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Crossroads
Lethal persecution. Haunting decisions. Death just a whisper away.
Jack grew up concealing his faith, but now the persecution of Christians has turned lethal. After inadvertently putting his family in danger, Jack becomes aware of a covert agency dedicated to protecting Christians. The agency takes his mother and sister to safety and offers him a position as an emergency medic within their ranks.
Caring for the injured allows Jack to help their cause without violating his pacifistic beliefs, but he stands at odds with tough resistance fighter Britain. Grueling firefights, severe losses, and desperate choices test their beliefs as each of them seeks to save lives no matter the cost. But what is that cost?
Jack grew up concealing his faith, but now the persecution of Christians has turned lethal. After inadvertently putting his family in danger, Jack becomes aware of a covert agency dedicated to protecting Christians. The agency takes his mother and sister to safety and offers him a position as an emergency medic within their ranks.
Caring for the injured allows Jack to help their cause without violating his pacifistic beliefs, but he stands at odds with tough resistance fighter Britain. Grueling firefights, severe losses, and desperate choices test their beliefs as each of them seeks to save lives no matter the cost. But what is that cost?
Kindle Edition
Published June 23, 2017
90 people want to read
About the author
Paul Willis
4 books80 followersPaul Willis is an average guy seeking to glorify God. He is a homeschool graduate and happy about it. He will always be learning the crafts of writing and independent publishing. He is picky about what he writes—it must be comedic or meaningful, and above all, it must be clean.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 3, 2017
3.75 stars.
The subtitle for this book is "The book in which all the lovely characters die." People, don't get attached to any of the characters - you'll regret it later, trust me. :P
Real review to come. :D
The subtitle for this book is "The book in which all the lovely characters die." People, don't get attached to any of the characters - you'll regret it later, trust me. :P
Real review to come. :D
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June 3, 2017This is my debut novel and I'm soooo excited to share it with the world soon! And the cover, oh my, the designer does awesome work!!!
I'm recommending this book for ages 16+ because of thematic material and brief violence.
I'm recommending this book for ages 16+ because of thematic material and brief violence.
August 15, 2019
2.5 stars.
Overall, this was not my cup of tea, and while I will try to be fair in this review, it may come off harsh. I do not intend to condemn or belittle the author or anyone who liked this book. A review is merely the reader’s perspective, this is mine. I’ll note, also, that as a dystopian author, I respect tackling tough, dark themes, so kudos.
STORY
This story is fast paced and doesn’t drag. It follows a pacifist as he changes his beliefs about war while facing unimaginable trials. However, this story wasn’t for me.
I was largely confused of worldbuilding. I didn’t know the year or setting most of the time, nor was it ever clear who the new government was. Russians were bad guys? And something happened with Korea? But we never get a lot of information. As a dystopian author, I know how difficult worldbuilding can be, but this novel still lacked in that department. Readers like to know things.
Honestly, the story wasn’t bad, per se, as in the idea of the government, Christians being killed, and a CROS team evacing people. That’s a fun idea for a dystopian!
THEMES
First and foremost, pacifism is not entirely Biblically sound, so I won’t wax poetic about that, but I will say this… This novel was a slap to the face to any pacifist or any Christian. Why? Because neither side was shown respect. Do I agree with pacifism? Nope. But if a pacifist has spent time and believes God says so, that’s their conviction, and I will respect their belief because God convicted them that war isn’t the answer, even if I find the Bible disagrees. On the same token, I will respect a soldier who has killed and done unthinkable things because God convicted him to. Either person can value life.
This book? It’s a slap to the face to both sides. The pacifist, Jack, is pretty mindless in his belief and his motivation lacks. I’m not saying this to be mean. I’m saying this that if a pacifist picked it up, they’d probably have a stronger idea of their belief than Jack did, and might feel ripped off for his fast change of mind.
If a soldier picked this book up, I’m fairly certain they would be outraged at the misrepresentation of an entire breed of humans. Warriors. The men and women who kill because they value life. Throughout the book, we see so much of how soldiers don’t value life or have no respect, even as Christians. Their belief, too, is shaky.
I also had an issue with, and this might be totally my personal perspective, the romanization of martyrdom. Yes, God says martyrs will be blessed. But it is nothing to worship or romanticize. The best novel I have read to date about martyrdom is Safely Home by Randy Alcorn… And Crossroads was hard to digest because I couldn’t get past how the reality of this sort of death was seemingly glossed over. Do I think the love and glory of God trumps death, all sorts of death? Yes. But I still had a bad feeling as I watched martyrdom appears to be some ultimate great cause for the Christian’s demise… and that’s not how it is. It isn’t some easy way out, some beautiful way to die, some easy thing to tell fellow Christians to justify their death.
The approach to war/dystopia from a pacifist’s POV is interesting. I liked that aspect of the novel. I liked the themes of being courageous and facing death and loving sinners. Once again, none of my opinion is something to be taken as law, it is my opinion. God says a lukewarm Christian is worse than hot or cold, and throughout the novel, I felt like most of the messages given were lukewarm. And most of it was super preachy.
CHARACTERS
The characters, overall, were hard to relate to, but I’m character oriented, so a few good characters made the book nice to read. I wanted to feel for the characters, I truly did. Some were fast ‘n easy to love (Othniel, Chris, etc) but the main characters were hard to care for, and it’s probably due to the vast amount of telling in this novel. Too often, I was “told” a character felt or thought something, without being “shown”. Everyone struggles with telling/showing if they’re a writer, so I tried ignoring it, but it grew hard to love the cast when I didn’t “know” them a whole lot.Here’s my thoughts...
~ Jack is a hard MC to relate to, personally, and his motivation is not solid. On one page, he doesn’t want his sister to go to war, but he says it is because his religion doesn’t allow women to fight. OK, I’m a bit confused as to why he wasn’t more of “I don’t want my sister hurt and I will make sure she’s safe” instead of it being a religion issue… BUT then we have a scene where, spoilers, he doesn’t protect another female. Does he deal with this sin and ask forgiveness? Yes. But it was just strange to see his motivations be so shaky.
~ Jack’s pacifism isn’t a rarity. Lots of Christians are pacifists. The trouble I had was this: Jack has a pastor and half way through the novel, he goes to talk to him about pacifism. OK, great! But… why didn’t we hear about this pastor beforehand? Why did the pastor’s wise words never enter Jack’s heads before? If Jack had strong influence before, I just feel it might’ve been wise to show his internal struggle before the middle climax, so I didn’t get the huge feeling that Jack was being totally insensible…
~ I truly enjoyed Chris. I’m a sucker for his type of character: too old for everyone’s crap, capable, and doesn’t take much seriously (or so it seems). I liked the ending with him and the kids because… Older grumpy guy plus kids he must protect equals very happy Angela.
