Immanuel's Veins by Ted Dekker is a stand out book by a controversial Christian author. Toma Nicolescu is a devoted warrior for Catherine, Empress of Russia, so when he is sent to Moldavia with Alek, his comrade-in-arms, to protect the twin daughters, Lucine and Natasha, of an important estate, he intends to remain businesslike, despite their renowned beauty. Alek and Natasha have an immediate connection as lovers of passion and freedom. Toma is mysteriously drawn to Lucine, but his duty to Russia makes him deny his feelings until she is threatened by Vlad van Velarik, a mysterious Russian who has brought a entourage of strangely beautiful men and women who alternately entice and taunt the two couples. Everything changes when Vlad determines to court Lucine, and Toma must decide what she means to him and just far he is willing to go for love. Dekker is well-known for his dark and occasionally disturbing fiction that stretches readers' imagination and faith, but IV has taken his writing to a completely new level. The tone is completely authentic, and the images are haunting, compelling, and completely unforgettable. This book will shake up readers' ideas of what sacrificial love looks like. It is beautiful and terrible and life-changing. Dekker has truly set himself a new standard of writing with this book, and I can't wait to see what he does next.