Mojave Rift: Book 1 of the ArcPoint Series

ArcPoint #1

by J W Gilbert

Arcon’s people have been trapped for a century in a dense forest.

He wants out.

There is a world waiting for him to discover. And Elaina. Blocking his way is a huge canyon called the Rift. His people forbid him to get near it. Her people are forbidden to cross it. God help him.

Mojave Rift is a speculative look at the future of mankind, combining down-to-earth science with Bible prophecy.
Filled with action and adventure, this post-apocalyptic tale avoids the murder and mayhem of a typical dystopian setting. Where suspicion and fear once divided us, discovery of truth seeks to unite.

242 pages, Paperback

Published March 15, 2021

Reviews

[Deana Dick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Old world meets new world in this unique look at division from two view points. One side believes this place called the Mojave was where evil existed. Now someone has escaped and not everyone is sure he can be trusted.

I believe that God does test us and wants to see if we are obedient to Him. Arcon knew that God was telling him to leave what he has always known as home and go to where a new beginning was waiting for him. I loved following his journey and the trials he faced. The room where old artifacts are stored was a treasure of items we know well. Arcon finds a way to reach out to someone far away. There he begins a long eight year friendship with Elaina. Their bond grows strong and Arcon is ready to take the leap of faith to meet her.

The adventure takes us through jungles with thorns that eat into flesh and animals that are dangerous and ready to attack. It did take awhile for Arcon to to finally take his journey. It must have been hard for him to say goodbye to people he has known all his life. I liked that he trusted God and was determined to leave everything behind to follow the call on his life. God wants us to love each other but also be cautious of evil trying to take over.

Elaina was very dedicated to getting Arcon to come to her but at times I wasn’t sure if it was safe for either one of them. The author shows us how Elaina was driven by God to help Arcon escape and never had any thoughts of this stranger being a threat. It seems that Elaina’s dad has put safety measures in place when Arcon comes to stay with him and Elaina .

The story does take place in 2165 and the author uses his writing style to give us a viewpoint of what may have occurred when Jesus returned after tribulation. We can draw our own conclusions of what we think may happen so I appreciate the authors illustration of loving others, giving grace and trusting God. I’m not sure I agree with everything in the book but what is important is that we can be assured that He is coming back. What will the earth look like then we can only imagine as the author has in this story.

“I think He tests us to see how we’ll react to someone breaking the rules.”

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

[Carol Keen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is this author's first book, and it's the start of a very interesting new series. An extremely isolated tribe in America, in the future during the peaceful 1000-year reign of Christ, is the setting for this story. In this post-apocalyptic world, we find Arcon. He's been friends with Elaina for about eight years and she's got the skills to get him where he's going. Where is that? Across the Mojava Rift. He feels like this is something God wants him to do, so despite how upset his people are going to be, the danger, the wild animals, the distance, and the unknown, he's going. What will he find when he gets there?

This book was high on suspense and easy to read. It has a whole world full of the what-ifs that could be possible, and yet, Arcon needs to get his people out of the dense forest they are stuck in. If there's nothing but peace, how do you know when something is evil or wicked?

I loved the characters and the world-building. I liked the plot and I can't wait for the next book in this series. It's clean and so well done and I highly recommend it.

Thanks to Celebrate Lit for my digital copy of this book. This review if my own and a positive review is never required.

[Mary Hake · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this futuristic epic drama. It starts a bit slowly as we get to know the main characters and the setting. As the plot intensifies, the story gets more exciting and captures readers in its journey. It’s intriguing to imagine such a plot could occur, and in a future America. The author’s creativity shows in the development of the novel and making the tale come across as realistic. But it’s hard to imagine this could take place after Christ’s return and that there are Christian groups on earth then, struggling and learning and trying to serve God. This novel will make you think—both about your own life and what the future may bring. I appreciate the Christian emphasis in this book and the faith exemplified by the realistic characters. Just as they follow and learn from the Holy Spirit, so may we. I’m curious what the rest of this trilogy will include. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mojave Rift starts off the ArcPoint series and the debut novel by J W Gilbert. A good debut it is. I enjoyed this post apocalyptic tale. It was full of action packed adventure, mystery and suspense, with an emphasis of faith. It is not one that is easy to predict and I enjoyed going on this journey with the main characters. Overall, it was intriguing read for me.

