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The Martyr's Song
What would you die for'That's the question suddenly thrust upon a small band of women and children in Bosnia at the close of World War II. When a group of bitter soldiers stumble upon their peaceful village, they suddenly face an insidious evil...and the ultimate test.It is then, in the midst of chaos and pain that the Martyr's Song is first heard. It is then that the window into heaven first opens. It is then that love and beauty are shown in breathtaking reality.You have in your hands the story and the song that changed...everything.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published August 30, 2005
165 people are currently reading
1734 people want to read
About the author
Ted Dekker
192 books9,971 followersTed Dekker is known for novels that combine adrenaline-laced stories with unexpected plot twists, unforgettable characters, and incredible confrontations between good and evil. Ted lives in Austin with his wife LeeAnn and their four children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 255 reviews
April 4, 2020
Short, but powerful...and it packs a message I needed to hear!
November 13, 2010
This book made me cry. The worst possible situation happened to this priest. If he wouldn't renounce his faith in Christ with a gun to his head then perhaps one of the children in the orphanage would. If they didn't they would suffer in the same way. This author made a seemingly horrible event, twist and turn into a beautiful, breath taking reality.
August 19, 2018
Great book. Must finish the series. Very inspiring.
September 1, 2022
Does anyone know how to give a book more than 5 stars on Goodreads?
“When his mind caught up with him, it told him that he also had just died.”
This novella blew. me. away. I had no idea 100 pages could be so powerful, and this is without a doubt the most powerful novella I've ever read. I wish I had read it years ago!
The themes and message reminded me a lot of the Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers, except set during World War 2 (and much shorter), but it was such a wonderful depicting of the joy of suffering for the sake of Christ and what it means to have kingdom perspective in this life. With Christ, all things are made beautiful--not only in their time, but if we have faith, we can see the beauty in all things now.
“When his mind caught up with him, it told him that he also had just died.”
This novella blew. me. away. I had no idea 100 pages could be so powerful, and this is without a doubt the most powerful novella I've ever read. I wish I had read it years ago!
The themes and message reminded me a lot of the Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers, except set during World War 2 (and much shorter), but it was such a wonderful depicting of the joy of suffering for the sake of Christ and what it means to have kingdom perspective in this life. With Christ, all things are made beautiful--not only in their time, but if we have faith, we can see the beauty in all things now.
June 7, 2010
WOW. Really really powerful book. There's actually a quote from the book that summarizes my feelings on it: "But there was something about this story that had put talons into her heart and refused to let go. She was having a hard time breathing, and her heart was pounding loudly enough for anyone in the room to hear." Yep, that about does it. Awesome book; I love Dekker's portrayal of Jesus in the field of flowers with the children singing...AMAZING!!! Definitely a must read book.
February 11, 2024
I enjoyed this book despite the horrible things that happened to the innocent people. To be honest, this book gave me confidence to share the gospel no matter who I come across. The way a commander humiliated and hurt the people in a small village made me furious and sad though. Overall, it’s a great book and I highly recommend reading it.
January 8, 2022
By 2005, Ted Dekker was turning himself into a household name in Christian fiction circles. The previous year had been billed “The Year of the Trilogy” with the release of Black, Red, and White and Dekker took home his first Christy Award for 2003’s Thr3e. He was now on the scene and with that came reprints of his earlier books. The Martyr’s Song trilogy saw some cover updates, but the big new thing (that almost immediately got overshadowed by the release of House, Dekker’s collaboration with Frank Peretti) was The Martyr’s Song, a novella that expanded on the story of Father Michael, Karadzic, and Nadia as told in When Heaven Weeps.
Dekker tells the story through the eyes of Marci, a young woman who believes she isn’t beautiful and who is told to read of Nadia’s story in a book called The Dance of the Dead, a book written by Jan Jovic, the protagonist of When Heaven Weeps. If all this seems a bit complicated, it is, particularly for the space available in a novella. The story-within-a-story technique isn’t necessary and only draws readers away from the emotional depth of the book in order to make sure we’re following the applicational value. (We are. It’s not subtle.) The Martyr’s Song would have worked better had it been written as if it actually was The Dance of the Dead.
