The 49th Mystic

Beyond the Circle #1

by Ted Dekker

Some say the great mystery of how one can live in two worlds at once died with Thomas Hunter many years ago. Still others that the gateway to that greater reality was and is only the stuff of dreams.

They are wrong. In the small town of Eden, Utah, a blind girl named Rachelle Matthews is about to find out just how wrong.

When a procedure meant to restore Rachelle's sight goes awry, she begins to dream of another world so real that she wonders if Earth might only be a dream experienced when she falls asleep in that reality. Who is a simple blind girl to have such strange and fantastic dreams?

She's the prophesied one who must find and recover five ancient seals--in both worlds--before powerful enemies destroy her. If Rachelle succeeds in her quest, peace will reign. If she fails, both worlds will forever be locked in darkness.

So begins a two-volume saga of high stakes and a mind-bending quest to find an ancient path that will save humanity. The clock is ticking; the end rushes forward.

Ready? Set?

Dream.

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

709 pages, Library Binding

First published May 15, 2018

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

[Celeste · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can now find this review and more at Novel Notions.

Ted Dekker will always have a very special place in my heart. His books have inspired me and shaped my faith since I was a teenager, and I’ll always be grateful to them for the way they revealed truth to me in new and vibrant ways. His books will always have a shelf in my house. I can’t tell you how excited I was to hear that Dekker was returning to the world of the Circle, the series that impacted my faith more than anything else outside of the Bible I’ve ever read.

The theological impact of this book was insane. There was so much good stuff here. It had the kind of depth that required closing the book and just trying to digest for a minute before you can keep reading. And the return to Other Earth, the realm we first visited in in the Circle series, was absolutely wonderful. This book made its mark on me, without a doubt. But it wasn’t perfect.

I’ve come to the realization in recent years that I’ve grown as a reader, but Dekker hasn’t grown with me. He has great stories to tell, and amazing spiritual insights to share. But there’s something about his writing itself that just doesn’t translate for me anymore. Maybe it’s the sheer amount of incredible literature I’ve consumed in recent years, but I’ve become harder to please when it comes to prose. As I said, Dekker has great stories to tell.

But that’s exactly the problem. He tells instead of shows. This didn’t used to bother me because I didn’t know the difference. However, I know the difference now. While this telling works incredibly well for the theological aspects of his book, and even works well for the world-building, it isn’t so successful when it comes to character development and motivations. Even though I wanted desperately to connect with our main character, I never quite could. And the rest of the characters felt even less real to me.

While I had my problems with the writing, I still really enjoyed the book. The plot itself was very compelling. Rachelle, our main character, is a blind teenager living in a little community completely closed off from the rest of the world. When she receives her sight, she becomes the catalyst for a spiritual battle that will transcend worlds. You see, she’s a Mystic. The 49th, in fact, the number of completion multiplied by itself. It’s her job to find five Seals that will provide true sight to those in spiritual darkness and conquer the forces of evil. For this, she will need to attune her mind to the guidance of Elyon, Justin, and the Spirit of Truth. Dekker portrays the Godhead with such eloquence that his words have impact my own view of God in all of His fullness.

This is a really good story. I hate that I can no longer connect to Dekker’s writing as well as I could in the past, but I still highly recommend the book if you’re looking for a wild adventure that will radically impact your faith. I can’t wait until the second half of the story comes out in October. I need to know how it ends!

(Side note: While this duology will stand perfectly well on its own, there's a lot here for fans who have been with Dekker from the beginning. Besides the obvious relation to the original Circle series, there are also references to the Paradise trilogy, the Outlaw Chronicles, and even his nonfiction works. I love when authors reference their own work like this, and Dekker is incredibly good at it!)

[Daniel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Is this a fresh outlook on Christianity or New Age relabeled?

I've been a long-time fan of Ted Dekker's work and his imagination, but there is something very wrong with this book and its message. It reminds me of the Celestine Prophecy and its path to enlightenment. Instead of nine insights, the reader is offered five seals. We only get three in this instalment and therefore aren't fully enlightened yet. Throughout the book it is suggested that these five seals have to do with the essence of Christianity; they reveal the forgotten way. It may be the forgotten way, but I don't believe it's the way as in the Way, the Truth and the Light.

Blindness is one of the main themes in the book ("I am going to blind you. And when you see again, I am going to blind you again"); I hope not too many Christian readers will be blinded by the frequent mentioning of Yeshua, Elyon, the Holy Spirit and the use of bible verses. These are after all just labels: we have to get to the essence beyond these labels. This is not me speaking, but Dekker (chapter 17) through a mystic helper (just another label, you could read: guru). I would suggest readers do just that; strip the book of the false pretence of the labels used and then judge the essence of its message for what it is worth.

