Helped me understand the Bible

Firstly, the narrator is absolutely excellent! Spot on, expressive, varied, different voices for different characters. The thing I like most is that he reads the textual cues and adjusts his voice accordingly. So if the character is weeping, he actually sounds like he's weeping. If he's angry, the voice sounds angry etc. This is so important in a narrator.
The narrator can make or break a book. I have favourite books that have been absolutely mangled by dreadful narrators, but this one is outstanding.
The storyline is very loosely based on the Bible - a kind of greatly magnified and expanded version, using heaps of imagination and bucketloads of description. Both this book and the one before it (The Fall of Lucifer) are crammed with incredibly vibrant emotive descriptions of fantastical worlds and characters. In some ways it reads rather like the Lord of the Rings - so I would say this is kind of like the Hobbit meets the Bible.
the three central characters in this story - the archangels Gabriel, Michael and Lucifer - now Satan - are joined by a cast of characters from both the time of Jesus and modern day times, as the story moves from the creation of the world through to the rise of the Antichrist. The temptation of Jesus in the wilderness is portrayed in a way that totally engages and deepens the understanding of the reader. Jesus, as the "second Adam", had to pass a test inflicted by Satan. if he failed, Satan would possess the souls of all mankind, who would have to join him in hell and Jesus would have to also submit to him. If he succeeded and withstood the temptation, he would get to proclaim the Kingdom of God on Earth, activate his supernatural powers and fulfil his eternal destiny. Couching the often confusing main events of the Bible in terms of "Eternal Law" makes everything fall into place much more easily. So God created all the laws of the universe, mostly to do with cause and effect, and everything, including him, has to abide by them. For example, when Adam and Eve succumbed to Satan's temptation in the Garden of Eden, Eternal Law decreed that they had therefore given their lives (and hence the lives of the whole human race) into the hands of Satan. They had used their free will to choose him instead of God, therefore he could legally become their ruler and Prince of the Earth. I never understood before how that worked! The crucifixion of Jesus is also explained in totally understandable and relatable terms. Mankind is steeped in original sin from the Fall, and so by the rule of eternal law, they are separated from God and cannot enter Heaven. But when Jesus paid the price for sin (which is death) his blood, the shed blood of an innocent and sinless man, would pay the ransom for all of mankind so that they could enter Heaven. So even though this is written as a fiction novel and is often very dramatic, the biblical events that it is based on are accurate.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Very imaginative

Very imaginatively written and very well read. I enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to listening to the next book

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

The Spiritual Realm does exist even before the Physical realm

We are reminded of what is going on in the spiritual realm. The book ended abruptly. Bought and listened to this book thinking I had read it before however it was new.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Brilliant listen!

I now have more than a deeper understanding of the spiritual fights are in. Satan loathes Christians and he’s not a myth. He doesn’t play fair. Excellently read. A must listen for all Christians. Thank you Wendy Alec!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Brilliantly brings Biblical events alive

Wendy Alec has managed with this wonderful series (I've read the first one and now book 2) to bring alive the events of the Bible as untold behind the scenes, told through the eyes of the Archangels, bringing massively more clarity, depth and understanding to the events of Man's transgressions, Noah's ark, Satan's fall from grace, Jesus' sacrifice etc. It really brought alive my faith and the need to be vigilant and aware that Satan and Hell are real, God is not just a funny old geezer with a long white beard but the King of the Universe and what Jesus' sacrifice for us really means. There were a couple of lovely scenes of Jesus with the children, being cuddled and telling them stories of Heaven and their innocent receptiveness to his ideas.
I was fascinated to discover the real reason Satan hates us, and the true depth of his murderous rage. This book is all based on Biblical truths, but explained and clarified by means of this dramatic story. It really brings the Bible alive.

A parallel backstory is set in the present day and near future, when an archaeologist discovers some key ancient scrolls that reveal a mystery.... Closely guarded by an ancient Egyptian royal family that has its roots in the days of Jesus.

These two books had me riveted from start to finish, and as soon as I finish writing this review I'm off to buy book 3 and find out whether Adrian deVere is actually the Antichrist!

The narrator is excellent, with multiple different voices for the Angelic and demonic beings and kept the story flowing brilliantly.

My only niggle with this book is the repeated repetition of repetitious words in the same sentence (yes, that's what it sounds like!) With the help of a thesaurus, Wendy could have made her sentences far more effective and varied. There are a lot of other repetitions (e.g. Every time anybody bows, their hair sweeps the floor!) There are endless descriptions of platinum hair braided with pearls etc, everyone has their hair and appearance described endlessly but it does seems as if Wendy has a hair fetish! And she used the word "great" about a thousand times...and there are endless repetitive descriptions of Heaven (which actually sounds amazing so I don't mind hearing about it again). There are also a few slight inconsistencies such as Lucifer and his evil cronies sometimes speaking in "an Angelic tongue" or writing in an Angelic script, whilst in Hell - when surely it should be a "demonic tongue" or demonic script?

These niggles aside, this is still a gripping and fascinating read.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

great story

I really love the story this book is better than the first taking things deeper and showing the victory of Christ on the cross

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

A superb sequel

This is was a great follow up to the Fall of Lucifer. cant wait for book 3 already! How has this not been made into a movie?

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Fabulous book

Perfect listen, gripping & cannot wait for next in series which is son of perdition.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

utterly brillant

brilliant story from start to finished with can't wait for the son of partitions will there be a film on the series

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Love it

A great book. Looking forward to the next one and the nex and the next.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!