The core of the story retells what we know from When Heaven Weeps. A murderous soldier named Karadzic descends on a hidden Bosnian village intent on slaughtering the town. His men are less enthusiastic, but war is war and soldiers obey their commanders. One of those soldiers in Jan Jovic.
Karadzic orders the villagers to carry their crosses—huge gravestone crosses—on their backs. If God is with them, God will save them. If they drop their cross, the priest, Father Michael, will die. It’s an impossible, tortuous task. A young girl, Nadia, speaks out against the cruelty and finds herself the subject of Karadzic’s rage. But in the face of evil, Nadia and Father Michael unite to sing The Martyr’s Song. Amidst chaos and pain, the song cries out in the tiny Bosnian village: a song of victory, a song that opens the gates of Heaven, a song that shows love and beauty in all its breathtaking reality.
The main problem with The Martyr’s Song is that it doesn’t offer enough. Not enough to be distinct as a standalone story. Not enough to be even that much different than what’s already told in When Heaven Weeps. I don’t want to call it a gimmick, necessarily, but it does ring more of a good business decision than anything. Paired with the book came a CD (remember those?) of what was, at the time, an exclusive single from Todd Agnew based on the book. It’s a unique offering, for sure, but you aren’t missing anything by skipping it.
Dekker tells the story through the eyes of Marci, a young woman who believes she isn’t beautiful and who is told to read of Nadia’s story in a book called The Dance of the Dead, a book written by Jan Jovic, the protagonist of When Heaven Weeps. If all this seems a bit complicated, it is, particularly for the space available in a novella. The story-within-a-story technique isn’t necessary and only draws readers away from the emotional depth of the book in order to make sure we’re following the applicational value. (We are. It’s not subtle.) The Martyr’s Song would have worked better had it been written as if it actually was The Dance of the Dead.
The core of the story retells what we know from When Heaven Weeps. A murderous soldier named Karadzic descends on a hidden Bosnian village intent on slaughtering the town. His men are less enthusiastic, but war is war and soldiers obey their commanders. One of those soldiers in Jan Jovic.
Karadzic orders the villagers to carry their crosses—huge gravestone crosses—on their backs. If God is with them, God will save them. If they drop their cross, the priest, Father Michael, will die. It’s an impossible, tortuous task. A young girl, Nadia, speaks out against the cruelty and finds herself the subject of Karadzic’s rage. But in the face of evil, Nadia and Father Michael unite to sing The Martyr’s Song. Amidst chaos and pain, the song cries out in the tiny Bosnian village: a song of victory, a song that opens the gates of Heaven, a song that shows love and beauty in all its breathtaking reality.
The main problem with The Martyr’s Song is that it doesn’t offer enough. Not enough to be distinct as a standalone story. Not enough to be even that much different than what’s already told in When Heaven Weeps. I don’t want to call it a gimmick, necessarily, but it does ring more of a good business decision than anything. Paired with the book came a CD (remember those?) of what was, at the time, an exclusive single from Todd Agnew based on the book. It’s a unique offering, for sure, but you aren’t missing anything by skipping it.
July 15, 2008
WOW! WOW! WOW! After reading the last page, I closed the book and just sat silently for some time. This book is one to own and re-read over and over.
August 30, 2021
This is a Christian novel. I am not the target audience. I found it gratuitous and exploitative.
June 20, 2025
Christians in the early 2000's seemed to have an obsession with persecution (which I believe is partially why so many evangelicals have a persecution complex today). I definitely was one of those people. So this story does (in a weird nostalgic way) feel right up my alley, especially given how I have always enjoyed Ted Dekker's storytelling.
