide if he will be a Mighty man of God or continue down the Fallen path. I found this book to be uplifting and encouraging. Stephen's struggle between good and evil is one we all face. The stage is set...I will be watching for the next book in the series.

[Valicity Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first installment of the Chronicles of Stephen; a set of books which follow a young protagonist who just discovered he has superpowers given to him by God. Of course, there is a lot more to the story than this—Stephen doesn’t wake up one day as Superman with an angel following him around hacking the heads off his enemies: no. Instead the story follows a familiar theme in Christian fantasy with Stephen being a descendant of an Old Testament hero we all know and love: King David.

I think the proper thing to do is start off my review with what I liked about the story before leading into any dislikes but I’m going to do the opposite for this book. One of the reasons I want to switch things up is because my first dislike about the story is actually Stephen’s power. Mind reading and controlling thoughts is something I’ve never cared for, so I found it really hard to find any real attachment to Stephen as a character—let alone the protagonist. From page one, I never cheered for him, I was never totally on his side, and even found him somewhat unlikeable at times. BUT that doesn’t mean the development of his powers (or his character in general) and the concept of the Mighty was lost on me. While I did not necessarily relate to Stephen, I did relate to the problems he faced and found myself thinking deeply on the decisions we make every day as Christians in this world.

My next point is about the writing. Choice of the Mighty is told in third person from Stephen’s point of view, though there are parts that include the thoughts of others—thanks to his nifty gift. But I don’t have any complaints about the narration, I felt there was a lack with the writing itself. The description and detail was very nice but many of the sentences (at least in the beginning) began with the word “He”. Sometimes it felt like I was reading off Stephen’s to-do list. He did this, he looked over there, he felt sad… This wasn’t enough to make me stop reading the story, but it was annoying enough for me to point it out here. The writing was not terrible in any way whatsoever but there are small things that could easily be changed to enhance it.

Lastly… I wish this book had been about a young woman. This comment comes from a young woman of color who is tired of reading about the same gender and the same race over and over—that’s not to say there was no diversity here at all but I’d love to see just a bit more in future parts of this series. Bring me a fearless girl of Asian descent, show me a young black woman who’ll surrender her life for her comrades, introduce me to an Indian girl who falls for a dashing young Hispanic. Christian fiction has come a long way, but I want to see it push the boundaries in other areas.

Speaking of boundaries, Choice of the Mighty certainly pushes them. This is probably one of the most balanced works of Christian fiction I have ever read; sure, there were a few dislikes and complaints but at the end of the day, I believe this is a series that easily sets the standard for good Christian writing. You should know, I’m actually not a fan of urban fantasy (or even of the main character), but I am a fan of adventure, of self-discovery, of solid action sequences, and good writing. You will find all of that here.

If you enjoy fantasy, urban fiction, or Christian books then I would strongly suggest you read this book. Young adults will probably appreciate this story more than others, but adult and perhaps middle-grade readers will find it an enjoyable read as well.

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before starting my review, I would like to mention (and thank) the author for providing me with a copy of his book in exchange for an honest review! My opinions are my own and are in no way shaped by the author.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. There were definitely some issues that I had with it and that could be worked on, but by the end of the book, I was seriously interested in the story. I'll start with the positives of my review before going into the negatives that I had.

Positives

1) The characters! I really liked the characters (although for some reason, Stephen did just slightly annoy me at times, not really sure why though). I thought the characters in this story were well developed and I loved the fact that even the side characters of the story were thought out, not rushed through like some side characters in other books I've read before. (Can I just say that Alistair might be my favorite character?)

2) Plot: I enjoyed the author's spin on the classic 'Good vs. Evil' story plot line. I don't think I can say that I've read something quite like the plot of this story. I am extremely curious to find out more about the Fallen that is getting into Stephen's head. I think that plot line is going to be really interesting.

3) The plot twist: Although, I had kind of figured out the plot twist concerning Waltz a little bit before it was revealed, I still thoroughly enjoyed reading through, even though I had a feeling of what the turnout was going to be. Although, I did at first (towards the beginning of the story when the thing with Waltz happens at the park) believed it to be the other person that the author had hinted at. Also, I thought Stephen was totally badass when dealing with the person.

4) The Enclave: I loved how the author describes this portion of the book! It's beautifully written and I could picture most (if not all) of what was there. It was cool to conjure up in my mind of what the council room (and all other rooms) would look like.

Okay, so that's all for my positives, let's move on to my negatives.

Negatives

1) The biggest negative for me was that there were quite a few mistakes (mostly grammatical, I think maybe just 1/2 spelling ones). In a previous review I've done, I mentioned how this is big 'no' for me. I also mentioned how I could see maybe 2-3 mistakes in a 300-400 page book. This book has a little bit less than 300 pages and has more than just three mistakes. As this is a book that someone would normally pay money for, I do think that there definitely should have been more editing done. As I believe this book is self-published and not part of an actual publishing group, I would suggest maybe getting an editor to work alongside (or just go through the work once or twice more next time).

