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201st out of 947 books
—
1,419 voters
Sinner (The Paradise Series #3)
by
Ted Dekker (Goodreads Author)
Some say roll with the punches. Drift with the tide. Nothing can stop the inevitability of change. There was a time when 300 Spartans disagreed with such mindless thinking and stood in the gap.
Now it's time for 3,000 to stand in the gap.
"Sinner" is the story of Marsuvees Black, a force of raw evil who speaks with wicked persuasion that is far more destructive than swords o...more
Now it's time for 3,000 to stand in the gap.
"Sinner" is the story of Marsuvees Black, a force of raw evil who speaks with wicked persuasion that is far more destructive than swords o...more
Hardcover, 374 pages
Published
September 2nd 2008
by Thomas Nelson
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I will leave the plot for others to rehash. Instead, I would rather comment on the journey Dekker seems to be making. As I have noted in other reviews, The Circle Trilogy was the height of Dekker: fresh, innovative, multi-layered, and spiritually profound. The Books of History novels have headed downhill from there. Showdown was still very good, Saint okay, and Skin barely passable. Sinner offers me hope but still doesn't rise back to the level of Black, Red, White.
Some will not like Sinner beca...more
Some will not like Sinner beca...more
the first book i’ve ever read from the pen of Ted Dekker… i know that seems amazing, but i’d just never gotten around to digging into any of his books and then, the notion of this 10-book series really seemed a bit too much of a commitment for me to settle down with, especially since i wasn’t certain that it would work out…
Now, having read Sinner, i want to dive into the rest of the series… unfortunately i only have one of the other books in my possession (Showdown) and there’s always the pressu...more
Now, having read Sinner, i want to dive into the rest of the series… unfortunately i only have one of the other books in my possession (Showdown) and there’s always the pressu...more
Oct 21, 2011
Syahira Sharif
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fictional-religion,
religion,
paranormal,
mystery,
mild-romance,
futuristic,
fictional-politics,
fantasy,
demon,
adult
I'm kind of surprised that the book is intended to be read in circle and there was no 1st in any turn... so this book is the first for me despite it being said as the third book of the series. Although I think the initial religion approach in near future society is interesting, but half of it was a bit ludicrous... especially with the bit about Johnny and his near utopia influence on the people. Darcy is likable in the beginning but she began to be corrupted with the power she held in persuading...more
This is a weird mix of dark fantasy /futuristic religious sf. The background is that there are these books and if children write in them what they write comes true in a way. Many years ago a boy named Billy used this book to create an embodiment of evil, and 2 other children also became involved. Now it is many years later, and a wave of hate crimes sparks another confrontation between good and evil. The book reminds me of a combination of Stephen King and Frank Peretti. My issues with this book...more
Ted Dekker has some interesting ideas about tolerance. He sheds light on a particularly disturbing aspect of American culture and politics; namely that we should be tolerant of all peoples, regardless of their color, nationality, gender, age, or personal beliefs except Christians because Christianity is an exclusive belief system intolerant of any other system which rejects or defies it. Why is this so disturbing. Let me explain: In America, we say that we have to be tolerant of Muslims because...more
The good: supernatural powers, literary symbolism, philosophical observations and comments, and general adventureness.
The not so good: heel-face-turn of major character who I think was in a previous book in the series, oddly enough. And seriously I'm done with the idea that tolerance for other religions/ideas is going to bring down America and bring the end of the world all at once.
I will give this book credit that it does admit that only in this special situation with the supernatural powers...more
The not so good: heel-face-turn of major character who I think was in a previous book in the series, oddly enough. And seriously I'm done with the idea that tolerance for other religions/ideas is going to bring down America and bring the end of the world all at once.
I will give this book credit that it does admit that only in this special situation with the supernatural powers...more
May 31, 2009
Heather Palmer
added it
It has been predicted that Christians will one day be hated even in the land of the free. Now that day has arrived with the help of Marsuvees Black.