So while I did enjoy the story, I couldn't help but feel like my hand was forced in feeling the emotions I felt; there was no subtlety and the actions by both parties are very overtly "Christian = good guy" and "Unchristian/Athiest = bad guy".
So go into the story knowing what you're getting into (that is, an on-the-nose fictional persecution story), then you should enjoy that and Dekker's iconic modern storytelling style.
But if you're looking for a masterful portrayal of Christian or religious persecution, then I would highly recommend reading Silence (Endo) or Catacombs (McCusker).
So while I did enjoy the story, I couldn't help but feel like my hand was forced in feeling the emotions I felt; there was no subtlety and the actions by both parties are very overtly "Christian = good guy" and "Unchristian/Athiest = bad guy".
So go into the story knowing what you're getting into (that is, an on-the-nose fictional persecution story), then you should enjoy that and Dekker's iconic modern storytelling style.
But if you're looking for a masterful portrayal of Christian or religious persecution, then I would highly recommend reading Silence (Endo) or Catacombs (McCusker).
October 30, 2022
Set in Bosnia, near the close of World War II. When a group of bitter soldiers come upon a peaceful village filled with only women, children, and old people, these people must decide what they will die for. This story will begin with tears of sadness and end with tears of joy as heaven opens wide and they hear "The Martyr's Song."
Such a short novel, but one of the most moving I have read in many years. Definitely need to read this one with a box of kleenex as well as in private.
Such a short novel, but one of the most moving I have read in many years. Definitely need to read this one with a box of kleenex as well as in private.
February 12, 2015
Synopsis from B&N: Marci is waiting for a miracle. She longs to possess physical beauty that will save her from being a teenage outcast. The miracle that she receives comes in the form of an old woman's story. It leaves her skin untouched, except for tears of joy.\nNot my favorite of Dekker�s books. So while I checked out the other three books in the �series�, I will be waiting some to read them. Perhaps I�m just not in a Dekker mood right now.\nThere are four books in the series. But in the intro to The Martyr�s Song it said they can be read in any order. Ack! My left-brained mind can�t handle that. So during my wait I�ll be sorting out recommendations for which order to read them in.\nI disagree with the Barnes and Noble synopsis that this is the story of Marci. To me, it was really more the story of a village in Bosnia told through the vehicle of Marci and her self-derision.\nIt was hard to read at times. Like all Dekker�s book, it makes you think. Would I be able to have Nadia�s courage? The father�s faith? What would I do if placed in the same situation? You are forced to recognize there is a life beyond this one�which is so much more real than what we experience here and now.\n
August 23, 2015
This is a HORROR story with a Christian bent. It shows the horrors that can be perpetrated by a crazy man with the power of life and death -- and pain. A peaceful Bosnian village managing to avoid most of the atrocities of World War II is discovered by a villainous Serbian commander who orders the priest and the women and children to renounce their Christian faith on pain of death. And he means pain! And death!
Sometimes I think Ted Dekker gets a little too much pleasure in writing torture scenes. 4 stars for the purpose and basic moral behind the story, 1 star for the overly graphic description. I'm not sure I'm ready to tackle the other three books in the series.
Sometimes I think Ted Dekker gets a little too much pleasure in writing torture scenes. 4 stars for the purpose and basic moral behind the story, 1 star for the overly graphic description. I'm not sure I'm ready to tackle the other three books in the series.
October 30, 2016
Hm. This book is a whirlwind. It's also my first Ted Dekker book, which was an interesting experience. His storytelling is very different from most. He throws you into the story and doesn't look back. I think I like that.
But the book. Wow. So emotional and convicting. So beautiful. I don't think it's a new favorite, but... it is really good.
UPDATE: After thinking about this book more, I have even more questions. Is everyone beautiful? In whose eyes? What about Karadzic? What are his beliefs on election? I'm vaguely confused by these things. But also I don't disagree with the whole point, which is, treat every human with respect. We are all made in the image of God.