2) As someone who is not religious, there is just a tad bit too much of talk of God in this book, but it didn't bother me too much. This was more of just a personal nuisance than a real critique of the book.

3) Again, as someone who is not religious, I think the story of David and his Mighty men could have been explained a little bit more. I know the story of David and Goliath, but I didn't really know who the the Mighty men were.

4) This particular critique is also just more personal preference, I guess. I didn't really like the sound words (ie: "Brrr", "Aaahhhhh!", etc...). Personally, I thought it was kind of middle-grade-esque (Not that there's anything wrong with that, I'm just not a big fan of middle-grade books).

All in all, I would recommend picking up this book (maybe not if the talk of God annoys you too much). It's a fun and quick read, and is easy to breeze through. Once again, thank you to the author for providing me with a copy to review!

[Becky Van Daniker · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s rare to find good fantasy novels in Christian fiction so when I heard that “Choice of the Mighty” by Kenyon T. Henry was a young adult Christian fiction fantasy novel, I knew I had to check it out. This was such a fun and probably one of the best books that I have read about spiritual warfare.

When I first started the book, I didn’t really know what I was getting into. I was intrigued when I read that this was based on King David’s Mighty Men of Valor. These are a group of men that King David picked to serve God faithfully. The idea that this group today still exists having been passed on generation after generation is even more intriguing. I love when authors involve secret societies like this which just adds to the fun!

While it took me awhile to warm up to the characters in the beginning, I fell in love with them. Stephen is our main character who has a desire to be good and to help others. But then there were the side characters who became just as loveable. These characters will constantly surprise you. They are all far from perfect, making human mistakes, but their characters grow so much throughout the book.

The beginning is slow so the story takes some time to pick up, but this didn’t bother me at all because there was a lot going on that the author had to reveal. While I wanted answers immediately, the pacing was perfect. The action scenes were incredible, although I would have liked to see Stephen have a weakness of sort because some of these scenes ended too quickly and easily. Although we do have some action, it wasn’t your kick-butt constant action. The focus is more on that serving The Mighty doesn’t mean there will always be epic battles to save the world, but more on serving God, being kind to others, and showing the love of God towards others. I think that’s what sets this series apart from other books.

The story also has a redemption and faith aspect which isn’t preachy. Kenyon T. Henry shares the truth at the appropriate moments and gives a clear Gospel message. He even explains why it’s so important to make a decision. In fact, most of the theology is sound and scriptural.

Overall, I enjoyed this. I’m immediately starting the sequel, “Trials of the Mighty” because I am curious as to what is in store for these characters next.

Highly recommended, especially to fans of Harry Potter or Percy Jackson!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Ruth Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good story about the choices we have to make in life. Stephen's struggles with his powers made sense, and I enjoyed seeing him grow as a character. the passage of time was made clear and allows readers to skip the minutia of his training without getting confusing as well as giving time for relationships to develop. I'm looking forward to reading the next one!

[Barbara Keigher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need to say firstly, this is Christian 'fiction'.

I was uncomfortable with the super powers or extra powers of the 'mighty' and the secret society aspect....it reminded me of the Illuminati, the Masons etc.

That being said, I really appreciated the struggle of dealing with any kind of 'gift', being tempted by arrogance, pride, rebellion, trusting in your power ( whatever it may be), and thinking that you know how and what to do with it ( no help from God thank you very much).

Also, the underlying fear....fear you are not worthy for God to accept you into Heaven etc.
and well,
we are not worthy...

we can never do enough 'good works' to merit His salvation.

This was part of the struggle..... tho the main character did 'good works'....he took credit for what 'he' did, and often, made terrible mistakes, as a result of not having the Lord in his life.

So keeping in mind, the 'fiction' part with human fighting demon possessed or demon ( something I do not think we are called to do Biblically ), another thorny aspect for me

Still, the Biblical applications concerning pride, fear, acceptance, surrender, service, etc. etc. overcame these other issues for me....
plus of course, it was well written.

[Erik Larson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very easy to read. A good story

I met Keyon at Conooga, in Chattanooga. After talking for just a minute or two, I bought the Kindle version, through my iPad, as we stood there chatting. I told him it’d be a few months before I read it. I’m pleased to see the next book is out.

Choice of the Mighty introductory tale of Stephen, a late-teen who has unusual powers to look into people’s minds. The overall story is his struggle in how to use this power, and for what purpose. Stephen also struggles with personal turmoil of relationship issues.
The writing is crisp, clean, and very easy to read. I was often pleasantly pleased with how smoothly the scenes and interactions unfolded. Reading the book was a joy. The plot twist I expected didn’t happen, though it was alluded to by the characters. Good job.

I would classify this as religious fiction, but also science fiction. If you don’t have an open mind about these genres, you may be shaking your head a lot.
I look forward to beginning the next book.