When a string of racially motivated lynchings threatens to tear the country apart, two stunningly gifted orators, Darcy Lange and Billy Rediger, sweep into Washington and demand that the constitution be modified to allow for a law that will end the widespread violence. Racial and religious speech that undermines others' beliefs must be classified as...more
When a string of racially motivated lynchings threatens to tear the country apart, two stunningly gifted orators, Darcy Lange and Billy Rediger, sweep into Washington and demand that the constitution be modified to allow for a law that will end the widespread violence. Racial and religious speech that undermines others' beliefs must be classified as...more
I read the entire book in two shots! I couldn't put it down. Well written and engaging that I loved the characters from the start. The plot grabbed me in from the get go and let go until the last page! That being said, this book makes me think a lot about myself as an American and even as a person. What would I do in such chaotic times (which are plausibly right around the corner)? That world would shatter everything my parents have ever known and worked towards. How can that world be acceptable...more
May 03, 2011
Jessica
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Circle/Paradise/Lost Book readers Dekker fans, thriller reader
Recommended to Jessica by:
my father
Of all the Circle Trilogy, Lost Books, and Paradise Novels, Sinner was not my favorite, but it was close. Its not easy for me to pick out the bad stuff of Dekker's novels in general, I find them all enjoyable and intruiging. This one in particular goes into a little more depth with the freedom of speech/religous views, which I found very interesting. The vocabulary was extensive and intelligent, the characters as indepth as ever, and the shocks downright jawdropping. Whther you start here and wo...more
I just just just finished reading this book. (Thank you, real-life, for getting in the way of my reading time, lol) This was AMAZING, a great ending...or beginning, really, for the Paradise books. A very good look at how darkness can eat away at a person and how it can be removed by turning toward the Light! It presents a very scary reality, one that could be, where tolerance is the word of the day, thereby making ones beliefs illegal and anyone saying Jesus is the only way accused of a hate cri...more
I enjoyed this one. When I bought it at the store, I didn't even know it was a part of the Circle books, so that was a nice surprise. Now I need to get the other two in this set (Saint and Showdown) to get the full story of the three main characters. I must say though that the ending left me wondering. I'm not sure exactly where in the Circle timeline these fit. I mean, I have an idea of the general timeline, but specifically, did this take place before or after Green? I have a feeling that Sinn...more
Darcy, Billy, and Johnny have to save the people of the United States from evil that was written into flesh by Billy when he was young. They, together, have special powers that were given to them for this purpose. The politicians changed the 1st amendment of the constitution so that nobody can speak of any religious faith, because by doing so, you are also saying that those of other faiths are wrong. This is a "hate crime" which is now illegal. However, Johnny, and other Christians of Paradise,...more
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For Christian fiction, it seemed dark. This was the first Ted Dekker book I read, and this one is #3 in the Paradise series. In the introduction, the author states that if you are a first time reader to the Paradise novels, he would recommend reading Sinner, Saint, then Showdown - the series in reverse of how they are numbered. Following the storyline was not difficult although more backstory might have made some of the key moments more profound. It took a long time to get to the climax and I di...more
05/18/13: This book brings up the question of what you would do if professing your faith was illegal. I honestly had never thought about it and, even when reading this book for the first time, I didn't really stop to ponder the question. This time, however, the question was inescapable. What, in fact, would you do if professing your faith was considered a hate crime? Would you continue to stand firm in the foundation in which you base your life or would you claim silence? It's such a heavy quest...more
For those of you who didn't know, 'Sinner' is the third book in the 'Paradise' trilogy written by Ted Dekker. The trilogy involves the 'Books of History' which the Circle trilogy was all about ('Green' is coming out this year... will that mean it will be the Circle quadrilogy?). I love the way Dekker's books all seem to be linked to each other... even 'House' is linked to Paradise. But I digress.
Sinner is written as two books (Book 1 and Book 2 interestingly enough) and tells the story of three...more
Sinner is written as two books (Book 1 and Book 2 interestingly enough) and tells the story of three...more
I have said it a number of times, Ted DeKker is one of my favorite novelists of all time. His writing style is unique, his storylines are gripping and his agenda is usually subtle. I can honestly say I have never read a book from Mr. DeKker that I did not enjoy… until now. His latest novel and third book in his Paradise series called Sinner is the one book I reluctantly admit is not a very good book. In all honesty I hate having to write a negative review for one of my all time favorite authors...more
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Sinner by Ted Dekker is a peek into a future where “tolerance” has become the new religion. Our children are fed a constant diet of the necessity for “tolerance” in school every day. While we become tolerant of cultures and religious beliefs outside our own, we find that the beliefs that are still in the majority are becoming less tolerated. I’ve often felt that as a society, we need to stop focusing on and celebrating the differences between all of us. Instead I’ve thought that if we could use...more
A Constitutional amendment makes any form of religious intolerance a hate crime – a problem for Christians, since Christ made very exclusive claims. Amidst this upheaval, three unique individuals become connected in surprising ways. Although the climactic showdown with Marsuvees Black (a long-time Dekker villain) came across as a bit too anticlimactic for so powerful a foe, Sinner’s premise is very relevant in this postmodern world, and is worth the read just to think about these things.