But the book. Wow. So emotional and convicting. So beautiful. I don't think it's a new favorite, but... it is really good.
UPDATE: After thinking about this book more, I have even more questions. Is everyone beautiful? In whose eyes? What about Karadzic? What are his beliefs on election? I'm vaguely confused by these things. But also I don't disagree with the whole point, which is, treat every human with respect. We are all made in the image of God.
Read
August 10, 2011The night after I finished reading this novel I dreamed about it! It was an awesome dream. One of my best! = ) This book really touched my heart. It was would make a great Sunday school lesson to study. I loved his descriptions of the white field. I could see it. I want to see it. I could almost hear the song in my head. God is good all the time...and All the time God is good. I highly recommend this short novel. I can't wait to get my hands on the other novels in this series.
October 31, 2018
It's hard for me to connect with books this short, but it was still pretty good. A really intense story showing the power of Christ in us, if we choose to stand for Him and refuse to deny our faith.
April 2, 2019
Dit is een dun boekje, 123 bladzijdes, die zo uit is. Het leest vlot en is geschreven met een boodschap. Qua spanning vind ikzelf dat het wel goed zit. Al met al een lekker boekje om snel even te lezen.
November 2, 2020
Extremely quick read. Tear-jerker
November 25, 2022
The power of story, the depth of Jesus’ sacrificial love, the change that happens when we notice people around us. Captivating.
January 27, 2019
I loved this story! It's vivid and touches my heart in the most sensitive ways. I highly recommend this book!
June 7, 2018
Yikes. That was real bad, y'all.
So, even when I was a young religious teenager, I really hated feeling like my emotions were being manipulated and I remember kinda rolling my eyes at this book and how over the top it was. (And then feeling super guilty about it because feeling guilty was, like, 90% of my life back then.)
Re-reading it for the first time now, as a 25yr old apostate, my eye rolling was accompanied by audible groans. This book was so bad, you guys. So. Bad.
Ok, so let's hit the frame story for a sec. A survivor of a horrific tragedy sees an ugly teenage girl, assumes that girl must hate herself because she's ugly, and decides to super cryptically promise this girl physical beauty. She then reads her a story about a child martyr and the ugly teenager leaves full of light and hope because she's pretty in the spiritual realm / as seen through God's eyes / will be pretty in heaven because ugliness cannot exist there.
What the actual heck, you guys. How is that simultaneously so bonkers and so trite? It's corny and reductive and both shames the teen (and the reader) for caring about physical appearance WHILE still using physical appearance as a driving force in the story. They use it to make the martyr more pitiable and as a major component of the heaven sequence. Does beauty matter or not? Make up your mind!
So, the actual story? Phew, boy. It's so over the top. Plenty of atrocities happened in WWII, but this particular story of a demon-possessed commander making perfectly peaceful peasants choose between renouncing Christ and shooting the children because he has a bad attitude about their particular denomination??? There was no context, no reality to it. The villain was not explored or explained. The soldiers did literally nothing the whole story. The martyr was a 13 year old girl who spoke like she was 6 at most and the whole thing was so cloying and sweet and sorrowful and AGH. It tried to forcibly pull so many emotions out of me, but the only ones I felt were annoyance and resentment.
You could argue that the bad writing was meant to evoke a vague parable-y feeling, but that's being awfully generous. It has no nuance, no layers. No thoughts on what "renouncing" God means and whether he would prefer you lie to a demon-possessed murderer or let a child die. No critical thinking about apostacy and if God can tell whether you mean it or not in your heart. No "once saved, always saved" debates. No second guessing. Just a bad story about a kid that didn't need to die, but did so that the author could write some christian inspo porn. And a confusing frame story about beauty. Or vanity. Or self-hate? Or self-flagellation via reliving your trauma? I don't even know.
I was planning on re-reading all the Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti books I loved as a kid, but this one wasn't even 150 pages and I am already worn out. We'll see if I actually have the energy to grapple with this nonsense.