Britain was a great character but I didn’t feel his arc had much to it, personally, and the ending didn’t hold much weight. For me, personally, anyway. Again, NOT trying to be some hater.
~The antagonist, Laurion, confused me. I felt led in circles, like he was wishy washy and didn’t know if he were truly evil or merciful. Don’t get me wrong, I love those kinda bad guys, just didn’t click with his trope.
~ A fleet of women soldiers who are trying to kill you do not deserve the “mercy” card simply because of their gender. These characters, these Christian fighters, were willing to stand down because the enemy was female? I cannot respect that decision...
~ Chris was my favorite and the most Jesus like and he wasn't a Christian. The characters complain “he’s rough, was a criminal, and he swears!” but he was also the only one everyone trusted, had their backs, and was a good man. It was ironic.
~ The female characters were a bit roughly written and lacked a lot of personality, seeming to both have two moods: weak/shy/confused and surprising/kickbutt/strong. It made me dizzy trying to keep up with what mood each gal was in. It was strange.
CONTENT
Mentions of drinking, brief scene of a drunk. Mentions of swearing. Mild descriptions of violence, injuries, blood, battle, beatings, etc. On screen deaths and mentions of death. Mentions of torture. PG13. No sensual content.
OVERALL
While it was not my cup of tea, I respect the novel for the prospect and for tackling a large gritty question (“is killing OK?”) even if I feel the outcome did not justify God’s Word. I am rounding up my 2.5 star rating to 3 stars out of respect that this is a debut novel.
Overall, this was not my cup of tea, and while I will try to be fair in this review, it may come off harsh. I do not intend to condemn or belittle the author or anyone who liked this book. A review is merely the reader’s perspective, this is mine. I’ll note, also, that as a dystopian author, I respect tackling tough, dark themes, so kudos.
STORY
This story is fast paced and doesn’t drag. It follows a pacifist as he changes his beliefs about war while facing unimaginable trials. However, this story wasn’t for me.
I was largely confused of worldbuilding. I didn’t know the year or setting most of the time, nor was it ever clear who the new government was. Russians were bad guys? And something happened with Korea? But we never get a lot of information. As a dystopian author, I know how difficult worldbuilding can be, but this novel still lacked in that department. Readers like to know things.
Honestly, the story wasn’t bad, per se, as in the idea of the government, Christians being killed, and a CROS team evacing people. That’s a fun idea for a dystopian!
THEMES
First and foremost, pacifism is not entirely Biblically sound, so I won’t wax poetic about that, but I will say this… This novel was a slap to the face to any pacifist or any Christian. Why? Because neither side was shown respect. Do I agree with pacifism? Nope. But if a pacifist has spent time and believes God says so, that’s their conviction, and I will respect their belief because God convicted them that war isn’t the answer, even if I find the Bible disagrees. On the same token, I will respect a soldier who has killed and done unthinkable things because God convicted him to. Either person can value life.
This book? It’s a slap to the face to both sides. The pacifist, Jack, is pretty mindless in his belief and his motivation lacks. I’m not saying this to be mean. I’m saying this that if a pacifist picked it up, they’d probably have a stronger idea of their belief than Jack did, and might feel ripped off for his fast change of mind.
If a soldier picked this book up, I’m fairly certain they would be outraged at the misrepresentation of an entire breed of humans. Warriors. The men and women who kill because they value life. Throughout the book, we see so much of how soldiers don’t value life or have no respect, even as Christians. Their belief, too, is shaky.
I also had an issue with, and this might be totally my personal perspective, the romanization of martyrdom. Yes, God says martyrs will be blessed. But it is nothing to worship or romanticize. The best novel I have read to date about martyrdom is Safely Home by Randy Alcorn… And Crossroads was hard to digest because I couldn’t get past how the reality of this sort of death was seemingly glossed over. Do I think the love and glory of God trumps death, all sorts of death? Yes. But I still had a bad feeling as I watched martyrdom appears to be some ultimate great cause for the Christian’s demise… and that’s not how it is. It isn’t some easy way out, some beautiful way to die, some easy thing to tell fellow Christians to justify their death.
The approach to war/dystopia from a pacifist’s POV is interesting. I liked that aspect of the novel. I liked the themes of being courageous and facing death and loving sinners. Once again, none of my opinion is something to be taken as law, it is my opinion. God says a lukewarm Christian is worse than hot or cold, and throughout the novel, I felt like most of the messages given were lukewarm. And most of it was super preachy.
CHARACTERS
The characters, overall, were hard to relate to, but I’m character oriented, so a few good characters made the book nice to read. I wanted to feel for the characters, I truly did. Some were fast ‘n easy to love (Othniel, Chris, etc) but the main characters were hard to care for, and it’s probably due to the vast amount of telling in this novel. Too often, I was “told” a character felt or thought something, without being “shown”. Everyone struggles with telling/showing if they’re a writer, so I tried ignoring it, but it grew hard to love the cast when I didn’t “know” them a whole lot.Here’s my thoughts...
~ Jack is a hard MC to relate to, personally, and his motivation is not solid. On one page, he doesn’t want his sister to go to war, but he says it is because his religion doesn’t allow women to fight. OK, I’m a bit confused as to why he wasn’t more of “I don’t want my sister hurt and I will make sure she’s safe” instead of it being a religion issue… BUT then we have a scene where, spoilers, he doesn’t protect another female. Does he deal with this sin and ask forgiveness? Yes. But it was just strange to see his motivations be so shaky.
~ Jack’s pacifism isn’t a rarity. Lots of Christians are pacifists. The trouble I had was this: Jack has a pastor and half way through the novel, he goes to talk to him about pacifism. OK, great! But… why didn’t we hear about this pastor beforehand? Why did the pastor’s wise words never enter Jack’s heads before? If Jack had strong influence before, I just feel it might’ve been wise to show his internal struggle before the middle climax, so I didn’t get the huge feeling that Jack was being totally insensible…
~ I truly enjoyed Chris. I’m a sucker for his type of character: too old for everyone’s crap, capable, and doesn’t take much seriously (or so it seems). I liked the ending with him and the kids because… Older grumpy guy plus kids he must protect equals very happy Angela.
Britain was a great character but I didn’t feel his arc had much to it, personally, and the ending didn’t hold much weight. For me, personally, anyway. Again, NOT trying to be some hater.
~The antagonist, Laurion, confused me. I felt led in circles, like he was wishy washy and didn’t know if he were truly evil or merciful. Don’t get me wrong, I love those kinda bad guys, just didn’t click with his trope.
~ A fleet of women soldiers who are trying to kill you do not deserve the “mercy” card simply because of their gender. These characters, these Christian fighters, were willing to stand down because the enemy was female? I cannot respect that decision...
