Sovereign

The Books of Mortals #3

by Ted Dekker, Tosca Lee

Nine years after Rom Sebastian was thrust into the most unlikely of circumstances as hero and bearer of an unimaginable secret, the alliance of his followers is in disarray. An epic battle with The Order has left them scattered and deeply divided both in strategy and resolve in their struggle to become truly alive and free.

Only 36 truly alive followers remain loyal to Rom. This meager band must fight for survival as The Order is focused on their total annihilation. Misunderstood and despised, their journey will be one of desperation against a new, more intensely evil Order.

As the hand of this evil is raised to strike and destroy them they must rely on their faith in the abiding power of love to overcome all and lead them to sovereignty.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, Christian, Dystopia, Audiobook, Thriller

336 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Ted Dekker is known for novels that combine adrenaline-laced stories with unexpected plot twists, unforgettable characters, and incredible confrontations between good and evil. Ted lives in Austin with his wife LeeAnn and their four children.

Reviews

[Evan Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book of the trilogy. You won't see what happens coming until you read it on the page.

[Laurel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the first book had an interesting premise. I thought the second book had some interesting character development. And now we come to the third and final novel in the Books of Mortals series. "Sovereign" is much more obviously Christian than the other two books. If you are turned off by this, I would not recommend it. That said, this is a work if Christian fiction and the beautiful Christian ideas about compassion and love are woven into this book quite well. I personally had trouble with so much emphasis being put on a savior freeing humanity through miraculous means, but was encouraged by the fact that the kingdom of love was said to be within each of us. Plot-wise, I found the book to be a little thin, with little real character development. It seemed more to me that characters were changed by evens around them, rather than by thinking things through and changing themselves. I'm glad it read it, but I wouldn't read it again.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

See my review of the entire series here:

http://rwlreviews.blogspot.com/2014/0...

[Meagan Myhren-Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished the third book in Ted Dekker & Tosca Lee's The Books of Mortals series and WOW is all I can say. This is a fantastic (I think) conclusion to this series, though when Dekker is writing you never know there could be another (think his Circle trilogy which became 4 with book 0!)

Sovereign takes up where Mortal left us, but 6 years have passed. Fear is the only emotion that everyone can feel, but for a small group of people who have themselves become divided into 3 different groups the Mortals have split into two groups, those who followed Roland - Immortals, those who followed Rom - Sovereigns. Then there are those ruled by Feyn - Dark Bloods (created in laboratories by alchemists) and Corpses (the majority of people who, by genetic plague, have been rendered emotionless except for fear.

Saric is long believed to be dead as he was last seen escaping into the desert wilderness after he killed Jonathan, who was a willing sacrifice so as to bring about the fulfillment of the prophecy surrounding his life. But nothing is as it should be. No one is experiencing the joy and happiness that they expected. In fact everyone is down-right miserable.

What everyone failed to recognize is that Jonathan had come to bring about a kingdom of the heart, not a political kingdom as everyone expected.

The Immortals number in the thousands, the Sovereigns are under 40, while the Dark Bloods are growing into the tens of thousands. In a last attempt to stop the Dark Bloods and the Immortals a Sovereign alchemist who has lost all he held dear has developed a virus that will kill all Dark Bloods and Immortals and destroy the emotions of the Sovereigns.

Rom and Jordin are determined that Jonathan's legacy won't be lost forever, but their plan comes at a cost - one that very well might end their existence as Sovereigns and their very lives should they fail.

It is into this world (500 years from now) that Dekker and Lee take us into. This is an epic conflict of good versus evil with the theme of salvation running throughout. It also looks at how a person's emotions prevent us from experiencing to the fullest the true heart changing gift of salvation. We allow fear, anger, and hatred to thwart and confine the changes we should experience at the core of our being. We allow ourselves to forget and to become stuck in an endless cycle that we are doomed to repeat again and again until we allow ourselves to see what God has truly given us and is offering to us even now.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has definitely been Dekker's best work since the Circle, and I think the inclusion of Tosca Lee as a co-author has dramatically increased the potential of this series.

I noticed a lot of parallels with the Circle Series (which should be expected- they do take place in the same literary universe). I'm not really sure how I feel about the ending of this series, as it plays on a key motif from Dekker's earlier works, but I don't think it will bother anyone who has not read the Circle and I do feel like it works well for the story. That's my only major qualm with this book- I felt that the ending was predictable if you're a Dekker fan. Other than that, though, the writing was fantastic and the plot was fast-paced and enjoyable.