So, even when I was a young religious teenager, I really hated feeling like my emotions were being manipulated and I remember kinda rolling my eyes at this book and how over the top it was. (And then feeling super guilty about it because feeling guilty was, like, 90% of my life back then.)
Re-reading it for the first time now, as a 25yr old apostate, my eye rolling was accompanied by audible groans. This book was so bad, you guys. So. Bad.
Ok, so let's hit the frame story for a sec. A survivor of a horrific tragedy sees an ugly teenage girl, assumes that girl must hate herself because she's ugly, and decides to super cryptically promise this girl physical beauty. She then reads her a story about a child martyr and the ugly teenager leaves full of light and hope because she's pretty in the spiritual realm / as seen through God's eyes / will be pretty in heaven because ugliness cannot exist there.
What the actual heck, you guys. How is that simultaneously so bonkers and so trite? It's corny and reductive and both shames the teen (and the reader) for caring about physical appearance WHILE still using physical appearance as a driving force in the story. They use it to make the martyr more pitiable and as a major component of the heaven sequence. Does beauty matter or not? Make up your mind!
So, the actual story? Phew, boy. It's so over the top. Plenty of atrocities happened in WWII, but this particular story of a demon-possessed commander making perfectly peaceful peasants choose between renouncing Christ and shooting the children because he has a bad attitude about their particular denomination??? There was no context, no reality to it. The villain was not explored or explained. The soldiers did literally nothing the whole story. The martyr was a 13 year old girl who spoke like she was 6 at most and the whole thing was so cloying and sweet and sorrowful and AGH. It tried to forcibly pull so many emotions out of me, but the only ones I felt were annoyance and resentment.
You could argue that the bad writing was meant to evoke a vague parable-y feeling, but that's being awfully generous. It has no nuance, no layers. No thoughts on what "renouncing" God means and whether he would prefer you lie to a demon-possessed murderer or let a child die. No critical thinking about apostacy and if God can tell whether you mean it or not in your heart. No "once saved, always saved" debates. No second guessing. Just a bad story about a kid that didn't need to die, but did so that the author could write some christian inspo porn. And a confusing frame story about beauty. Or vanity. Or self-hate? Or self-flagellation via reliving your trauma? I don't even know.
I was planning on re-reading all the Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti books I loved as a kid, but this one wasn't even 150 pages and I am already worn out. We'll see if I actually have the energy to grapple with this nonsense.
March 1, 2013
This novella is considered to be Book 4 in the Martyr's Song series, but really all it is is the same "book-within-a-book" that we see in When Heaven Weeps. Don't get me wrong--I love the story of the peaceful Yugoslavian villagers who are placed at the mercy of a crazed Serbian commander who orders them to renounce their faith on pain of death--but I thought this was going to be something a little different.
One of the main points of the story (and that of many other Dekker works) is that all of us are beautiful no matter what we look like because we are all made in the image of God. Back in November during the Sanctuary tour, about 200-300 of us were crammed like sardines into a Lifeway while Ted stood on a table thanking us for coming. Then he started talking about beauty (The Bride Collector was mentioned at one point), and he pointed at one average-looking woman standing near the front and asked her what her name was. She told him, and he told her that she was beautiful. I thought it was very sweet. Because how often do people tell each other they're beautiful? People tend to define beauty in terms of "sexiness" or "hotness" or some other measure of sex appeal. If a picture of you can't make a man drool, you're ugly. Case closed.
I think it's important to remember that true beauty is not what we wear or slather all over our faces. It isn't our cup size or lack of wrinkles. So many people despise themselves because they don't look like what society tells them they need to look like. Maybe they're too fat. Maybe they have bad teeth or frizzy hair, or maybe a physical deformity makes them feel less than perfect. None of that should matter! For we are all children of God, crafted by God himself. And that's what matters most in the end.