A supernatural book with a spiritual spin. As kids, three people (Johnny, Darcy and Billy - what's with all the "y" names?) were being raised as orphans in a remote monastery in Colorado, and being used as social experimental subjects. One of them, Billy, discovers "The Book of History" and finds that, using the book, he can write things into being. Of course, he creates an extremely bad guy known as Marsuvees Black (think Adam & Eve introducing evil into the world). In addition, he and the...more
I picked this up, not realizing it was part of a series. But on reading the author's foreword, it was clear that it didn't matter so much in what order they were read. I found the story to be unique, the characters well developed and the mystery deep. I am looking forward to Showdown (although it seemed to end pretty well in this one), and then going back to the beginning with Saint. Can't wait to find out how Marsuvees Black was created.
Wasted potential. This trilogy had some promise. Showdown was a good start, but it went downhill from there. This installment is sloppy and smacks of being just thrown together to fulfill a contract. It's like Dekker watched a couple of doomsday movies, listened to a few Rob Bell ramblings, and then sat down and just wrote whatever came out. Too bad, like I said - wasted potential.
I wasn't as impressed with this book as I was with some of Dekker's others. I did enjoy it and it was very gripping, but it was also disturbingly strange in some parts, and I think part of it might have been because I started with the last book in the series.Although Dekker says you can read them in any order I think it might be a lot easier to follow if you've read the first and second one BEFORE the third.
I have to be honest...I only half liked this book. Toward the end, it really seemed the story was just aiming for the same old "End Times" story line that got played out a long time ago. Also, it seemed liked he was taking a subtle swipe at Stephanie Meyer's "Twilight" series with one of the character's obsession with vampire stories. I thought that was unnecessary.
Ted Dekker’s Sinner is the third and final book in the Paradise novel series. This story picks up 13 years after Showdown with Darcy and Billy (two of the children who lived in the monastery during the first book). Billy is now a lawyer and Darcy works at an assembly plant. The two are brought back together by the government as someone has discovered their special abilities (Darcy can persuade people to do things with her words and Billy can read a person’s mind) and wants them dead. They are br...more
This book brings new meaning to the phrase "what's this world coming to?" Sinner is a fictional account of one possibility where in the name of tolerance, standing up for one's beliefs can be deadly.
Sinner is one of three books in The Paradise series. According to the author, the books are best read in this order: Sinner, Saint, then Showdown.
Sinner is one of three books in The Paradise series. According to the author, the books are best read in this order: Sinner, Saint, then Showdown.
This was the first book I ever read from Ted Dekker and after reading it, I became a fan. I love it! You will fall in love with the characters and want to read the rest of the series. (I've read the book series twice.) After reading the series, be sure to check out Green by Ted Dekker if you are wondering what happens to Billy, Darcy, and Johnny.
I like the writer's style, he writes well. His portrayal of tolerance as being the catalyst for evil, and Christianity as the target of that evil angered me. As a Christian, I find it offensive not to be tolerant of others. It is not my responsibility to pass judgement on anyone for who they are or what they believe. I think Christ's teachings are slowly vanishing, which is the real cause for the rejection of "Christianity", not tolerance.
This book started out a lot like Saint in that there wasn't a whole lot of religion mixed in, but the last half of the book was jam packed with it. That really turned me off to the end of the book as it was just too preach for me.
The overall story was fun though and I enjoyed this series in general. Not my favorite of all time but still a fun read.
The overall story was fun though and I enjoyed this series in general. Not my favorite of all time but still a fun read.
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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.
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“How can you hope to recognize good and evil for what they truly are if you have no belief in a moral authority greater than yourself?”
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“Nothing was worse than reading too late and falling asleep two or three pages into a novel.”
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