~ Chris was my favorite and the most Jesus like and he wasn't a Christian. The characters complain “he’s rough, was a criminal, and he swears!” but he was also the only one everyone trusted, had their backs, and was a good man. It was ironic.
~ The female characters were a bit roughly written and lacked a lot of personality, seeming to both have two moods: weak/shy/confused and surprising/kickbutt/strong. It made me dizzy trying to keep up with what mood each gal was in. It was strange.
CONTENT
Mentions of drinking, brief scene of a drunk. Mentions of swearing. Mild descriptions of violence, injuries, blood, battle, beatings, etc. On screen deaths and mentions of death. Mentions of torture. PG13. No sensual content.
OVERALL
While it was not my cup of tea, I respect the novel for the prospect and for tackling a large gritty question (“is killing OK?”) even if I feel the outcome did not justify God’s Word. I am rounding up my 2.5 star rating to 3 stars out of respect that this is a debut novel.
May 23, 2018
FTC DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of this book. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
This book was like one of those good war movies that make you feel and think through several facets of the same issue. In fact, this book was so action packed and thought provoking I felt exhausted by the end of it, but it was absolutely worth it. The spiritual theme never got “preachy” as the two main characters moved closer to the truth in a very real way. It floored me later when I realized how much their final decisions had been foreshadowed! ()
Jack was my favorite character. He had an attitude of trying again even when he failed, seeking wise counsel, and always trying to do the right thing. I loved nearly all of the side character, but Ashlynn, Amy, and Chris stood out to the most. I found Ashlynn to be the right ratio of spunk to femininity. (I have the perfect comparison to another fictional character in mind, but spoilers, sweetie.) And AMY!! She was nearly-nonsensically hilarious, but not without her big moment of extreme usefulness. I especially enjoyed her subtle Doctor Who reference. :D I very much enjoyed Chris’s humorous, nonchalant character. He was such a weird “guardian angel” getting Jack into trouble and back out of it. Definitely a character I want to see more humor from and redemption of if there are more books.
Even though this story is set in the future, the technology wasn’t confusing but instead the special weaponry and computer stuff just added to the cool factor. :D () And the HUMOR! All the characters were exceedingly funny, especially that one time Jack had a thought. :P I ended the book in tears at the heartbreaking beauty. Sequel needed. Now.
Recommended for readers 16+ because of hard themes, intense action, and brief medical details.
Best quotes: “You drive!” Britain yelled and rolled in between the front seats. The truck careened toward the left lane. Jack seized the steering wheel and yanked it back. “I don’t know how to drive!” “The first step,” Britain said as he pulled a machine gun from under the back seats, “is to get in the driver’s seat.”
“What good would I do here?” He looked at her.
“You have values not everybody does. I guess I see a lot of potential if you’re willing to grow and change in the right way.”
Altogether, how can I ever read again? ;)
This book was like one of those good war movies that make you feel and think through several facets of the same issue. In fact, this book was so action packed and thought provoking I felt exhausted by the end of it, but it was absolutely worth it. The spiritual theme never got “preachy” as the two main characters moved closer to the truth in a very real way. It floored me later when I realized how much their final decisions had been foreshadowed! ()
Jack was my favorite character. He had an attitude of trying again even when he failed, seeking wise counsel, and always trying to do the right thing. I loved nearly all of the side character, but Ashlynn, Amy, and Chris stood out to the most. I found Ashlynn to be the right ratio of spunk to femininity. (I have the perfect comparison to another fictional character in mind, but spoilers, sweetie.) And AMY!! She was nearly-nonsensically hilarious, but not without her big moment of extreme usefulness. I especially enjoyed her subtle Doctor Who reference. :D I very much enjoyed Chris’s humorous, nonchalant character. He was such a weird “guardian angel” getting Jack into trouble and back out of it. Definitely a character I want to see more humor from and redemption of if there are more books.
Even though this story is set in the future, the technology wasn’t confusing but instead the special weaponry and computer stuff just added to the cool factor. :D () And the HUMOR! All the characters were exceedingly funny, especially that one time Jack had a thought. :P I ended the book in tears at the heartbreaking beauty. Sequel needed. Now.
Recommended for readers 16+ because of hard themes, intense action, and brief medical details.
Best quotes: “You drive!” Britain yelled and rolled in between the front seats. The truck careened toward the left lane. Jack seized the steering wheel and yanked it back. “I don’t know how to drive!” “The first step,” Britain said as he pulled a machine gun from under the back seats, “is to get in the driver’s seat.”
“What good would I do here?” He looked at her.
“You have values not everybody does. I guess I see a lot of potential if you’re willing to grow and change in the right way.”
Altogether, how can I ever read again? ;)
June 24, 2017
I'm not really a big fan of dystopian, but when I got a chance to get an eARC of this book, I decided to try it out. After all, it had an interesting premise and it was a Christian novel, so why not?
Well, when I started reading it, I found that this book pulled me in and really captured my attention. I found it hard to put it down! The plot was exciting, and I really enjoyed the world that Paul Willis created. It was also really thought provoking. I didn't want to put the book down, but I did occasionally pause to consider what was happening, and the moral questions that this book brought up.
The characters were pretty interesting. The book wasn't very long, so there wasn't a much time for character development. Jack had a lot of great character development, but I wasn't a big fan of him (especially in the beginning). The side characters were all pretty interesting, but I didn't feel super connected to any of them. I think that was the only downside for me.
A while back, I decided to start reading all of the "boring stuff" in books in addition to the story part, like the dedication, acknowledgements, etc. I'm so glad I did that with this book, because I got a good laugh out of the acknowledgements.
Overall, this book had an interesting message, an exciting plot, and great worldbuilding! I would definitely recommend this book to those who like Christian dystopian and thought-provoking books.
Well, when I started reading it, I found that this book pulled me in and really captured my attention. I found it hard to put it down! The plot was exciting, and I really enjoyed the world that Paul Willis created. It was also really thought provoking. I didn't want to put the book down, but I did occasionally pause to consider what was happening, and the moral questions that this book brought up.
The characters were pretty interesting. The book wasn't very long, so there wasn't a much time for character development. Jack had a lot of great character development, but I wasn't a big fan of him (especially in the beginning). The side characters were all pretty interesting, but I didn't feel super connected to any of them. I think that was the only downside for me.
A while back, I decided to start reading all of the "boring stuff" in books in addition to the story part, like the dedication, acknowledgements, etc. I'm so glad I did that with this book, because I got a good laugh out of the acknowledgements.
Overall, this book had an interesting message, an exciting plot, and great worldbuilding! I would definitely recommend this book to those who like Christian dystopian and thought-provoking books.