One of the main points of the story (and that of many other Dekker works) is that all of us are beautiful no matter what we look like because we are all made in the image of God. Back in November during the Sanctuary tour, about 200-300 of us were crammed like sardines into a Lifeway while Ted stood on a table thanking us for coming. Then he started talking about beauty (The Bride Collector was mentioned at one point), and he pointed at one average-looking woman standing near the front and asked her what her name was. She told him, and he told her that she was beautiful. I thought it was very sweet. Because how often do people tell each other they're beautiful? People tend to define beauty in terms of "sexiness" or "hotness" or some other measure of sex appeal. If a picture of you can't make a man drool, you're ugly. Case closed.
I think it's important to remember that true beauty is not what we wear or slather all over our faces. It isn't our cup size or lack of wrinkles. So many people despise themselves because they don't look like what society tells them they need to look like. Maybe they're too fat. Maybe they have bad teeth or frizzy hair, or maybe a physical deformity makes them feel less than perfect. None of that should matter! For we are all children of God, crafted by God himself. And that's what matters most in the end.
December 8, 2013
This book was absolutely AMAZING in my opinion. As always Dekker gave very vivid descriptions of both the setting and the characters. I did not expect the plot line to be so thought provoking and deep; I had been expecting a thriller. Although, the book was not a thriller it gave me a new perspective of beauty and really touched my heart. This was a great book that DEFENITELY deserved a 5 star rating. :) I would recommend this book to anyone above the age of 13.
February 6, 2017
Terrific book for the God-believer with self-image issues ! Well-written and engrossing .
June 9, 2025
Tragic yet beautiful. This is one of the most powerful books I've ever read.
March 23, 2020
Title: Dekker, Ted. The Martyr’s Song. WestBow, 2015.
Date: 01/04/20
Personal Response: I actually really enjoy this book. I think it was mostly because the aspects of religion are all pretty correct according to my own religion and what I am taught. It’s pretty cool how they portray heaven in this book.
Plot: Eve goes to a school to drop off some flowers from her shop. She sees a girl whom she finds interesting. She doesn't have the best clothes or style choice, but she tries. Eve invites Marci to her flower shop to make Marci beautiful. Marci is a little confused but she goes anyways. When she gets there, Eve is ready to go. Again, Marci is hesitant but she just goes with it. The story starts off with a nice sunny day in a nice village. It's Nadia’s birthday and the whole town is there except for the men who are off to war. Then the soldiers came; a small troop of five. Karadzic was the leader. He first argues with Father Michael about his faith and then decides to make the women carry crosses on their backs. The first to fall is the first to die. All Michael has to do is renounce his faith to stop it. Eventually, one of the women falls and instead, Nadia dies. Then, things get so brutal that Michael is hung on a cross like Jesus and all Karadzic wants is for one person to renounce the faith. No one will. Janic attacks Karadzic and dies. Karadzic kills the priest. The main point of the story, however, is that Nadia was beautiful for sacrificing herself. Back to the present, Eve reveals to Marcy that she was Nadia’s mother. Now Marcy realizes she's beautiful and she wants to tell others about the wonderful story.
Characterization: Marci started out very shy and kind of hated by her classmates. She wore hand-me-down clothes and was the weird kid. After she heard Eve’s story, she realized not only how beautiful she is, but also how beautiful other people are.
Eve (or known by her friends, Ivena, also Nadia’s mother) In the story, which took place long before Eve met Marci, she was shy, like Marci and wanted the best for her daughter. Her life took a drastic change when the soldiers came. They took the only thing she loved away from her. Now Eve realizes that her daughter was taken for a purpose and now she shares the story and the purpose with everyone to remember Nadia.
Setting: The setting on Marci and Eve’s side is set in Atlanta in about the 1960s. The setting was in a little town that enjoyed doing their little things. The town was decorated for a celebration. when the soldiers came it felt like a whole new scene. It felt dark and dreary. When the priest was having the visions with the children’s laughter and the song. It was like a surreal scene. I imagined whispy outlines and just kind of a floaty feeling.