Sure, there were a few deus ex machina moments (including the miraculous return of some supposedly dead/missing characters) but overall I don't think they negatively impacted the ending of the series. And that's what happens when you kill off so many characters during books 1 and 2.

Now I can't wait for the next Books of History novel. Surely there will be at least one novel linking the end of this book with Other Earth in the Circle.

[A.B. Swinborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sooo good! Oh my word this is my favorite one in this series, but why did it end on a cliff hanger?! Oh well I guess, but...
If there is a secret book I'm not aware of please tell me!

[Christian Fiction Addiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee have again combined their tremendous writing talent in "Sovereign", the third installment of "The Book of Mortals" series. As with the first two books, the scenes are vividly drawn, the writing is crisp, and the words flow smoothly, sweeping you up into the power of the story. From the start, the scenes explode with action, and I was immediately gripped by the opening chapters as good clashes with evil. My favourite character in this story is easily that of Jordin, who wrestles with doubt and whether she's making the right choices, but ultimately has a powerful encounter that opens her eyes to truth and to love. All of the characters are very well-developed, and I enjoyed the twists that are written into the story, where nothing is black and white, and even the villains invoke sympathy. The authors have created a book and an entire series that has so many parallels to the Christian walk and what Jesus accomplished through his death and through the abundant life he offers us. As such, the book can be read purely for entertainment value, or you can ponder the deeper truths woven into the story. I did find that the book dragged a bit for me in the middle, but by the end I was glued to the pages to see how everything would resolve. I closed the pages thinking about the strength of my own faith in Jesus and how fully I've allowed his truth to bring freedom into every part of my life. Any book that has me mulling over issues of faith while providing an absorbing ride is definitely worth reading!

Sovereign provides a rich adventure, and readers who have enjoyed the first two books in the series are certain to be pleased with this addition. I strongly recommend this book and award it 4 out of 5 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of Hachette Book Group. Available at your favourite bookseller from FaithWords, a division of Hachette Book Group.

[M · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am so disappointed in this series. The first two books were fantastic! And the first half of this book was pretty good, but Dekker completely cops out the ending. SPOILER ALERT: Surrender to love???? Are you effing kidding me??? So many wonderful ways this book could end and you choose a half-assed, unconnected, lame ending of everyone learns how to SURRENDER TO LOVE????? Thank god I didn't buy these books. I would have been pissed.

[Cami V. Romero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trilogía de los libros de los mortales terminada!!
Debo decir que encontré mucho parecido con la serie del círculo, pero eso no me impidió disfrutarla.
Lo que amo de Dekker es su manera de plasmar la enseñanza bíblica en sus novelas, no de una forma directa, pero sí obvia para los conocedores. Esa lucha constante entre el bien y el mal y como siempre el personaje que representa al Señor Jesús <3
Por mucho tiempo estuve alejada de sus libros, but honey, I’m back!

[Cindy Heaton · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt this book was lacking in plot. It just seemed to be a rehash of thoughts and ideas presented in the 1st two books. It also seemed a bit disjointed and the characters didn't seem to come alive as they did in the previous books. The end seemed a little rushed, but that was ok since by then I just wanted it to end anyway.

[Jeison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Calificación mental de 4,0 exacto. Si duda el mejor libro de la trilogía. Los matices que otorga a la personalidades son contrastantes con lo que se hacía en los otros libros, el desenlace de la trama cuando menos me supo mantener enganchando sin embargo se sintió ligeramente forzado en los términos más descriptivos pero se vale el esfuerzo por lograr la inmersión en los hechos como el autor lo concibe. Siendo objetivo el segundo libro e incluso el primero pueden reducirse y así enfatizar para finalizar la trilogía. Como punto final el epílogo ya deja entrever que sucederá algo más. Por lo demás recomendado para quienes se quieran aventuran con una saga poco conocida pero interesante y con fantasía en justa medida.

[Time to start reading again · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much excite! Very twist! So story!