June 26, 2017
Why I Choose this Book:
I've been following the author's blog, Project Blank Page since around the time he started it last winter. His posts are always amazing and either make me laugh or think (or both), so when he offered people a chance to read his book in exchange for reviews, I jumped at the chance. (And, on that note y'all should check out his blog - it's well worth reading.)
Plus, that cover is pretty great looking. Intriguing, right?
What I Thought about this Book:
This is one of the very first dystopian books I've ever read, and I've discovered that I wouldn't exactly be a good candidate for running for my life. (Spoiler: I wouldn't have survived past the fifth chapter if I was one of the characters in this book.)
Crossroads is packed full of action. There were lots of weapons and fights and explosions throughout the book. Plus, tons of scenes with words like "tactical" and "mobilization" and "blood" that I was nearly amused at myself for reading it, because this isn't my normal kind of read at all. At the same time though, the book wasn't morbid or too detailed, something for which I was very grateful. (There was never a time when I felt squeamish or uncomfortable while reading, so yay.) I'm sure that lots of girls would find this book to be right up their alley, but overall, I think guys would find this book more their style. (And, on that note: It was interesting reading from a guy's perspective.)
The main character was well-written, and even though I didn't relate to him, I did find his character arch to captivating. There is a significant change from who he was in the beginning of the book to who he was at the end, and it happened a logical and well-thought-out pace which I appreciated. His struggle was something that I've thought about in the past, and so that was one way where I could identify with him. Near the beginning of the book I really wondered what the outcome would be, and how his beliefs would morph over time. (I wasn't disappointed.)
At one point in the book the main character is trying to make a decision, and he asks a mentor of his if he believes differently from then on, would the sacrifices he made in the past be worthless. His mentor replied, "No bad path is good enough to stay on. No one wrong decision is worth hanging on to." It doesn't make as much sense out of context, but it was such a spot-on answer that I could have applauded it.
Despite all that I did like about the book, I sadly found it wasn't exactly my cup of tea. It was a great introduction to dystopian, but as I mentioned, it's not really my normal genre. I found everything a bit hard to follow, and there were times when the whole motivation behind the plot didn't make complete sense to me.
Conclusion:
Strangely enough, even though I didn't agree with the main character's actions at the beginning part of the book, I had a lot of the same questions that he had. There were various things that the characters did that I don't think Christians should do, but to refrain from spoilers, I won't go into detail with that. ;)
Happily though, the book was clean, and although violent, it wasn't detailed.
Rating:
I’m giving Crossroads three out of five stars. (As I mentioned, I'm probably not the correct audience for this book. If you do like dystopian, your rating would probably be a lot higher.)
*I received a free ARC of this book from the author. I was not obligated to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
I've been following the author's blog, Project Blank Page since around the time he started it last winter. His posts are always amazing and either make me laugh or think (or both), so when he offered people a chance to read his book in exchange for reviews, I jumped at the chance. (And, on that note y'all should check out his blog - it's well worth reading.)
Plus, that cover is pretty great looking. Intriguing, right?
What I Thought about this Book:
This is one of the very first dystopian books I've ever read, and I've discovered that I wouldn't exactly be a good candidate for running for my life. (Spoiler: I wouldn't have survived past the fifth chapter if I was one of the characters in this book.)
Crossroads is packed full of action. There were lots of weapons and fights and explosions throughout the book. Plus, tons of scenes with words like "tactical" and "mobilization" and "blood" that I was nearly amused at myself for reading it, because this isn't my normal kind of read at all. At the same time though, the book wasn't morbid or too detailed, something for which I was very grateful. (There was never a time when I felt squeamish or uncomfortable while reading, so yay.) I'm sure that lots of girls would find this book to be right up their alley, but overall, I think guys would find this book more their style. (And, on that note: It was interesting reading from a guy's perspective.)
The main character was well-written, and even though I didn't relate to him, I did find his character arch to captivating. There is a significant change from who he was in the beginning of the book to who he was at the end, and it happened a logical and well-thought-out pace which I appreciated. His struggle was something that I've thought about in the past, and so that was one way where I could identify with him. Near the beginning of the book I really wondered what the outcome would be, and how his beliefs would morph over time. (I wasn't disappointed.)
At one point in the book the main character is trying to make a decision, and he asks a mentor of his if he believes differently from then on, would the sacrifices he made in the past be worthless. His mentor replied, "No bad path is good enough to stay on. No one wrong decision is worth hanging on to." It doesn't make as much sense out of context, but it was such a spot-on answer that I could have applauded it.
Despite all that I did like about the book, I sadly found it wasn't exactly my cup of tea. It was a great introduction to dystopian, but as I mentioned, it's not really my normal genre. I found everything a bit hard to follow, and there were times when the whole motivation behind the plot didn't make complete sense to me.
Conclusion:
Strangely enough, even though I didn't agree with the main character's actions at the beginning part of the book, I had a lot of the same questions that he had. There were various things that the characters did that I don't think Christians should do, but to refrain from spoilers, I won't go into detail with that. ;)
Happily though, the book was clean, and although violent, it wasn't detailed.
Rating:
I’m giving Crossroads three out of five stars. (As I mentioned, I'm probably not the correct audience for this book. If you do like dystopian, your rating would probably be a lot higher.)
*I received a free ARC of this book from the author. I was not obligated to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
September 3, 2017
I was really surprised at how much I liked Crossroads. I don't read too many dystopian type novels, but the description intrigued me so I decided to give it a try. I'm really glad I did.
This is DEFINITELY the most complex self-published book that I've ever read. Without a doubt. At the same time, it wasn't confusing or hard to follow; I just don't know how Paul kept his story straight! This was definitely not a simple storyline or a simple book to sit down and write.
I really like all of the morals and life lessons that are centered around the story. It isn't super obvious or blaring, but rather a conviction or gentle nudging from the Lord that leaves you with something to think about when you're finished reading.
My favorite message that I came away with was this: when you are in Christ, death is not meant to be feared or "the end." It's the beginning of something far greater. Too often in those types of books life and death is taken too lightly, but not so in Crossroads.
Y'all should definitely give it a read!
This is DEFINITELY the most complex self-published book that I've ever read. Without a doubt. At the same time, it wasn't confusing or hard to follow; I just don't know how Paul kept his story straight! This was definitely not a simple storyline or a simple book to sit down and write.
I really like all of the morals and life lessons that are centered around the story. It isn't super obvious or blaring, but rather a conviction or gentle nudging from the Lord that leaves you with something to think about when you're finished reading.
My favorite message that I came away with was this: when you are in Christ, death is not meant to be feared or "the end." It's the beginning of something far greater. Too often in those types of books life and death is taken too lightly, but not so in Crossroads.
Y'all should definitely give it a read!
August 21, 2018
Oh boy. How do I even begin to review this book? How do I even begin to process it?