Recommendation: I would suggest an older audience for this book just because there are parts when it gets pretty gruesome. I think both genders would enjoy this book. I think some Christians would like this book because of the elements of The Bible and such are found in the text. I think that it is a lovely book and most people would enjoy it.
Date: 01/04/20
Personal Response: I actually really enjoy this book. I think it was mostly because the aspects of religion are all pretty correct according to my own religion and what I am taught. It’s pretty cool how they portray heaven in this book.
Plot: Eve goes to a school to drop off some flowers from her shop. She sees a girl whom she finds interesting. She doesn't have the best clothes or style choice, but she tries. Eve invites Marci to her flower shop to make Marci beautiful. Marci is a little confused but she goes anyways. When she gets there, Eve is ready to go. Again, Marci is hesitant but she just goes with it. The story starts off with a nice sunny day in a nice village. It's Nadia’s birthday and the whole town is there except for the men who are off to war. Then the soldiers came; a small troop of five. Karadzic was the leader. He first argues with Father Michael about his faith and then decides to make the women carry crosses on their backs. The first to fall is the first to die. All Michael has to do is renounce his faith to stop it. Eventually, one of the women falls and instead, Nadia dies. Then, things get so brutal that Michael is hung on a cross like Jesus and all Karadzic wants is for one person to renounce the faith. No one will. Janic attacks Karadzic and dies. Karadzic kills the priest. The main point of the story, however, is that Nadia was beautiful for sacrificing herself. Back to the present, Eve reveals to Marcy that she was Nadia’s mother. Now Marcy realizes she's beautiful and she wants to tell others about the wonderful story.
Characterization: Marci started out very shy and kind of hated by her classmates. She wore hand-me-down clothes and was the weird kid. After she heard Eve’s story, she realized not only how beautiful she is, but also how beautiful other people are.
Eve (or known by her friends, Ivena, also Nadia’s mother) In the story, which took place long before Eve met Marci, she was shy, like Marci and wanted the best for her daughter. Her life took a drastic change when the soldiers came. They took the only thing she loved away from her. Now Eve realizes that her daughter was taken for a purpose and now she shares the story and the purpose with everyone to remember Nadia.
Setting: The setting on Marci and Eve’s side is set in Atlanta in about the 1960s. The setting was in a little town that enjoyed doing their little things. The town was decorated for a celebration. when the soldiers came it felt like a whole new scene. It felt dark and dreary. When the priest was having the visions with the children’s laughter and the song. It was like a surreal scene. I imagined whispy outlines and just kind of a floaty feeling.
Recommendation: I would suggest an older audience for this book just because there are parts when it gets pretty gruesome. I think both genders would enjoy this book. I think some Christians would like this book because of the elements of The Bible and such are found in the text. I think that it is a lovely book and most people would enjoy it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2020
What would you die for? What do you live for?
Nadia and her fellow townspeople answer these questions during a standoff with five Bosnian soldiers.
The answer may surprise you.
"We will all cross the threshold when the Groom calls (death). Until then, we wait with breathless anticipation."
"Your threat of death does not frighten us, Soldier...We've been purchased by blood; we live by the power of that blood; we will die for that blood. And we would never, never renounce our beloved Christ. He is our Creator, sir."
"Don't hold me back...Love all those who cross your path; they are all beautiful. So...so very beautiful."
"Sing, O child of mine."
I admit that I had a hard time getting into the book. But it's worth reading. The unfolding of the story is both difficult to imagine (wanting to be a martyr!) and hopeful (death means eternal life in heaven!).
I appreciated the study questions at the end. They helped me apply the lessons in this book to my personal life.
I certainly want to read the other books in this series.
Nadia and her fellow townspeople answer these questions during a standoff with five Bosnian soldiers.
The answer may surprise you.