Then why do I only give this book three stars? Well, the biggest reason is that the ending . . . was corny. Cheesy. Everyone turns amazingly-lovingly-awesomely good and pure. Everyone who mattered, that is. I mean, that's nice, but I want books to BREAK my heart in two. I should be like after a book.
As well, Dekker went on and on and on and on about how beautiful and dashing and alluring and gorgeous and handsome and enthralling and godlike Roland was that I threw the book disdainfully across the room and declared, "You know what? I bet Roland is an ugly-ass piece of clay because no one can even imagine deserving all those adjectives!"
But the main issue is that it didn't break my heart. Everyone is so good and happy after how mercilessly Dekker destroyed everyone left from the first two books at the beginning. I mean, can he leave someone dead?
Apparently not. Oh well, with his extreme writing skills, he has every right to do what he wants.

[Amber Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow...that Epilogue. Wow.

[Whitney Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐

I hate all the repeating of what's happened in the previous books. It's a trilogy--people reading it as stand alone are weirdies that shouldn't be enabled. 😂
I wish I could have read it in print. Listening to it didn't do it justice I think. This was much faster moving than the second and more enjoyable, but I'm still confused about a few things (once again, could be that people love to talk over my audio books.) I liked the ending and it did keep me curious to know more as it went on. Still thinking about the analogies. Can't say I would not wouldn't recommend the series. Really enjoyed the first but got complicated in others. I did like that it was for adults without being R rated or worse. It's refreshing to read this genre and not have to read about teenagers.

[Donald Hahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not too bad for fiction

[Brittani (Book_Byrd) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved reading this series! There were twists to the story that I wasn't expecting in this book. I did feel that the chapters leading up to the ending were rushed. I felt like it was summed up between characters a little too quickly, like it would have taken more effort for the solution.
The epilogue was great!

[Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

You have to have a fundamental understanding of Christian doctrine to fully grasp and understand the analogies the authors are bringing to the forefront in this book as well as the whole series. This is what the whole series is about, presenting, not so much an alternate, but retelling with different characters, the doctrine of salvation.

Overall, I found many of the points thought provoking, but without finding a more descriptive word, a bit cheesy. The story was told with all the politics, prejudice, and bias through the lens of today. Some may find this appealing, but for me, just a bit too cheesy, especially when it is taught that the doctrine of salvation was and is the same today as it was at the time of Christ.

As a whole, the story line was engaging, at times a bit over done, but overall, an enjoyable and engaging read with well developed characters.

[Jenn Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last book makes the series totally worth the read

[Alejandro Castellanos · Rating 1 out of 5]

El último libro de la saga "Los libros de los mortales", y sin embargo, el más decepcionante. Inicia con 200 páginas donde básicamente no pasa nada, la trama en esta parte de libro se desarrolla de forma muy lenta, al parecer los dos libros que lo preceden no fueron suficientes. Lo único rescatable de los primeros capítulos fue la introducción del argumento base sobre el cual se desarrolla la historia. Luego de las primeras 200 páginas, siguen alrededor de 100 en las cuales la historia se torna más interesante y llamativa, con situaciones muy sorpresivas que permiten generar una gran expectativa al lector. Infortunadamente, los últimos 8 capítulos acaban por arruinar la historia de este libro, he inclusive la de la saga entera. El final es tan simplón y vacío, que uno se pregunta ¿por qué no hicieron esto hace 1 libro y medio? Así mismo, el desenlace de la historia se hace largo y tedioso debido al alto contenido religioso y filosófico que contiene el libro, haciendo referencia a ideas como el gran salvador, la pérdida de la fé y la vida después de la muerte. Este mensaje llega a ser tan repetitivo y abrumador que uno tiende a saltarse partes de párrafos o inclusive párrafos completos con el fin de evitar leer una y otra vez lo mismo.
En definitiva este libro arruinó una saga que logró atrapar y hacer especular al lector en sus primeros dos libros, gracias al buen desarrollo de las historias y a sus inquietantes desenlaces. Sin embargo, en esta oportunidad se dejó de lado la construcción de una buena trama y buen final, y en cambio se optó por abusar de mensajes e ideas religiosas, que al final convirtieron la lectura de este libro en una tarea tediosa y poco disfrutable.
La frase del libro:
- Me estaba preparando para venir por ti mientras dormías en estasis- continuó Rom-. Mi rostro sería lo primero que verías al despertar. Y Creador, ¡cómo oraba porque me volvieras a amar!
Ella alejó la mirada.