I had read reviews going in, so I knew this was not going to be an easy and painless read, and it wasn't. I tried to guard my heart from getting too attached to characters that I couldn't be sure were going to survive, and I almost succeeded...almost. I was so proud of myself for not crying through 90% of the story--and then my heart shattered. But even then, the picture of victorious Christian martyrdom left me strengthened in the midst of my tears.
This book is not a light read by any stretch of the imagination. It's lethal persecution and deadly missions and agonizing struggles over Scriptural directives and personal convictions. But while the events are grim and devastating, there's still enough hope and humor in the mix to balance the perspective and keep things from becoming completely black.
I really, really loved the characters in this story! Unique and distinctive, they were all beautifully drawn, sometimes in just a few words. I totally related to Jack's problem with making decisions under pressure! Wasn't a huge fan of Britain right away, but had totally fallen for him by the end of the book. Loved Ashlynn and her sometimes-surprising abilities! And I couldn't help liking Chris, in spite of all his issues. That's just a smattering--there were so many great characters here!
And the action just about never quit! Every time we were about due for a break, something else even worse seemed to come along. I was pretty close to holding my breath for a number of chapters at the end. Don't go into this book expecting the kind of action where everything blows up but no one important dies, either. There is a lot of death in this book, and it's not all bad guys and nameless people. But it never felt like violence for the sake of violence; it felt very realistic and true-to-life--like the real consequences of the sin and evil in our world and where it could lead. I also appreciated the fact that while injuries and blood are described (Jack is a medic, after all), it never felt unnecessary or overly graphic.
The futuristic setting was amazing and very believable, with familiar landscapes and patterns of life joined with very cool yet entirely plausible tech. Loved Britain's struggle to start up an "old-fashioned" desktop by swiping the monitor! Seriously, my little nieces and nephews are already doing things like that--so not far-fetched!
There were a few editing issues (mostly with comma placement), but they didn't detract from my enjoyment, and one question about the religious landscape that I couldn't quite figure. The very-pagan Laurion at one point rails against both Christians and atheists but doesn't seem to have a problem with the apparently-majority Muslims? That seemed a little odd to me, but again, it wasn't a major issue.
Content--violence, injuries, and death, sometimes on a large scale; arguments about whether Christians should/are allowed to take life in defense of others; cursing mentioned (not written); a few insults, including "wuss"; a pagan character swears "by the gods," "by Mars," etc.; mentions of drinking and smoking
I had read reviews going in, so I knew this was not going to be an easy and painless read, and it wasn't. I tried to guard my heart from getting too attached to characters that I couldn't be sure were going to survive, and I almost succeeded...almost. I was so proud of myself for not crying through 90% of the story--and then my heart shattered. But even then, the picture of victorious Christian martyrdom left me strengthened in the midst of my tears.
This book is not a light read by any stretch of the imagination. It's lethal persecution and deadly missions and agonizing struggles over Scriptural directives and personal convictions. But while the events are grim and devastating, there's still enough hope and humor in the mix to balance the perspective and keep things from becoming completely black.
I really, really loved the characters in this story! Unique and distinctive, they were all beautifully drawn, sometimes in just a few words. I totally related to Jack's problem with making decisions under pressure! Wasn't a huge fan of Britain right away, but had totally fallen for him by the end of the book. Loved Ashlynn and her sometimes-surprising abilities! And I couldn't help liking Chris, in spite of all his issues. That's just a smattering--there were so many great characters here!
And the action just about never quit! Every time we were about due for a break, something else even worse seemed to come along. I was pretty close to holding my breath for a number of chapters at the end. Don't go into this book expecting the kind of action where everything blows up but no one important dies, either. There is a lot of death in this book, and it's not all bad guys and nameless people. But it never felt like violence for the sake of violence; it felt very realistic and true-to-life--like the real consequences of the sin and evil in our world and where it could lead. I also appreciated the fact that while injuries and blood are described (Jack is a medic, after all), it never felt unnecessary or overly graphic.
The futuristic setting was amazing and very believable, with familiar landscapes and patterns of life joined with very cool yet entirely plausible tech. Loved Britain's struggle to start up an "old-fashioned" desktop by swiping the monitor! Seriously, my little nieces and nephews are already doing things like that--so not far-fetched!
There were a few editing issues (mostly with comma placement), but they didn't detract from my enjoyment, and one question about the religious landscape that I couldn't quite figure. The very-pagan Laurion at one point rails against both Christians and atheists but doesn't seem to have a problem with the apparently-majority Muslims? That seemed a little odd to me, but again, it wasn't a major issue.
Content--violence, injuries, and death, sometimes on a large scale; arguments about whether Christians should/are allowed to take life in defense of others; cursing mentioned (not written); a few insults, including "wuss"; a pagan character swears "by the gods," "by Mars," etc.; mentions of drinking and smoking
August 24, 2018
Yes it's 12:30 at night. Yes I finished. Umm...
What do I think?
Let's just say in my enthusiasm I used both thumbs to click 5 stars.
Recommended ages 16 and up.
What do I think?
Let's just say in my enthusiasm I used both thumbs to click 5 stars.
Recommended ages 16 and up.
March 9, 2019
Review @ Kate's blog!
--
Well, well. This is a dystopian book unlike anything I’ve read before. I count dystopian as one of my favorite genres, but I don’t read many and when I do, I tend to have really high expectations. And… honestly, I’m not sure what to think of this one!
It didn’t quite meet my expectations (let’s face it – when you’ve heard this much about a book, you have, well, very high expectations) but at the same time it was so interesting and intriguing and very engaging and wow?? Seriously, I’m pretty impressed.
I feel like there wasn’t much of a plot and I normally don’t like it when that happens but I didn’t notice it much at all when reading? It was mostly a lot of action but no noticeable reason behind the action (which is why I say there wasn’t much of a plot). The action / fight scenes were really well written for the most part – Paul’s writing style really fits those types of scenes. However, this did contribute to the overall choppy and not very well-flowing-ness? of most of the sentences of the story. The sentences were mostly simple sentences that were short and just didn’t have much variety, which made the book a bit of a rough read (not to mention it also made the plot twists a bit too abrupt).
My main issue about this book was the realisticness of everything. I hate to say it.. but I just. ugh. every couple of pages I would stop and think “No one would say that”, or “No one would think that while fighting”. Here’s an example (backstory: Jack received a message from the Lynx, which is an artificial intelligence unit thing): It was from the Lynx. “Sorry, I forgot during the commotion. I amplified and analyzed the voice sample you sent”, and I remember thinking “what…? AI units don’t forget things in our world. This is dystopian genre, which means their AI units would be even more advanced. So why would the Lynx forget something?” Maybe something just isn’t quite adding up for me so that might be why I’m not getting it? Just small things like that which probably wouldn’t bother most people, but they really stuck out to me and kind of annoyed me.
