Starred review from June 15, 2012
Nine years have passed since Rom Sebastian drank a vial of ancient blood and became human again in a world that had become dead. He has gathered others who have also regained their mortality, but The Order has raised an army to destroy the Mortals. VERDICT This edgy, suspenseful, winning follow-up to Forbidden continues Dekker's return to the New Testament Christian allegories ("Circle" series) that made him so popular with CF readers. Expect long waiting lists and consider ordering multiple copies. Recommend this title to fans of Irene Hannon and Travis Thrasher.
Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
June 1, 2012
Five hundred years into the post-apocalyptic future, in a world largely populated by a different kind of walking dead--people who think they're alive but have been emptied of all emotion but fear--a group of living, feeling Mortals fight for humanity against the brutal forces of the Order. Nine years ago, in Forbidden (2011), the first installment in Dekker and Lee's Books of Mortals series, 23-year-old Rom Sebastian brought himself back to life by imbibing an ancient blood potion. He discovered the existence of a boy, Jonathan, "with true life flowing through his veins," who was next in line to become Sovereign leader. Now, on the eve of Jonathan's ascendant 18th birthday, hope rests in Jonathan's ability to reawaken humanity. The megalomaniac Saric, who commands a race of lowly, foul-smelling Dark Bloods, will have something to say about that. So will Saric's sister Feyn, newly revived from a suspended state. She will accede to her brother's demand that she treat him as her Maker; her relationship with Jonathan will prove to be crucial in this tale of scheming, betrayal, murder and warfare. So will the purity of Jonathan's blood, which shows signs of deteriorating to Corpse quality. The overall tone of this book is decidedly Stentorian, but the asides and descriptions can be quite funny, and the book offers plenty of food for philosophizing concerning religion, states of consciousness, freedom, fate and the will to power. A book that can be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel by those who haven't read Book One.
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June 1, 2012
Set nearly a decade after the events of Forbidden (2011), this second volume in Dekker and Lee's postapocalyptic saga finds Rom Sebastian the leader of a small band of soldiers who are dedicated, no matter what the cost, to return humanity to its former state. (Readers will remember that it was Rom who sparked a rebellion against the Order, which centuries ago bred all emotions out of the human species.) The novel's grand themethe human species fighting to avoid extinctionis anchored in reality by a cast of strong characters and by the authors' realistic handling of their fantastic story. Dekker, who is known for dramatic explorations of the battle between good and evil (many of his novels, like this trilogy, have overt Christian themes), has a large and extremely loyal fan base. It's difficult to assess the contributions of Lee, a relative newcomer whose own novels also feature religious themes; the novel feels, from its characters to its massive story, like a Dekker novel through and through. Expect high demand from the author's legion of fans. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: In the world of Christian fiction, Dekker sits permanently on the A-listreaders and sales guaranteed.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)