If you look at the language Dekker uses throughout the book, it might be an indication of its inspiration: polarity, infinity, quantum consciousness, epigentics, re-member, re-cognize, referring to God as Origin or Source, Jesus being known by many different names, avatar, illusion, programming, connecting to a higher consciousness. You should hear a small voice by now saying 'something's not right'. If you don't hear this voice, use Google.

If you do not want to be partially enlightened before reading this book, stop reading here.

***spiritual spoiler alert***

It's not that easy to sum up the message of the book, since it's muddled. But it's all about the three big questions in life: who am I, where am I from and why am I here?

The answers thus far are (we are talking universal here; it applies to everybody, regardless of whether they are born again or not): We come from an infinite Origin. We lost the knowledge of our identity and have to re-member, re-cognize. Our bodies are just earthern vessels, an avatar. We are not our memories, our feelings, our thoughts. We have to awaken and see that we are the light of the world - the light is divine, so we are divine; the infinite Origin is in all and all are in the infinite Origin ("Inchristi is all, Inchristi is in all"). We are a part of all. We are eternal. We are an aspect of the Creator temporarily manifested in this world. This world is polarity. We are in polarity, but we honour polarity for the lessons it brings us and we move beyond it by a change in perception; metaphorically and materially. We can overcome the laws of physics. Problems exist only in polarity, where we empower them by the faith we put in them. We are all products of our programming - our actions stem from this programming. Real is what our mind thinks it is. Fear is an illusion, death is not real.

Does this sound like the teachings of Christ? To me it sounds more like the New-Age teachings of Deepak Chopra, quantum mysticism and Vedanta. Since labels are only labels, can we replace illusion with Maya, self with Atman and God with Brahman?

In Advaita Vedanta a guru is advised for the spiritual journey of self-realization. It could be a coincidence, but the 49th needs a helper to re-member and re-cognize who she is. Advaita Vedanta tells us there are different states of consciousness: waking, dreaming, deep sleep and the fourth, pure consciousness were one experiences the infinite free from dualistic experience (quote wikipedia). Again, it could be a coincidence, but the 49th, who is called to go beyond polarity, is awake in one world, dreams in another, has a dreamless sleep after consuming Rhambutan and at one point is neither awake nor asleep but in the presence of Yeshua (infinite Origin) were she sees she is a pillar of the exact same light.

The story is set in a town called Eden. Someone once visited Eden to try and make us believe we could become divine through knowledge. Don't be fooled into believing you are divine and can experience divinity through knowledge of self and infinite Origin. The fact that we need the indwelling of the Holy Spirit underlines that we are separate from and not part of the Divine Being, our Triune God.

There is a tendency in the church these days to steal from New Age and cleverly repackage it. It seems like Dekker joins in with his statement that New Age is just a label (again chapter 17). I cannot judge his inspiration or intention, but I find his message worrisome, to say the least.

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just an okay story. 4 of 10 stars

[J.D. Sutter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need Book 2 now! Why is October so far away?!!!

Another fabulous mind-bending tale from Ted Dekker. I loved it! Full review to come.

[Evan Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Early 2017, Ted Dekker's editor asked me if I would be interested in reading Ted's new book, The 49th Mystic, and answering some questions. I, of course, said yes. However, my rating is not definitive considering the fact that Ted had just finished writing the book only a few weeks prior to my reading it, and there is no doubt that there will be many things different in the published version such as plot differences, dialogue, etc.

I can't say anything about the book due to my agreement with Ted and his editor, but I can tell you that you that reader's of the Circle Series (yes, Green DOES count, no matter what anyone says) will be delighted to see old characters from that series and various books set in the same world turn up. There will be a sequel, of course, which I definitely look forward to reading.

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘The 49th Mystic’ by Ted Dekker is a compelling novel that combines science fiction and fantasy while orchestrating the allegorical tale of a heroine’s journey. This is my first novel by Dekker and I plan on following up with the second novel that will be released October 2018. The biggest surprise to me were the references to Christian theology. A wizard like being called Talya quotes scriptures. There is a blending of science, quantum physics, new age philosophy, Christian theology, and fantastical elements.