There were things that I really, really, really loved in Crossroads though. I absolutely loved the whole theme of Christian persecution + pacifism + evangelism and how Jack and CROS dealt with it. It honestly really inspired and encouraged me, and I would recommend reading this book for that alone. Jack’s personal beliefs and convictions changed and matured as the storyline moved along, and I’m really happy with how his beliefs turned out. 🙂
Overall, I liked this book! Didn’t love it – didn’t hate it – just liked it. I think Crossroads is a book worth reading for the Christian themes in it, but I personally found some of it hard to follow and quite a bit of it very unrealistic. It might just be me though because literally like 99% of my friends who have read it has rated it five stars. xD I’m going to rate it 3 stars, which I’m a bit disappointed by because so many people have raved about it and I honestly expected it to be a 5 star read. OH WELL THOUGH. Guys, I ramble too much, and I’m sorry. xP 3 stars.
--
Well, well. This is a dystopian book unlike anything I’ve read before. I count dystopian as one of my favorite genres, but I don’t read many and when I do, I tend to have really high expectations. And… honestly, I’m not sure what to think of this one!
It didn’t quite meet my expectations (let’s face it – when you’ve heard this much about a book, you have, well, very high expectations) but at the same time it was so interesting and intriguing and very engaging and wow?? Seriously, I’m pretty impressed.
I feel like there wasn’t much of a plot and I normally don’t like it when that happens but I didn’t notice it much at all when reading? It was mostly a lot of action but no noticeable reason behind the action (which is why I say there wasn’t much of a plot). The action / fight scenes were really well written for the most part – Paul’s writing style really fits those types of scenes. However, this did contribute to the overall choppy and not very well-flowing-ness? of most of the sentences of the story. The sentences were mostly simple sentences that were short and just didn’t have much variety, which made the book a bit of a rough read (not to mention it also made the plot twists a bit too abrupt).
My main issue about this book was the realisticness of everything. I hate to say it.. but I just. ugh. every couple of pages I would stop and think “No one would say that”, or “No one would think that while fighting”. Here’s an example (backstory: Jack received a message from the Lynx, which is an artificial intelligence unit thing): It was from the Lynx. “Sorry, I forgot during the commotion. I amplified and analyzed the voice sample you sent”, and I remember thinking “what…? AI units don’t forget things in our world. This is dystopian genre, which means their AI units would be even more advanced. So why would the Lynx forget something?” Maybe something just isn’t quite adding up for me so that might be why I’m not getting it? Just small things like that which probably wouldn’t bother most people, but they really stuck out to me and kind of annoyed me.
There were things that I really, really, really loved in Crossroads though. I absolutely loved the whole theme of Christian persecution + pacifism + evangelism and how Jack and CROS dealt with it. It honestly really inspired and encouraged me, and I would recommend reading this book for that alone. Jack’s personal beliefs and convictions changed and matured as the storyline moved along, and I’m really happy with how his beliefs turned out. 🙂
Overall, I liked this book! Didn’t love it – didn’t hate it – just liked it. I think Crossroads is a book worth reading for the Christian themes in it, but I personally found some of it hard to follow and quite a bit of it very unrealistic. It might just be me though because literally like 99% of my friends who have read it has rated it five stars. xD I’m going to rate it 3 stars, which I’m a bit disappointed by because so many people have raved about it and I honestly expected it to be a 5 star read. OH WELL THOUGH. Guys, I ramble too much, and I’m sorry. xP 3 stars.
August 16, 2019
4.5 stars
I normally don’t read these kinds of books because they just don’t interest me. So this was a different style for me. It stirred up my reading life. Caused me to ponder new things, look at stuff in a different light.
Even though the tears did not flow, this book pulled at my heartstrings. It caused me to think about what this world will look like in just a few short years.
The characters will grab at your heart and not want to let go. Ashlynn being a personal favorite of mine.
A thrilling story! There was a lot of amateur writing, I must say, but Paul shows promise for the future and I’ll definitely read more from him.
I normally don’t read these kinds of books because they just don’t interest me. So this was a different style for me. It stirred up my reading life. Caused me to ponder new things, look at stuff in a different light.
Even though the tears did not flow, this book pulled at my heartstrings. It caused me to think about what this world will look like in just a few short years.
The characters will grab at your heart and not want to let go. Ashlynn being a personal favorite of mine.
A thrilling story! There was a lot of amateur writing, I must say, but Paul shows promise for the future and I’ll definitely read more from him.
June 27, 2017
(Welp, I’m late. Paul, don’t kill me ;D)
When is killing acceptable? Is it ever acceptable?
These are the questions many Christians have — and these are only a few of the questions that Paul Willis deals with in this novel.
I’ve always been a reader of dystopian novels — I like how they really force me to think about what I believe about morality — and this novel didn’t disappoint on this front. In fact, if anything, it went much further than any other novel I’ve read because of its shameless Christian worldview — something I really appreciate. The troublesome questions of war and of killing only become much muddier when the Christian viewpoint is thrown in, but in the end, this viewpoint is what makes the waters clear. By centering the moral compass on the Bible, the book manages to do a relatively good job of balancing the almost need of death in war with “Thou shalt not murder.”
Another commendable accomplishment is the portrayal of the characters. Too often, in Christian novels, the protagonist — or other major Christian characters — is shown to have a flawless view on morality. This makes sense; as Christians, we want to make sure our worldviews line up with what the Bible says. However, without a flaw, the protagonist has no room for growth. This often leads to stagnant, boring protagonists. On the other hand, the protagonist, Jack, is characterized well. His convictions are clear and admirable, yet he’s shown to be flawed in both his actions and his worldview.
However, in my opinion, the biggest flaw of this book was its world. The dystopian setting is a future America where the main religions seem to be Islam and other ancient polytheistic religions, all of which are prominent. This is something I found hard to swallow for two main reasons. First of all, Islam does not coexist well with other religions. In the past, Islamic empires and nations have mostly tried to destroy other religions and belief systems — especially polytheistic religions, showing a bit more respect (barely) for Christians and Jews, who are called “Children of the Book.” If Islam was that prevalent (as signaled by the “which mosque” question early in the book), there would either be a bigger terrorism problem (if the government wasn’t Islamic) or a greater crackdown on polytheistic religions (which multiple characters seem to practice). Second, the ubiquitousness of ancient religions, represented by believers in Roman gods, seems unlikely. If America were to turn to another religion, I would expect atheism or an Eastern religion — not the Roman gods — as society today is moving to a place where ancient, superstitious religions are looked down upon. The Roman religion hasn’t seen a revival ever since the end of the Roman Empire — and I don’t see one coming anytime, soon or not.