I am giving Mojave Rift four and a half stars. I recommend it for readers who enjoy reading clean adventure and action novels. I am curious to see what J W Gilbert has in store for their readers in the next installment of the ArcPoint series, Mojave Man.

I received a paperback copy of J W Gilbert’s Mojave Rift from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

[Connie Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mojave Rift is written by J.W. Gilbert. This is book one in the Arcpoint series. This is the first book that I have read by this author. This is an action adventure, speculative fiction story. This book is well written with well defined characters

Arcon knows that God has told him to leave an isolated community called ArcPoint. He seeks an outsider, Elaina, a young woman with the skills to help him cross the treacherous CalNeva Rift. He and Elaina communicate through code - before he finally has the courage to leave. Arcon keeps the fact that he is leaving a secret. He knows that his people will be upset with him for leaving. The author takes us on an adventure through jungles with dangerous animals.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.

[Patti Pierce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mojave Rift by John Gilbert Wozniak (JW Gilbert) is Christian fiction that includes action/adventure. This book is the first book in the ArcPoint series. Combining a post-apocalyptic time period with a typical dystopian setting, this fantasy explores the lives of a young man who lives on one side of a chasm and a young woman who lives on the other side of the chasm.

Set during the time after the return of Jesus, the two groups believe the other is evil, but that really is not the case. The author takes twists and turns that will keep you reading. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and to see how the storyline developed. Because the book is a part of a series, it leaves you wanting to read more and learn more about how the tale will evolve.

So, if you enjoy Christian fiction that includes action/adventure, check out Mojave Rift by John Gilbert Wozniak (JW Gilbert) for yourself.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a time in the future. It is about 2 people from 2 different parts of the world after Jesus comes back after tribulation in the year 2165. The Mojave was a place that others thought was fulled with evil. Arvin wanted to escape so he could see what the rest of the world was like and Elaina and her father was willing to help him even though it could bring trouble to them. I was kept reading because I was interested to see if he made safety over the rift and wanted to see if the two worlds ended being able to coexist together. Sometimes God speaks things to His Follows that others don’t understand.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really got into this story. I didn't know what to expect when I ordered it, but was very happy when I started reading it.

This is the story of Arcon and Elaina. Arcon lives in ArcPoint, a city hidden behind bushes with large thorns and a very deep rift. God, after the people prayed, set them apart from the evil that was in the world during the tribulation. Elaina is on the outside. They are able to communicate with each other in morse code through archaic radios, in short bursts. After eight years Arcon is ready to make his way out of Mojave and ArcPoint, by God's leading, and find out what the world is really like now. He knows his people won't be happy with him, so he keeps it a secret until the day he leaves and his friend comes after him to find out what he is doing.

During the story I wasn't sure that I could agree with some of the author's theology, some things were just not clear to me. During the Millenium, Jesus is ruler over all and the saints who return with Him rule with Him in different areas. The animals are at peace with men, the child lies down with the cobra - but in this story there was fear of the wolves, although they only growled at the people when their babies were perceived to be threatened. When I read the author's notes at the end of the story some of those questions were answered and we were pretty much on the same track - so take time to read those!

The author let me know that he had this book out because of a comment I had made about how books are getting to be less clean than they used to be. He agreed with that and told me that he had written a clean story. This story is clean, no bad language, no sexual content, and a strong Christian message. The romance is sweet and sometimes funny! Thanks, JW

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mojave Rift is full of warm-hearted, intelligent characters who are good to one another—the more you read, the more you're glad to spend time with them. The people of Mojave Rift are a lot like you or I, but they're eating pancakes, going to work, and dealing with the ups and downs of life while living hundreds of years in the future. Yes, the story is post-apocalyptic but it doesn't have all the doom and gloom—its story is entertaining, meaningful, and uplifting.

The point-of-view is from that of Arcon and Elaina, endearing characters who believe in one another. They want to live their lives together, not divided by an enormous rift in the earth or the prejudices of long separated societies who know next to nothing about one another.

[Marylin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was an interesting story.
It brought out so thoughts about what the future could be like.
Earthquakes, rifts, and how other things cause struggles on this planet.
This book had a few interesting moments of swinging in the trees, and another tense moment.
As a whole, it was an interesting read.