The plotline begins with Rachelle, 16 years of age, who lives in a protected environment called Eden in Utah. She’s blind since five or six months of age due to sickle cell anemia, but she has learned to safely maneuver through her environment through clicking sounds, an echolocation technique like bats use. 153 people live in Eden, off the grid and no-one ever leaves the valley. It’s self-sufficient. A psychotherapist, Rachelle’s Dad, David, wants to use an experimental science called CRISPR, to help Rachelle regain her eyesight. This is an engineering tool that uses a sequence of DNA to repair damaged genes. That sounds like science fiction but is actually science fact, and one that scientists are now working to make a safe procedure for people with retinitis pigmentosa (which causes blindness)(1). In this story, it is sickle cell anemia, not retinitis pigmentosa that is causing Rachelle’s blindness, so the engineered DNA is based on Rachelle’s bone marrow cells, which her father tells her is “designed to modify your bone marrow, which, as you know, produces new red blood cells.” It was exciting to see Dekker incorporate cutting edge science into his story.

When Rachelle goes to sleep, she has lucid dreams. They are extremely vivid. There she has met ‘Shadow Man,’ an evil character who tells her he will blind her again and again. ‘Shadow Man’ invokes deep fears within Rachelle. When Rachelle learns that Other Earth, as she begins to call the place she goes when she dreams, is more than a lucid dream, she meets many more interesting characters. Firstly, a figure called Justin, appears on a horse, and heals her eyes, telling Rachelle she is the 49th mystic. He says, “You are merely seeing again the way you were made to do.”

Perception and the management of fear are major themes in this book along with the powers of love and the world of polarity. Dekker presents the contemporary world in the Eden of Utah as a world of polarity, as is also the case in Other Earth, Rachelle’s dreaming world. The world outside of polarity is the world of spirit. There is much food for thought in this wonderful story. Yes, it is a character study, in the person of Rachelle. The reader is meant to make discoveries about themselves as they follow in the footsteps of her journey. In this way the book is powerful and meant to introduce new ways of seeing. However, in this story, Rachelle can only truly learn what she needs to know through experience, and her teacher, Tayla, tells her, the teaching comes when the learner is ready. It is also a plot driven narrative, as Rachelle makes her way from one teaching through experience to another.

Rachelle goes back and forth from crisis to crisis in Eden and Other Earth. The story of what happens in Eden was most fascinating to me. The citizens there will be forced to look at their world in a new way. There was a part of me that wanted to compare our whole world to the microcosm of Eden, that wanted to ask, are we (am I) as blind as the folks in this fictional city, who follow their leader Simon, almost without question. Most of us have lots of questions. But what of our programming? As the reader will see, even the kinds of questions we ask may have to do with our programming.

I enjoyed this novel very much. The character studies of Rachelle, David, and Jacob are good, but I feel they are somewhat limited in scope by the nature (and purpose) of the book. The plotline is fascinating, creative, and ingenious, but again, I feel, purposeful. There are philosophical underpinnings to a plot like this, just as there are to The Chronicles of Narnia. The way Dekker wove scientific fact into his story was most mind-bending.

Highly recommended, especially for those who like science fiction, fantasy, or Christian allegory.

(1) http://newsroom.cumc.columbia.edu/blo...

[Megan L. · Rating 1 out of 5]

This story was bad. Very bad. It’s the circle series and tons of sermons and theology thrown together into a poorly made dish. I started off the book feeling like it was poorly written Circle fanfic. And by the end, this theory still holds up, as storylines from other connected novels come into play as well. Rachelle was a likable character but all these scenarios she finds herself in are utterly ridiculous. At one point, she’s with Mr. Miagi on her own quest to find her purpose, but wait, he tells her nothing! Fans of his previous novels will find their circle fix and will likely eat this up. I’m just wondering what kind of obsurd antics will be in the sequel.

[Nora St Laurent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Confession Time! When my husband enthusiastically told me, he had received an advanced review copy of Ted Dekker’s new book and wanted me to read it with him. I was apprehensive. I tried to share his excitement; let me explain.

Years ago, my world was turned upside down by a series of books this author wrote which completely changed my view of Christian Fiction. It gave me hope and challenged me. The books were in The Heaven Tribology series (Heaven’s Wager, Thunder of Heaven, and When Heaven Weeps) these novels rocked my world. I had no idea that the Holy Spirit could touch me to the core of my being like He did as I read this series. Wow, I wasn’t prepared for that. I couldn’t stop talking about Ted Dekker and how I instantly connected with his characters and their struggles. They were suspenseful novels I couldn’t put down. After that I read all of Ted’s books but ran into a road block titled Three. It was the first time one of his novels scared me. I don’t do scary and/or gruesome. I’m a chicken little when comes to reading or watching images on T.V. like that. My husband kept reading Ted’s books and shared the contents with me.