Finally, the only other major aspect I had trouble with was the automatic antagonizing of most non-Christians. The Bible makes it clear that “we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies” (Ephesians 6:12 NLT), but that we are fighting the spiritual forces of evil. This book doesn’t seem to make that distinction, seeming making non-Christians — not the spiritual forces — out to be the enemy. Though there is plenty of prayer for protection and gratitude, I didn’t see any spiritual warfare, which should be just as important as the physical.
Overall, this was a book I enjoy and a book I’d recommend, but there were several issues that bothered me.
I received a free ARC of this book from the author. I was not obligated to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
When is killing acceptable? Is it ever acceptable?
These are the questions many Christians have — and these are only a few of the questions that Paul Willis deals with in this novel.
I’ve always been a reader of dystopian novels — I like how they really force me to think about what I believe about morality — and this novel didn’t disappoint on this front. In fact, if anything, it went much further than any other novel I’ve read because of its shameless Christian worldview — something I really appreciate. The troublesome questions of war and of killing only become much muddier when the Christian viewpoint is thrown in, but in the end, this viewpoint is what makes the waters clear. By centering the moral compass on the Bible, the book manages to do a relatively good job of balancing the almost need of death in war with “Thou shalt not murder.”
Another commendable accomplishment is the portrayal of the characters. Too often, in Christian novels, the protagonist — or other major Christian characters — is shown to have a flawless view on morality. This makes sense; as Christians, we want to make sure our worldviews line up with what the Bible says. However, without a flaw, the protagonist has no room for growth. This often leads to stagnant, boring protagonists. On the other hand, the protagonist, Jack, is characterized well. His convictions are clear and admirable, yet he’s shown to be flawed in both his actions and his worldview.
However, in my opinion, the biggest flaw of this book was its world. The dystopian setting is a future America where the main religions seem to be Islam and other ancient polytheistic religions, all of which are prominent. This is something I found hard to swallow for two main reasons. First of all, Islam does not coexist well with other religions. In the past, Islamic empires and nations have mostly tried to destroy other religions and belief systems — especially polytheistic religions, showing a bit more respect (barely) for Christians and Jews, who are called “Children of the Book.” If Islam was that prevalent (as signaled by the “which mosque” question early in the book), there would either be a bigger terrorism problem (if the government wasn’t Islamic) or a greater crackdown on polytheistic religions (which multiple characters seem to practice). Second, the ubiquitousness of ancient religions, represented by believers in Roman gods, seems unlikely. If America were to turn to another religion, I would expect atheism or an Eastern religion — not the Roman gods — as society today is moving to a place where ancient, superstitious religions are looked down upon. The Roman religion hasn’t seen a revival ever since the end of the Roman Empire — and I don’t see one coming anytime, soon or not.
Finally, the only other major aspect I had trouble with was the automatic antagonizing of most non-Christians. The Bible makes it clear that “we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies” (Ephesians 6:12 NLT), but that we are fighting the spiritual forces of evil. This book doesn’t seem to make that distinction, seeming making non-Christians — not the spiritual forces — out to be the enemy. Though there is plenty of prayer for protection and gratitude, I didn’t see any spiritual warfare, which should be just as important as the physical.
Overall, this was a book I enjoy and a book I’d recommend, but there were several issues that bothered me.
I received a free ARC of this book from the author. I was not obligated to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
May 15, 2018
It's been over a week and I still don't know what to rate this. In a way, I loved it, but in a way... I didn't.
First off, I loved Jack. The fact that I can remember his name should show how much I liked him, because I always forget names right after I read a book. Honestly, I was really excited to read with a pacifist as a main character. It was nice and different.
Which brings me to my biggest dislike: of coarse everyone's mission is to cure Jack of his pacifism. Everyone agrees its wrong without really being willing to see it his way. People were only willing to accept him if he changed his views. But, I was happy the author showed some positive aspects of pacifism. (Especially at the end. <3)
Sometimes scenes moved really quickly. Like, so fast that I got lost. I felt like I missed descriptions of things I needed to know. Maybe a re-read would help clear up some stuff. But where is all this radiation coming from??
Ashlynn. While she was a little stereotypical tough girl, I really liked her. Especially in the last part of the book. I really didn't expect to like her as much as I did.
That ending was awesome.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, but one star was knocked off for how confusing some parts were, and the way pacifism was handled at the beginning.
Best quote:
First off, I loved Jack. The fact that I can remember his name should show how much I liked him, because I always forget names right after I read a book. Honestly, I was really excited to read with a pacifist as a main character. It was nice and different.
Which brings me to my biggest dislike: of coarse everyone's mission is to cure Jack of his pacifism. Everyone agrees its wrong without really being willing to see it his way. People were only willing to accept him if he changed his views. But, I was happy the author showed some positive aspects of pacifism. (Especially at the end. <3)
Sometimes scenes moved really quickly. Like, so fast that I got lost. I felt like I missed descriptions of things I needed to know. Maybe a re-read would help clear up some stuff. But where is all this radiation coming from??
Ashlynn. While she was a little stereotypical tough girl, I really liked her. Especially in the last part of the book. I really didn't expect to like her as much as I did.
That ending was awesome.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, but one star was knocked off for how confusing some parts were, and the way pacifism was handled at the beginning.
Best quote:
July 11, 2018
This turned out better than I expected! I really liked the author's look at whether or not pacifism is Biblically justified. It's not a topic often explored among Christian circles, much less in teen fiction. Personally, I'm not a pacifist, so there were several times when I was mentally screaming at the main character to JUST SHOOT THE BAD GUY!!! But I am pleased with how the author's portrayal of the Jack, the main character, invited the audience to struggle with him as he tries to follow his conscience yet also protect those he loves.
There was no romance in the book (which was a refreshing departure from typical teen fiction) but there was a good bit of violence, which I personally don't mind, but might disturb younger audiences. Would recommend this to people 13 and older.
There was no romance in the book (which was a refreshing departure from typical teen fiction) but there was a good bit of violence, which I personally don't mind, but might disturb younger audiences. Would recommend this to people 13 and older.
June 28, 2017
I'll be the first one to say we need more quality Christian dystopian books, and I was excited to see this one! It had some things that personally threw me off, but I suspect that it is just because the author's writing style feels like my own so much that I'm harsher in my judgements. :) There were a few typos, and more places than I liked that felt.... choppy, but it was good. I hope there will be more books, the ending felt a bit incomplete. But again, I think I'm just prejudiced ;)
(I received a free ARC of this book from the author. I was not obligated to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.)
(I received a free ARC of this book from the author. I was not obligated to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.)