[John Hollinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading the series but just don’t get what the author’s are trying to say. If it’s a New Testament allegory, there are just so many questions I have like… Who are the Dark Bloods? Who are the Immortals? If the Sovereigns represent Christians why don’t they “get it” until the end of the book? “Conversion” often seemed rather forced and still not really understanding what it meant. Who did Feyn & Saric represent? If Jonathan represents Christ, there is another whole spectrum of questions. Why was it Triphon who came back to life and there was no real evidence of Jonathan being alive? I would love a deeper explanation to the series from someone who “got it”.

Or maybe it’s not to be that closely interpreted and it just makes you think about life and the importance of emotions, what it really means to be alive in Christ, the struggles we will have in not fully knowing God’s plans until the end of time, and the importance of surrender & love. But even some of those themes get a little fuzzy at times.

Or maybe it’s just to be entertaining and it’s for that reason that I give it 4 stars.

[MichelleinBallard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Purely as a work of fiction this was an interesting book. However, as the work of two self-identified Christian writers it was a disappointment. This despite the fact that they have provided a powerful allegory of the idea that what we experience as reality in the fleshly plane is a poor imitation of the spiritual realm that we see now only as through a glass darkly. I say this because the book ends in massive carnage and Jonathan's blood is not potent enough to transform the Dark Bloods. Feyn, though transformed, is still a ruler over a hierarchy requiring a man of war, Roland, as her "security" chief. Having read the first two books in the trilogy I had hoped for a more satisfying resolution than the blood-soaked birth of a new Sovereign presiding over the old system--new wine in old wineskins, if you will. But there isn't so much new in Feyn's wine, which may be fitting for, as Jesus said, "... no one puts new wine into old wineskins." This book suggests that what Walter Wink called the "myth of redemptive violence" is sadly very much alive in Christian fiction.

[J.S. Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say that Sovereign is my favorite installment of the Books of Mortals trilogy, which I have come to think tongue-in-cheekingly of as "The Books of Blood Transfusions."

I guess they technically aren't blood transfusions. But those who have read this series will know what I mean.

One theme that permeates this story is surrendering to God. When we don't surrender, we suffer; and it is only in letting go and living in faith that we find peace. I've actually been pondering over that idea for a few days, even before I got to that part of the book. Is God trying to tell me something?

The Books of Mortals trilogy has much in common with the Circle series and even alludes to it at times, so I'm sure that many Circle fans will enjoy this series if they haven't already.

Dive deep!

[Justin Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dekker, man! This guy just keeps impressing me. VERY good trilogy; fantastic end to a crazy stream of events and twists and "What?!" moments. I closed this book with a smile on my face, not simply because of the last few sentences, but because Ted and Tosca Lee accomplished writing a beautiful, gripping, authentic portrayal of life in its grimiest not giving way to hopelessness or defeat, even when faced with certain death. Triumph, deep wisdom, and unity thrive throughout these pages despite the overwhelming moments of fear and darkness surrounding the characters.

I think this was my 25th Dekker book (or so) and I see absolutely no reason to slow down on his novels. Sublime writing, both in descriptions, dialogue, and depth. I certainly recommend this high-quality work.

[Catfantastic · Rating 1 out of 5]

A fitting end for the trilogy, I suppose. Begins by banishing any tension built up in the last installment. Meanders pointlessly and angstily through bad science, 1930s sword-and-sorcery-without-the-sorcery fiction, and the grossest religious conversion method ever, before stumbling to a finish in an apocalyptic (and yet somehow really boring) battle between the forces of redeemable white people and people with dreadlocks who were never really alive anyway. The real message is that love is the most important thing. Wait, no: murdering everyone while TELLING them love is the most important thing is the most important thing.

[Yami Xie · Rating 5 out of 5]

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Me ha explotado la cabeza!!!!!!!

O.O!!!!

Ok ya, dios, aunque al principios se me hizo predecible de alguna manera (sobretodo porque no dejaba de relacionarla con la serie del círculo), luego de la mitad todo se me fue todo a sorpresas. (Aunque si, Saric fue para mí un paralelismo a Thomas Hunter)

La verdad el final queda abierto y hasta me hace pensar en que podría ocurrir realmente con Ammon y los custodios que llegarán a surgir.