Recently I watched Ted Dekker share his heart on video about the Forgotten Way. I could see that the Lord had touched Ted’s heart and he was doing a new work in him. Because of this and my husband’s excitement about this new novel The 49th Mystic I thought I’d give it a try.

The prologue instantly grabbed my attention. I could totally relate with Rachelle Matthews a 16-year-old girl who's been tormented in her sleep since age six. Rachelle says, “The dreams betrayed my deepest fears that nothing would ever change, but still, it was just a dream. I reminded myself every morning.”

She is being tormented by the Shadow Man. A man who tells her lies that make her afraid. “Rachelle bolts up in bed, screaming.”
She remembers what her father told her,” all negative emotions are rooted in fear, most commonly fear of loss, my father said. The fear of losing worthiness created jealousy, fear of losing honor created anger, fear of losing security created anxiety, and so it went. In the end, fear was the only challenge facing all humans he believed.”

After I got used to navigating the different worlds Eden and the Other Earth and learned who was who and what was what. I felt something deeper happening in my spirit as Rachelle learns her true identity as the 49th Mystic. She learned that she could only fulfill the prophecy of the 49th Mystic; if she overcame her own fears. The only way to do that was to find the five seals of truth….” Not only did she have to recognize the truth but she had to know it like a husband and wife knew each other. When she experiences this, her life is touched and changed forever. Powerful!

Rachelle’s fears were mine. I didn’t expect that revelation. I hadn’t planned to be on the journey with Rachelle as she seeks freedom from fear. I was excited and unnerved as the Holy Spirit revealed things to me through this young girl; like He’d done in previous books I’ve read by this author.

Then there was an unexpected game-changing event in the story that got my full attention and blew me away. I was glued to the story hook, line, and sinker. When I started reading this novel I was looking for an entertaining story. But wow, it was so much more.

I’m thankful I had the opportunity to experience this story that touched my heart and soul; and had me think about my identity in a whole new light. I highly recommend this novel for your book club and/or for an amazing, wild fun ride.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine https://tinyurl.com/y9lwbfrs
SVP Promotion

[Chris Jager · Rating 4 out of 5]

For fans of Ted's will be excited to know he returned to the land of the Circle series. Once again the Horde, the Albinos and others once again struggle over this world and the future world. It was great fun to return to one of my favorite series by Ted and am looking forward to the conclusion in 2018.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

AAAAHHHHHHHH ok reading this felt like going home and it was amazing but still, gotta say nothing beats the original Circle. WHEN IS BOOK 2 COMING OUT??

[Warning: minor spoilers ahead]

Rachelle is a beautiful character who has a lot of struggles and fears but she's so admirable and strong at the same time and I was rooting for her all the way. Vlad Smith was eerily similar to one other creep earlier and he WAS the said creep udner another name . The whole town of Eden was one wild ride of guessing and twists and frustration and ALL THE APPLAUSE FOR THE THRILLER/HORROR vibes XD Other Earth was the best part, amd Talya was one mystical mentor figure who always speaks in riddles (I was rolling my eyes a lot) and Gabil and Michal MADE MY DAY. Samuel of Hunter was just the BESTEST surprise coming my way bc SAMUEL. OF. HUNTER. I love that kid. He was so messed up and full of hate and angst before and sorta kinda ruined EVERYTHING in the future/past (not sure about the timeline here) and I still love him to death. JACOB WAS COMPLETELY HUNDERED PERCENT ADORABLE AND BEAUTIFUL AND the goodest person there even though he was the Most Hated dude around cos #enemyside. Ok characters are done. ALL THE APPLAUSE.

TED DEKKER WRITES THE BEST PLOTS. Everything rolled into one - thriller and horror and mystery and humor and mmmmm A+. This book is one never ending trip of suspense and anticipation and if you read this at night you'll go hide under your covers when you're done because #majorcreepiness

It involves ...

- echolocating
- lots of blood amd sudden death
- scifi style mystery on government intentions
- memory changes
- cool scientific facts
- a creep man who messes with people's brains
- a Horde guy who is the most caring human
- a court case in which persons cannot see truth when it is staring them in the eye
- a quest for TRUTH
- torture
- bad decisions which will ruin book 2
- cliffhangers
- lots of fear
- power that others assume must be magic
- Ted Dekker's constant theme that there ARE TWO KINGDOMS

AND OK. GUESS WHAT? There are signs of a ....