[Adriana Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much fun and was a great start to an enlightening and exciting Christian fantasy series that will wrap you up in its magical story.

Stephen has a gift...he can read minds, manipulate people’s thoughts, inhabit their bodies. But this gift comes at a great price: someone or something is out there trying to find him. It wants to destroy Stephen for his powerful gift.

When Stephen returns home to St. Louis, an old friend reveals to him the history behind his ability: he stems from King David’s lineage of Mighty men.
And yet, he also contains mysterious links to the Fallen - a group who have fallen from righteousness after choosing to reject God and the Mighty.

With nothing but sheer determination and a desire to understand who he is and why he’s been given such power, Stephen embarks on a miraculous journey to find himself and God in the process. And with the weight of good and evil falling on his shoulders, the clock is ticking...

[Maggie Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

You forget it's a Christian book as Stephen struggles to do the right thing. He does the kind of heroic acts I would with his abilities. The main characters are have are lookalike. Good hearts without being better then others. I want to read the rest of the books. Good ending also

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intriguing read! Kenyon T Henry's first book has hit it out of the park for me. A Christian fantasy novel with a modern feel. I enjoyed peeling back the layers to discover incredible people and illuminating truths. Rich complex characters became more than I imagined they could be.
I look forward to reading more!

[Susan Zoch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by this book that set up as a religious sci-fi.fantasy. It was exciting and although the premise is god and religion and special abilities it was not preachy. I enjoyed the story the story,

[Shaunna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome! I enjoy it every time I read it.

[R. E. Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a... Mighty book! I loved this read and recommend it to others. I can't wait to read the next books in the series!

[Randy Harmelink]

No rating as I gave up on this one at the 15% mark. I just wasn't enjoying it at all.

[Lynda Knapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable!

I recommend this book. If all of the books in this series are like this one, they will be good, too. I would definitely read more by this author.

[Peter Last · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Choice of the Mighty" is a book with a lot of potential. This urban fantasy set in Saint Louis is creative and exciting to start; unfortunately, story locations, factions, and politics are not described enough to get a feel for the world. Locations are minimally described, meaning nothing is specific to Saint Louis or even to the lore of the tale. Little development of the general milieu leaves the world feeling flat. Many of the characters begin strong with interesting variety to their personalities, skills, upbringing, and outlook on life; however, none of them receive significant development. The development which does exist occurs via sudden changes rather than more gradual and logical ones and thus feel unearned. Though the plot feels like it begins in the middle of a story, it is not bad when it gets up to speed. Unfortunately, that speed dissipates quickly during lulls in the action. Uneven pacing is to blame for this. Whenever the story finally gets rolling, the book takes a break as people sit around and talk for a while. The stop-and-go nature of the action combined with a lot of conveniences make the plot feel particularly thin. The writing is not bad in terms of word choice and sentence construction, but it does contain some stilted dialogue, making immersion difficult. More problematic is the repetition wherein the same concept is conveyed to the reader two or three times in as many paragraphs. The constant circling back to ideas slows the pace of the book and destroys the story’s flow. While it has an interesting premise and an okay plot, poor execution of writing and characters make this book much less than it could be. It’s not terrible, but I would pass on this one unless you have an otherwise compelling reason to read it.

[Nona Pelfrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Henry and getting an autographed copy of the book from him. This was an interesting story with a wonderful premise that I don't believe I have found in a book before. There were a few errors in the book (grammer and spelling) but they in no way detracted from the story. The more I read the more I was drawn into the story. I love the fact that each character was given enough back story so you felt that you knew them. My only problem with this book was that it ended to soon for me. lol
I can't wait to read the next one.

I think Mr. Henry has done a wonderful job and really look forward to reading more of his work.

[D.T. Powell · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one needs a thorough developmental and line edit. Lots of inane chatter, some men-writing-women moments, and I was a little confused about why possession was portrayed in a positive light.

While I don't believe in Nephilim, I don't necessarily have a problem with reading fiction based on the premise of their existence, but this one was just too far out there for me, and the execution needed polishing. Had it been better written I might have felt differently.

[Mary H]

This book makes you know and feel, God Almighty, is alive and well. Through Him, David's Mighty, can defeat the evil in this world. I could hardly wait for the second book to be published. They are very good read...............enjoy them!! Impatiently waiting for the third book. God is Mighty. Believe in Him.

[Cherish Thyot · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took a chance

I enjoyed this first book. It was a little slow but the story pulled me in and I was finished before I knew it. I like the characters and how the lurking evil pops up and keeps you wondering. I would recommend this series to any supernatural readers.

[Erin M. Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75
I’ve been sitting on this book for awhile, like all of my physical books. Finally was able to get to this and finish it. Started slow, but as it progressed the story definitely kept my interest and was enjoyable. I can’t wait to read the next book

[Leona Bender · Rating 5 out of 5]

About book

I read this cause brother and sister in law
Knows Author need get a book signed
Not something I usually would read definitely different.