[Jose Luis Robles Magdaleno · Rating 3 out of 5]

Y Ted Dekker regresa con sus finales que te dejan con el ojo cuadrado.
El libro en lo general se me hizo un poco tedioso, para mi fueron muchas paginas para lo poco que ocurrió, .pero eso poco que paso fue suficiente para general una gran trama y un gran final

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a crazy book. It is also the shortest of the three [well nigh one hundred pages shorter than the other two books]. The ending, while not quite a letdown, felt entirely predictable once I read it [hahahah]. It felt...'the same'? Like other books had ended this way, before. I mean, some elements of the ending felt 'similar' to other books, even though I could not predict exactly how it was going to end. For instance, halfway through the book, it was pretty obvious that Jordin was not only falling in love with Roland; then, she admitted to herself that she loved him. So she was probably going to save him. I did not know how, though. I was certain that Feyn and Rom were going to be saved and end up together; I did not know how that would happen, either. I did know it was going to be a happy ending, and some of the 'main characters' would be together at the end. But every author does that, though, so that's no big surprise [kinda like the ending to Star Wars, where Han, Luke, and Chewie march down that Nazi-like assemblage to get their medals at the end]. I have to admit, I should've seen the epilogue coming a mile away; that was horribly predictable, and I still didn't see it coming. Anyway. Enough about how the book felt 'predictable' while remaining 'unpredictable' at the same time.

It did move at a fast pace, though, as it took me about five hours to read practically all but the last chapter in one sitting. It held my interest, as I found myself wondering 'what was going to happen next?' and 'how are they going to get themselves out of this mess?' It is considered 'Christian' fiction [although there is a tremendous amount of death and violence in it; over eighty thousand people are killed by the end of the book] and is fairly heavy with allegorical 'stuff' in it as well as being liberally laced with quotes from the Bible [which was fine with me]. I found myself enjoying the book [and the series] far more than I thought I would.

For me, there was something 'refreshing' about the book that I experienced while reading it. Perhaps it was because the overarching message was one of redemption and not revenge. It was a good story, overall, that did have moments of misses as well as hits.

Some other thoughts, before wrapping this review up:
Roland and the Immortals - in addition to the constant discussions about the different types of blood, the 'scene' where Kaya and Jordin enter Roland's 'house' reminded me of Immanuel's Veins; I fully expected Vlad as well as the heroes from the other book to show up at this point in Sovereign. hahahah It was an interesting sequence to read in that a scene so full of sensuality could be described so 'cleanly' and not make one feel dirty after reading it. I have read other author's attempts at writing 'sensuous scenes' and I have ended up feeling 'dirty' inside after the reading. Not so, with this book [or Immanuel's Veins].

It was interesting how each type of blood led to different experiences for those who partook. It also lead to different giftings and different strengths. I realize that this has been the 'common' denominator throughout the entire series, but this book seemed to go 'deeper' into describing the differences between the various 'blood types' than the other two books. It just stood out to me more, I guess, in this book.

I was shocked at some 'stuff' that happened in the book. I had no idea, no premonition, that all of the Sovereigns, save Jordin, were going to be killed. I did not see that coming. I expected Roland to follow through on his word and provide safe haven for them until Feyn was dealt with. When I read that all had been killed, I was 'whaaaaaa-huh-huh-huh? what just happened?' and had to reread it again. Totally did not see that coming.

I was surprised that after Kaya became Immortal, she was never mentioned again once the Immortals left their camp in the deep desert [a la Dune sans the worms hahahah]. It seemed like she was a "Redshirt" in that she was a 'throwaway' character. She had such strong faith in Jonathan prior to turning, and she threw it all away to remain an Immortal as opposed to 'regressing' back to being Sovereign. Considering the 'important' part she played in aiding and assisting Jordin, it seemed her being discarded was a shame. That, and her having become the 'plaything' for Roland overnight while Jordin slept alone in hopes of recovering her memories after turning back into a Sovereign, it seemed like she should have had more of a part to play at the end. But, then again, if she had been mentioned in the final battle, she probably would have been redshirted and that would definitely have been that. This way, she might still be alive.

I thought it was crazy that such a small army of Immortals could decimate 80,000 Dark Bloods like they did at the end of the book. The battle scene was almost too big; it was hard to really care about what was happening because while thousands of Dark Bloods were dying, but we did not know any of their names, which made it beyond impersonal and uncaring. The reader was supposed to be rooting for the Immortals and not the Dark Bloods, so one obviously wanted the Dark Bloods to die. It seemed a shame that some of them could not be saved at the end, that all of them had to die [the Dark Blood combined with the virus ensured the death of these soldiers]. I guess when they were 'never truly alive' the fact that they died a 'permanent death' does not matter so much?