"We will all cross the threshold when the Groom calls (death). Until then, we wait with breathless anticipation."
"Your threat of death does not frighten us, Soldier...We've been purchased by blood; we live by the power of that blood; we will die for that blood. And we would never, never renounce our beloved Christ. He is our Creator, sir."
"Don't hold me back...Love all those who cross your path; they are all beautiful. So...so very beautiful."
"Sing, O child of mine."
I admit that I had a hard time getting into the book. But it's worth reading. The unfolding of the story is both difficult to imagine (wanting to be a martyr!) and hopeful (death means eternal life in heaven!).
I appreciated the study questions at the end. They helped me apply the lessons in this book to my personal life.
I certainly want to read the other books in this series.
April 21, 2018
I could not put this book down. Dekker's writing style is capitavating. Right away I was totally engrossed. It is a gripping story that is so well written, I felt like I was actually in the story; maybe I was and I think this was the author's intent. Emotions of all type flowed as I read each word and felt each of them deep in my soul. My gut wrenched in stabbing pain and my eyes reddened as tears trickled down my cheeks. The feeling were inescapable and real.
"Because he knew something now. He knew there were two worlds in motion here. He knew that behind the skin of this world, there was another. And in that world a man was singing, and the children were laughing."(from The Martyr's Song, pg 54) Which world do I choose to live in? "We will all cross the threshold when the Groom calls. Until then, we wait with breathless anticipation."(from The Martyr's Song, pg 81) This is an book that will expose your own beliefs and what you would stand or die for.
"Because he knew something now. He knew there were two worlds in motion here. He knew that behind the skin of this world, there was another. And in that world a man was singing, and the children were laughing."(from The Martyr's Song, pg 54) Which world do I choose to live in? "We will all cross the threshold when the Groom calls. Until then, we wait with breathless anticipation."(from The Martyr's Song, pg 81) This is an book that will expose your own beliefs and what you would stand or die for.
February 8, 2024
I'm not sure how to put into words how this book made me feel.... My heart is broken for these women and children and the priest, but yet filled with awe and wonder at the love and faithfulness they showed for our Lord and Savior in the middle of unspeakable evil.
Understanding that this book is fiction, but knowing this evil does happen in reality every day. Wondering to myself, "what would I die for?" Would I have the strength and courage, to stand for Christ when faced with the ultimate evil?....I don't know... and that breaks my heart. I pray I would.
This little novella will cause you to truly dig deep and search yourself about your relationship with Christ.
Highly recommend for everyone.
Understanding that this book is fiction, but knowing this evil does happen in reality every day. Wondering to myself, "what would I die for?" Would I have the strength and courage, to stand for Christ when faced with the ultimate evil?....I don't know... and that breaks my heart. I pray I would.
This little novella will cause you to truly dig deep and search yourself about your relationship with Christ.
Highly recommend for everyone.
December 15, 2025
thought provoking, sits in your heart when you finish
Besides being well written and thought out, this book gives you something to think about that goes beyond the regular “how does this affect my life” but also the afterlife. This book came at a time for me that I would say is perfectly timed. Just the day before diving into this book I was thinking about how short life is. I don’t know the day or the hour God calls me home and in light of recent events, I’ve been thinking a lot about what I have done for God. It makes me realize that I have given too much value to the things of this world and not enough value to the heavenly things. I pray this book gives you the same realization. It’s short and sweet and beautiful even through the tragedy it portrays.
Besides being well written and thought out, this book gives you something to think about that goes beyond the regular “how does this affect my life” but also the afterlife. This book came at a time for me that I would say is perfectly timed. Just the day before diving into this book I was thinking about how short life is. I don’t know the day or the hour God calls me home and in light of recent events, I’ve been thinking a lot about what I have done for God. It makes me realize that I have given too much value to the things of this world and not enough value to the heavenly things. I pray this book gives you the same realization. It’s short and sweet and beautiful even through the tragedy it portrays.
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