June 26, 2017
“Crossroads” was definitely not the type of book I typically read. Dystopian books, as well as books containing immense amounts of action and adventure don’t usually end up on my bookshelf. However, this was a very good first for me. Following Jack’s (the main character’s) journey forced me to ponder the same questions he did. The subject of the plot was one I have thought about many times. Set in the United States, in a time when Christians are outlawed and terrorized, this book put what could possibly be a very real future onto its pages. For me, it wasn’t something to take lightly.
“Crossroads” was intense. Secret organizations, gun-fights, car-chases, lock-picking, and characters running for their lives characterized it and I was only able to read it a little at a time before I would have to stop and process. It wasn’t a read-in-one-sitting book for me, and it also wasn’t a book that asked for thoughtless perusal. I really had to focus when I read it.
Though this wasn’t the type of book I’m used to reading, I enjoyed getting to know the characters, following them on their journeys, and ultimately, being offered hope by the courage they displayed in the face of resistance. I would recommend it to those who aren’t squeamish, to those who enjoy a intense adventure, and finally, to those who just want to find strength from the example of characters who are rooted in Christ, and who are willing to lose everything for Him.
I received a free ARC of this book from the author. I was not obligated to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
“Crossroads” was intense. Secret organizations, gun-fights, car-chases, lock-picking, and characters running for their lives characterized it and I was only able to read it a little at a time before I would have to stop and process. It wasn’t a read-in-one-sitting book for me, and it also wasn’t a book that asked for thoughtless perusal. I really had to focus when I read it.
Though this wasn’t the type of book I’m used to reading, I enjoyed getting to know the characters, following them on their journeys, and ultimately, being offered hope by the courage they displayed in the face of resistance. I would recommend it to those who aren’t squeamish, to those who enjoy a intense adventure, and finally, to those who just want to find strength from the example of characters who are rooted in Christ, and who are willing to lose everything for Him.
I received a free ARC of this book from the author. I was not obligated to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
June 27, 2017
I received a free ARC of this book from the author. I was not obligated to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
When I got the chance to get an advance copy of this book, I jumped at it. I love dystopian stories and the fact that it's Christian made me even more interested in reading it. I wasn't disappointed. It kept my interest through a long cross-Atlantic flight - easy to read with some great descriptive details. It's fast paced action from start to finish with a great twist on the usual government versus rebels plot. I especially liked the introduction to the dystopian elements of the world Paul created. The characters are generally enjoyable (even the grumpy ones), and the set-up was all too believably real (in a scary way).
I found the main character's development a little extreme and sudden, and a couple of sections were overly 'preachy' for me, but on the whole it was an extremely enjoyable book that I'd recommend for Christians who like the style of Matthew Riley, the themes of Hacksaw Ridge, and the setting of 1984.
When I got the chance to get an advance copy of this book, I jumped at it. I love dystopian stories and the fact that it's Christian made me even more interested in reading it. I wasn't disappointed. It kept my interest through a long cross-Atlantic flight - easy to read with some great descriptive details. It's fast paced action from start to finish with a great twist on the usual government versus rebels plot. I especially liked the introduction to the dystopian elements of the world Paul created. The characters are generally enjoyable (even the grumpy ones), and the set-up was all too believably real (in a scary way).
I found the main character's development a little extreme and sudden, and a couple of sections were overly 'preachy' for me, but on the whole it was an extremely enjoyable book that I'd recommend for Christians who like the style of Matthew Riley, the themes of Hacksaw Ridge, and the setting of 1984.
July 1, 2017
This book was absolutely amazing!!!!! One of my favorites as soon as I finished beta reading it. It was so good, I've already read it twice, and now I'm just itching to get a beautiful leather bound hard cover copy of this collector's item. The only problem is, that's way too expensive, so I'm just gonna have to stick with the paperback version for now. If you haven't marked this as a "to read," I'm so sorry for you. You're missing out on a lot ;) From the front page to the last, this book captivated me all the way through. The characters are very well written, and the plot is amazing! Paul's writing style is very good, and I am looking forward to reading everything else he writes in the future.
P.S.
I think since Paul put this book up, there's been a problem with goodreads. They only allow you to rate it up to five stars; it should be more. ;)
P.S.
I think since Paul put this book up, there's been a problem with goodreads. They only allow you to rate it up to five stars; it should be more. ;)
September 14, 2018
Okay. How should I start? This was WAY amazing!!!!!!!!!!!! The story was rather complex with all the characters and plot, and that was something I loved. I don't get to read very many books like that. Also, this is my first time reading in this genre. I'm hooked! I can't believe how good this was. I related to Jack so much and decided he's one of my favorite characters of all time. The plot was epic, the characters were well-crafted, and the setting was awesome!! I would recommend this to anyone!! (I read it yesterday and recommended it to lots of people already)
August 22, 2018
This is my new favorite book!!! I will recommend this book to EVERYONE! It’s a little violent, but I enjoyed it. :P
October 28, 2019
“Something warm and wet was running down his face. He would have another scar. He touched it with his finger and pulled it away to see. He wasn’t bleeding; he was crying. It was a scar from a deeper wound, one that would never heal.” (Crossroads, p.111)
Personally, I do not share the same view of the author when it comes to shooting or not shooting. When a Christian and a non-Christian stand opposite each other, is it right for the Christian to kill the other? I say no. The Christian does not have to “defend himself/herself”. He/She knows where he’s/she’s going. The Bible says, as Christians, to die is gain (Philippians 1:21)! You may label me a pacifist if you want to, but I believe that unless God specifically commands (see OT) killing a human being is always the wrong choice.
That aside, it was a gripping book, a page-turner. I did love the setting and the way the author does not shield from hard reality.
2 ½ stars from 5
Personally, I do not share the same view of the author when it comes to shooting or not shooting. When a Christian and a non-Christian stand opposite each other, is it right for the Christian to kill the other? I say no. The Christian does not have to “defend himself/herself”. He/She knows where he’s/she’s going. The Bible says, as Christians, to die is gain (Philippians 1:21)! You may label me a pacifist if you want to, but I believe that unless God specifically commands (see OT) killing a human being is always the wrong choice.
That aside, it was a gripping book, a page-turner. I did love the setting and the way the author does not shield from hard reality.
2 ½ stars from 5
March 2, 2022
I loved the premise and fast paced style of the story.The unique moral compass the main character walks, is fascinating given I haven't read anything like it before in Christian fiction. My only qualms with the book is that the bits of action began to feel a bit repetitive which took away from the emotional moments that happen. All in all a fascinating and quite different take on a commonly trodden Christian story trope.
November 7, 2020
I really enjoyed this book! It was fast paced and had a lot of depth psychologically and religiously. The writing is great, I teared up at points and laughed out loud at others. The world building, character depth and development and very strong and well done. The book is best for those in High School and up as there is some mild violence. I highly recommend getting this book and supporting a smaller author. :)
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