I was equally shocked that Saric was still alive, and that he had become a Sovereign [of sorts] himself, that he had become a follower of Jonathan. That was crazy, and I never saw it coming. No lie, there. I was equally shocked when he gave his life so that Rom [and others] might live. I thought he and Feyn might be reconciled and reunited at the end; that was not to be. Shocked even further. Did not see him dying at all ["again"?], once he was 'reintroduced' into the story.

I was also shocked that Rom became a Dark Blood and beholden to Feyn. I would have thought the Sovereign blood would have been stronger and better able to resist Feyn's blood. Shows you what I know.

What happened to Roland's wife? He has a new 'queen' in this book? Yet he still takes on other lovers? [To be 'expected', I guess.] And then he marries Jordin at the end of the book? I guess what happened to Roland's wife is kinda irrelevant to the overall plot of the story, but it's kinda important if he murdered her and took on a new woman, since he's now marrying Jordin. And what happened to Talia? Was she killed? Were Roland and Talia even married? This was probably the 'weirdest' part of the story for me, that Talia was introduced, briefly, as the Queen of the Immortals and then disappears, as well. Kinda like Kaya. So sad.

I know that an 'airborne disease' has been used multiple times as a trope for other stories and movies, but I still thought its use in this story was an interesting plot device. I thought it worked. It was designed to focus exclusively on Immortals and Dark Bloods with the intent to save Corpses and Sovereigns; this very exclusiveness made it fascinating, in my opinion.

I thought the struggles and questions and doubts described in the book were identifiable and valid. Sometimes we get answers; sometimes we do not. I felt like the authors dealt with the various personal issues in a valid way and did not necessarily sugarcoat anything, especially the disappointments and frustrations when answers are either not found or given despite the amount of begging and pleading and asking.

Overall, I did really enjoy reading the book. There were elements of it that seemed more-than-familiar, so perhaps there are certain 'tropes' that Dekker likes to use when telling his stories. At the same time, I do enjoy the sense of the 'bigness' and 'awesomeness' and 'majesty' of God that hides underneath his books, that maybe we as Christians do not ask enough 'big things' of God that God wants to do in this world. There was an overriding sense of something bigger and deeper underneath while reading the book; that once the veil was pulled back, another secret would be revealed. Sadly, I felt I was on the cusp but it was never pulled back for me. Maybe next time.

It was a good book.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sovereign is the third book in the Mortals trilogy and it neatly wraps up the series. There is lots of action but the multiple seroconversions, from Corpse to Mortal (especially Rom, Feyn, Roland, and Jordin) then their conversion from Immortal/Dark Blood back to Sovereign, pulled me out of the story and after a while I did not find myself rooting for the characters in the book. I just wanted to be done.

Overall, the storyline was exciting and intriguing, especially the first two books. But the symbolic concept was the same...those believers strong in faith but weak in spirit are slaughtered down to every innocent man, woman, and child wherein the evil villains, who initially rejected Jonathan's gift and slaughtered tens of thousands, are spoon-fed the "truth," see the errors of their ways, submit, and get a second chance at life and salvation. Of the three groups, Immortals, Sovereigns, and Dark Bloods, only the Sovereign have struggled then hunted to extinction as they wait for their savior, Jonathan, to rescue them.

The Books of Mortals are good books with a fantastic premise and a decent, if underwhelming ending.

[Gina Stark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first series that I have read by Ted. I liked the series overall and really liked the plot and the development of the characters. There were many plots and twists in this book and the story developed in a way that you could not anticipated how the story would end nor who would save the day in the end. If you thought who the hero would be you may be surprised. I think those who are not familiar with the christian doctrine may not follow the significance of the ending and not sure if developing it out a bit more may make the ending a bit stronger. All that being said I enjoyed this series and have become a big Ted Dekker fan and looking forward to reaching his other series.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was my least favorite of the trilogy. About half way through I was bored and wondering what was the point of many of the details included in previous books. The heart of Avra, Thiphon dying 3 times, Jonathan going crazy at the end of book 2, what was all that about? I understand this is Christian fiction but I guess on that note, the most annoying thing was how bland the character of Jonathan became as the story progressed. An interesting child in book one; absolutely forgettable by book 3. The whole idea of “this is the blood that gives you life”, no, “that blood was not good enough, now this next one will give you real life”, wrong again! “This next one will absolutely give you real life more real than the previous real life” … that was annoying.