...

...

...

LOVE TRIANGLE !!!

...

...

...

AND GUESS WHAT ELSE??

...

...

...

I LOVE IT!!

Only Ted Dekker can pull this of because I approve this love triangle completely amd cannot wait to see WHAT NEXT. (minor spoiler: I predict one person dies mwahahaha)

Ok so ... one minor minus point. I felt that a few chapters got kinda overly mystical/theological/nonfictional in what Rachelle was learning about spiritual things?? Like A LOT OF TELLING and speaking in riddles. I get that Ted Dekker is trying to TELL us something really important but it got kinda ... confusing and hard to untangle the nonfiction/fiction aspects and it felt slightly ... too much like ... a message. Right there.

BUT OTHERWISE. It was suspenseful and hopeful and mystical and creepy and adventurous and slightly romantic and full of hate amd love and reflections on how complex amd controversial humans can be and EEEP I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT OTHER EARTH TOO.

I was lauhing so hard amd slapping my face and screaming aloud and just having the best of time while reading.

SOMEONE COME FANGIRL WITH ME!!!

4 1/2 stars.

Content: V I O L E N C E

[Anne Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

9780800734930 (ITPE - sold in the UK)
9780800729783 (HB - sold in the USA)

A brilliantly told story spanning two worlds.

I was intrigued by the blurb for this book – about a blind girl who lives in two worlds. Or rather, in two time periods. When she sleeps in her home town of Eden, Utah, she is awake in a future world, and vice versa.

Motherless Rachelle is close to her father, David, and an independent young lady. Although blind, she ‘sees’ using sonar clicks, and navigates through her world confidently. When strange things happen during a medical procedure to restore her sight, Rachelle soon finds that it’s just the beginning of a series of dramatic events. While she sleeps in Eden, she wakens in another place and time. A place which seems dangerous yet familiar and where she must trust people she barely knows. At first it’s a relief to wake up back in Eden, but life there is about to change forever, and everything she knew and thought to be true will be turned upside down.

As ‘the 49th Mystic’, long prophesied, she must find five ancient seals before it is too late. They might be in either world. And danger follows her in both.

If you’ve ever woken up from a dream so vivid that for a few moments you struggle to work out what is real, then you will completely connect with Rachelle! Although in her case there really ARE two worlds in which she is living separate but strangely connected lives.

I was hesitant about starting this book, but I needn’t have been. Captivated from the very beginning, this was a book I was desperate to keep reading!

Settle into your comfiest reading chair with a cup of something nice and your favourite snack, take the phone off the hook (or switch off your smartphone) and put up a ‘do not disturb’ sign. Once you’ve started this book you won’t want to stop!

[Kav · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm kinda speechless here. Gobsmacked, really. This is my first Ted Dekker novel and I'm impressed. What an incredible story! Unlike anything I`ve read before and hard to categorize. Faith driven speculative thriller? Or maybe Dekker has created a new genre altogether. It`s a long book -- 405 pages -- but so full of meaning and imagery and truth! I kept stopping to scribble down quotes and there were lots of pondering pauses as I followed Rachelle on her journey and discovered that, in many ways, it was my journey too.

"Will you be blind and see darkness, or will you see and know light?"
(p 199)

This is a story about a girl who gives up everything she thinks she is in order to discover who she really is. It`s spellbinding. Complicated. Action-packed. Steeped in faith. And scary too because the author captures our human frailties with eerie clarity. The 49th Mystic is a fantastical tale that challenges even as it entertains.

"What you are tempted to call a problem is only an instrument for
awakening so that you can see what is true." (p 235)

And Rachelle has lots of problems. The life-threatening, world-ending, battling-forces-of-evil kind. But she is not alone on her quest. The author has provided an interesting array of companions to help (and sometimes hinder) her along the way. Forget everything you think you know and get ready to embrace some mind-blowing, heart-tugging, faith-building fiction like you`ve never read before!

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Black: The Birth of Evil and it's subsequent books. However, The 49th Mystic just was not my favorite. I found it hard to get through and thought the whole solving of the Seals thing was hard to believe. It was all very steeped in "Christianese" and if someone were to read it who did not have that belief system, I think it would be very confusing. I thought it was confusing enough for me, as a Christian. Sadly, I was pretty disappointed with this book.

[Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first fantasy Ted Dekker book. I’ve read a lot of his thriller/suspense novels and love them!
The 49th Mystic is a tale of the girl, Rachelle, and her journey to find the light, the five seals, and figure out her place in life. She’s trapped between two worlds and strives to find answers.
The 49th Mystic is book one and its sequel, The Rise of the Mystics continues this tale.
The story is gripping and you’ll find yourself immersed in the worlds with Rachelle. The only thing I have to say is to make sure you’re reading this book with quietness surrounding you and no distractions. There is a lot of information, especially in the world, Other Earth. I found myself getting overwhelmed in sections because I was trying to keep all of the information straight to follow the story properly.
There were also sections that moved slowly, but the descriptions Dekker penned were vivid and needed to be explained to get an accurate portrayal.
Overall I enjoyed The 49th Mystic and look forward to reading the next book, The Rise of the Mystics, when I get the chance.

[Linda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm sorry I just could not like this story, especially as it pretty much ended in the middle of the story. Only 3 of 5 seals found...must wait for the sequel...I think not.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a work of fiction, this book deserves six stars.

As a work of theology... maybe two.

For those who read the Circle and Paradise series years ago, this book will leave you reeling in nostalgia. There was much fangirling from me.

I realized again how much I absolutely adore Ted Dekker's characters, plotting and plot twists, the way he connects things, and basically his writing in general.

There was one part I read at the end that literally took my breath away. I sat there with my hand over my mouth, my eyes wide, and realized a few seconds later that I needed to start breathing again. Ha.

This book was a trip, baby. I had no choice but to dive deep because of how it pulled me in. But please read it with discernment. Evaluate the Scriptures quoted in light of the context of their passages. Enjoy this thrill ride. Let it challenge your thinking. But make sure that you go to the Word of God as your source of truth when what you thought was true is challenged.

I want to be able to recommend this book so badly. But because of the issues I saw in its theology, I'd have a hard time doing that unless I knew I was recommending it to someone who would be able to reason Biblically and choose truth over feeling. I absolutely believe that Dekker absolutely believes that he is sharing truth. But I also absolutely believe that some of the things he proposes are not true.

I can say that I did really appreciate having my thinking challenged, and seeking out truth when I wasn't sure what to believe. This book was valuable for that.

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

Ted Dekker is amazing. His books not only entertain and enthrall, they make you think. This first entry in a new trilogy that takes place in the same universe as the Circle books had me gripped the entire time. Can't wait for the sequel!

[Monica H (TeaandBooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 49th Mystic is my first Ted Dekker book. I have been wanting to read one for some time. I am so glad I did.


The 49th Mystic starts out in the small town of Eden, Utah where a blind girl named Rachelle and her father, David, live. Rachelle has nightmares regularly about the "shadow man." They scare her a lot but they aren't half as scary as finding out that they aren't just dreams and the Shadow Man is alive and in Eden looking for her. At the same time, Rachelle does dream her way in to another world. She sort of time travels back in to the ancient world and fights to recover five ancient seals. This book is the start of a two book series where she battles for her life and the lives of others in both worlds.


I found The 49th Mystic to be fast-paced and it held my interest until the end in spite of the fact that I don't usually read this type of book. I am looking forward to the second book and seeing how this all works out in the end. I like how the book refers to the ancient Scriptures. I also enjoyed the time travel element of the book. There is some violence in both worlds and while I didn't love to read those parts, I could see why they were necessary. Life in Bible times could be rather violent. It was easy to keep both worlds and all of the characters straight for me. I give it five stars for how easy the story flowed and how easy it was to keep it all straight as a reader while learning and being entertained. I thought The 49th Mystic had it all. There is a bit of romance, adventure, dystopian fantasy, and history woven throughout this book. It held me spellbound from beginning to end.


I received The 49th Mystic from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.

[Grace Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!!!

After my brother introduced me to Black: The Birth of Evil the first book in the Circle series, I fell in love with anything that has to do with the Books of History.

When I first heard that Dekker was going to write yet another book taking place in the same world, I was super hyped.

This book had the same feel as Showdown, as a bad man comes to turn a peaceful small town to chaos. With some feels of Skin. And with, of course, the world from the Circle.

One of the things that my brother and I wanted after reading Green: The Beginning and the End, was an alternate ending. (because of how Green ends, okay? Anyone who has read Green knows what I am talking about.) This book GIVES US THAT!!! I'm not even going to lie, I was having all the feels after I saw some my favorite characters again (and some I don't like, lol). In fact, this book made me want to reread the Circle books I could get a little more info on some of the characters that I feel I've forgotten.... (#BookNerdProblems)

Rachelle was a wonderful character. She was so kind, but she also didn't seem unrealistic as she was often fearful. But there were times she was brave too.

Then there were some old favorites; like Samuel and Jacob. I love getting to see them again and getting to know more about them. <3 I really, really wanted to see Thomas again, but it looks like I will have to wait to be able to read Rise of the Mystics.

Gabil and Michal made my day. The Roush has always been the favorite characters for all the Books of History novels, and I always wanted more of them. Gabil was so funny, and Michal so serious which made Gabil even more funny. And they are just so cute!!!

The Christian message in this book was also spot on. It made me think about stuff I never really thought about. I heard the term about putting God in a box before, this book takes that to a whole new level. It was very interesting to read the symbolism of blindness. All the Christian stuff in this book was very interesting to say the least.

Somehow though, I feel like we have a love-square coming on. Samuel, Jacob, and Peter.... Hmmm....

Why I Removed a Half Star From My Rating:

Okay, I realize that you just heard me give praise for the Christian message in this book. Well, get ready for my rant dear friends, I'll try to make it short.

Look, as much as I liked the Christian message, I also did not like it. Look, they're walking in the desert for five days straight, and all they do is talk about the theological ideas from the Bible??? This is all fine and dandy, BUT, look this is a novel. A NOVEL!!! I like Christian messages that are woven into a novel wisely, not poured all out in the next so many chapters. I have heard people use the phrase "the book was too preachy" before, well... This book takes the cake. It crosses over from the friction to the very nonfiction theological side. Look, I loved it okay? I was nodding my head in agreement and really had to think about it. BUT the least Dekker could have done was show, not tell us all the Biblical stuff he wanted to share, but SHOW US!!! Have the characters do more than walk, talk, and make camp. It just would've made it go so much better.

Content in Book:

1. Guy shapeshifting into a snake and going after eyes.... Yeah, that was a little weird and gross.

2. Violence (shooting people with guns, sword fighting, shooting arrows, hand-to-hand combat.)

3. Drowning someone in water.

4. Torture (having a snake spit venom into your eyes, pulling off your fingernails).

5. Demon like characters (the Shataiki, they look like these black bats)

6. Injuries (gunshot wounds, etc.)

7. Manipulation.

8. Brief mentions of abuse and an affair.

Will I Read the Next Novel???

YES!!!! OF COURSE I WILL!!! I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!

Who Would I Recommend This Book To:

Those who had at least read Black: The Birth of Evil, Red: The Heroic Rescue, White: The Great Pursuit, and Green: The Beginning and the End. You'll like it much more if you do. Those who like urban fantasy. Those who like a little bit of sci-fi. Those are okay with Ted Dekker's books.

[Melissa Schwisow · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book after enjoying Ted Dekker’s Blink, appreciating his genre-blending, ambitious scope, and appeal to Christian and non-Christian readers alike. However, it fell short due to uneven pacing, overused tropes, clunky spiritual elements that disrupt the flow and overshadow the story, shallow characters lacking emotional depth, and a telling over showing writing style that makes the narrative feel unrealistic and inauthentic.

Unlike the Bible’s portrayal of suffering individuals who are deeply flawed and morally ambiguous, overt spiritual themes undermine the potential for character development in this story. This novel could have been more effective in conveying a spiritual message by subtly integrating the plot and characters with spiritual elements, similar to Jesus’ parables, which used evocative word pictures without spelling out meanings.

Finishing it was a chore, hence the 2-star rating.

[Carrie Daws · Rating 3 out of 5]

I looked forward to returning to the characters and land of Black, Red, and White, of getting lost between dream worlds and living with rousch. Yet while the writing and storyline is done with all the skill and quality I expect from Ted Dekker, I really struggle with his theology of the last few years, which plays a prominent role in this book. I won’t continue reading this series, as much as I want to know how things go for the main characters.

[Philip Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I don't know how to fully convey the ride that The 49th Mystic is. The story is excellently written, nothing is quite what you expect, and you will enjoy every page! This work will, if you let it, open your eyes to consider and see things as you have never seen them. Ted Dekker's works all have that effect, but this is something unlike any of his previous writings. Every chapter is rich in story, but I walk away looking at my life differently, at my family differently, at my job differently - even at myself differently and the beliefs I have held that may have been skewed. This book reveals the story that is written into all of us. You will read an amazing fantasy/sci-fi(?) tale without ever realizing that you are learning about life. Don't think that you need to be familiar with any of his other books - dive in to this one, try it on for size, I can say you will be glad you did. Then once you've read it, you can decide if you want to explore more of his stories. Most likely, you'll just be googling to find out when the next book releases.

[Alycia Morales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ted Dekker had me sobbing as early as chapter three in The 49th Mystic. I've never cried as hard due to the impact of a man's words on my heart while reading a fiction novel. And all it took was two sentences: "Remember who you are. Return to the truth of your origin and recognize yourself."

The 49th Mystic is all about getting back to our origin and recognizing we were created for a purpose far bigger than ourselves. Once we recognize that truth, we can achieve so much more than we imagined. I highly recommend this book if you are feeling stuck in your situation in life, like you want more out of life, or if you really can't figure out who you are or what you were created to do. Ted's words will minister to your soul and ignite a dream inside of you that you've long forgotten.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Words cannot describe the awesomeness of this book. Rochelle Matthews is a blind girl in Eden, Utah which is an experimental Utopia of sorts. She has these scary dreams that eventually come to light and she is transferred to Other Earth two thousand years in the future much like Thomas Hunter. She is required to find five seals of truth to save Eden. This is a mind-spinning, adrenaline rushed book of profound truths and dangerous action. I am impatient for the next book to get out so I can read it asap.

[Chris Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing! Mind blowing! I feel like that is even putting it mildly. It was a pure pleasure to go with Rachelle on her journey. Not only did I follow her, I was on the journey with her! This book is so compelling it was hard to put down. This is Ted Dekker at his absolute best, and by far the best book I have ever read.

[Tiffany Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ready...set...Dream! Some people say that the great mystery of how one person can live in two very different worlds, at the same time, died years ago with Thomas Hunter; while others say that the gateway between the two worlds is merely a dream. They’re both wrong. In the small town of Eden, Utah, a blind girl named Rachelle is going to experience firsthand just how wrong they are. After some complications during a procedure to restore her eyesight, Rachelle begins to dream of another world that feels so real she begins questioning whether Earth may not be a dream that she experiences when she falls asleep in the other reality. Why would a simple, blind girl have such vivid, fantastic dreams? Because, she’s the Chosen One, from the prophesies, who must find and recover all ancient Seals, before it’s too late. If Rachelle succeeds in her mission, peace will reign, but if she fails, both worlds will be locked in darkness, forever.

The 49th Mystic is the first book in Ted Dekker’s Beyond the Circle series. It takes us back to the world of The Circle series. And, just like the books in the other series that take place in this world, this one is amazingly well written. It also carries on the writing style that Ted used in the other Circle related books by flashing back and forth between Rachelle’s perspective as she experiences both her present and the future. I’ve seen other authors try this style that just weren’t able to pull it off effectively. That said, Ted excels at it. And he doesn’t just tell you the story, he writes in a way that shows the story, so to speak. You just get completely caught up and lost in the story as you read. I enjoyed how various characters were brought in from The Circle Series, as well as getting to meet new favorites. I honestly don’t know how I’m going to stand waiting until the second book comes out. October just seems so far away to find out what happens next.

I’d like to thank Ted Dekker, Revell, and Netgalley for providing me with an electronic copy of this book. I understand that receiving the book in this manner doesn’t obligate me to leave a positive review.

[C.D. Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was first introduced to Dekker through The Forgotten Way which had some really good points. This is essentially the fictionalized version of what he lays out in the nonfiction format of that book. It was an enjoyable story with lots of frustrating character setbacks and some mind-twisting. I found some of the jargon hard to follow, but (as I read) I was highlighting the biblical truths I wanted to remember. I had trouble sometimes with hearing the author's voice through the characters which pulled me out of the story, but overall I think Rachelle's journey is fascinating. An enjoyable and enlightening read.

[Sherri · Rating 2 out of 5]

This seemed like New Age meets Hunger Games. Yes there were a couple of curves thrown in there that kept you guessing but overall it seems long in the tooth. Especially after finishing Dekker's Circle series.

Our heroine Rachelle is deemed the 49th mystic. She goes between both worlds when she sleeps just as Thomas Hunter did in the Circle series.

However, Rachelle is blind and her blindness plays big in the storyline. Throw in some scripture and terms that would appease Christians.

Frankly after reading several of Dekker's works now, I find it hedges on New Age, kind of out there, compared to other Christian authors.

Narrator was good.

[Jorrit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aangenaam verrast door dit boek. Een spannende thriller met een vleugje fantasy. Centrale thema is de vernieuwing van je denken waarbij de hoofdpersoon die reis maakt. Leerzaam! Zeker een paar quotes die me raakten en die ik meeneem voor mijn dagelijks leven.

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dekker is a story teller like no other. This one is no exception.