Quest for Celestia: A Reimagining of The Pilgrim's Progress

by Steven James

Join Kadin on his journey to Celestia in this creative reimagining of John Bunyan's Christian classic, The Pilgrim's Progress. Kadin's faith is challenged and strengthened as he seeks to rid himself of the growth on his neck and make his way to Celestia. Steven James uses his master storytelling ability to re-create the life-changing journey of The Pilgrim's Progress for readers ages 14 to 19.

Genres: Fantasy, Christian Fiction, Christian, Fiction, Christian Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade

271 pages, Paperback

First published February 27, 2006

About the author

Steven James is the award-winning, critically acclaimed author of twenty novels and numerous books on the craft of novel writing, including the new release, DELVE, PIVOT, PROPEL, which explores revolutionary new approaches to fiction writing. With a master's degree in storytelling, James teaches writing worldwide and has appeared on five continents telling stories and teaching storytelling at over 2000 appearances.

His latest Young Adult horror novel, RIFT, is the first in a new trilogy that takes place in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. James lives in Eastern Tennessee and loves watching sci-fi movies, playing basketball, and eating chicken fajitas—although not all at the same time.

James has been penning smart, taut thrillers that actually thrill, since 2007, when his acclaimed psychological suspense novel, THE PAWN, released.

If you love stories and storytelling, check out his podcast, The Story Blender, on which he has interviewed nearly 200 of the world's top writers and storytellers.

Reviews

[Emilee (Fantastical Paper Realm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed for Fantastical Adventures Through the Paper realm

The story:
Kadin is a normal 18 year old boy. Ready to turn 19 and be a respectable man, to be what he is expected to be. Until he meets a mysterious man and receives an even more mysterious book, The book of blood. This book that he presumes is cursed reveals painful sores all over him and his fellow villagers. When he sets out on a journey to save himself, he realizes nothing that he has known about the world is really true.
His path ends up entwined with that of a girl from his village, Liera. She’s damaged and fragile, but she might be exactly what Kadin needs to keep himself focused on their dangerous quest.

My thoughts:
I love this book! It’s not at all what I expected from a re-imagining of Pilgrims Progress. The original has such a beautiful story, but it’s heavy and hard to get into. Steven James has taken the heart of the story and turned it into something so new and different. What he’s done with it is absolutely beautiful!
Kadin is a super cool character! He’s unique and the fact that he’s 18 makes this a perfect YA book! Leira was my favorite. I don’t quite understand how Steven James writes teenage girls in a realistic and likable way, but he does! He’s one of the few authors who does it really well, it’s sort of weird!
There’s so much to the story. Just at face value it’s an awesome fantasy novel with everything expected from the genre, but when you go deeper it’s such a gorgeous allegory of the Christian life.
Steven James proves that he can be fantastic in any genre, for any age group, and with any type of character! The man is seriously cool.
This is one of the books that could be read time and time again! It was an instant favorite of mine. Just read it, it’s not at all what you will expect!

Content:
Language: None(reason #137 to love Steven James)
Sexual content: Mild
Violence: Moderate

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/review/R35NOXS6...
Review on my blog: http://christianbookshelfreviews.blog...

Quest for Celestia was a great read! I wasn't too sure if I'd like it, but once I read a couple chapters, I was into the story and ended up loving it!

Ever since I began reading the Patrick Bowers Files, in 2011, Steven James has been one of my favorite authors. I've enjoyed all ten fiction novels I've read of his, including Quest for Celestia. This book had a different feel to it than the other books (as can be expected, since they are thrillers and this is a fantasy/reimagining of The Pilgrim's Progress).

Overall, I loved reading this book! I'm so glad I decided to buy it earlier this month. I recommend Quest for Celestia to anyone that typically enjoys these types of reads. I am eagerly anticipating the release of Steven James' upcoming books, Checkmate (Patrick Bowers Files) and Blur (Blur Trilogy).

*I did not get this for review. I purchased my copy. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

[~Evy's OBSESSED~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.6

"Truth is not a tamed beast to bridle as you please. Truth is wild and runs and pants and leaps and climbs and breathes."

I have a confession....I've never read Pilgrim's Progress, so I can't say what the similarities and differences between these two books are....that aside I really did enjoy this book! At times it got a little hard to follow, but it always picked up again and made sense.

Kadin: I really liked Kadin as a main character. He's far from perfect, but is super protective and seeks after the truth. I also like how he's like totally oblivious and off in his own world sometimes😂❤️

Leira: I love this girl! She's been through so much and yet still keeps hoping. Also love her smart mouth comments. They're hilarious 😂❤️

**

OVERVIEW
"After a chance encounter with a man whom 16-year-old Kadin believes is a wizard, his life and health begin to deteriorate. 
Out of desperation he embarks on an epic journey to a land no one in his village believes exists, to be healed of a disease no one thinks he has.
His quest for truth leads him to a fantastical world of witches, dragons, giants, danger, and deception.  Tracked by an evil lord and accompanied by only one friend, Kadin must face his greatest fear to find the healing he longs for most.
A stand-alone fantasy novel, Quest for Celestia is a complete re-imagining of one of the bestselling books of all time, first published more than 300 years ago—The Pilgrim’s Progress.
If you think you know the story, think again. Twists lurk around every corner. The journey begins now.  Destiny awakes in the hills."

POSITIVE ELEMENTS
Good messages of seeking the truth! Positive role models and characters.

SPIRITUAL ELEMENTS
The whole book is kinda like the journey to finding out who God is. The Book of Blood is the Bible. Lots of biblical similarities.

VIOLENCE
Some fights. Blood and pain (semi-detailed). Swords and axes. Death.

SEXUAL CONTENT
There appears to be an attraction between Kadin and Leira. Holding and hand holding (not inappropriate). Although not discussed, it is hinted that a girl was sexually abused.

LANGUAGE
Clean. Mention of cursing (nothing said).

DRUGS/ALCOHOL
Mention of ale and alcohol.

OTHER NOTES
Great short read! Highly suggest!

**

~Happy Reading~

[Sharon Mariampillai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing Read

This was an incredible read. I loved the story and it was well-written. In this book, Kadin is a 18 year old boy who meets a mysterious man and receives a mysterious book called The Blood. The book reveals pain sores all over his body and his fellow villagers. I thought the story was amazing. I thought Kadin was an amazing character. He is unique. I also love Leira. I thought she was my type of heroine. I loved her. She was my favourite. I thought the ending was beautiful. Everything happens for a reason! Overall, an amazing read.

[Lavay Byrd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredible read! The fact that I finished it in hours tells you that it's THAT good!

I was very familiar with John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress-- though I read some of the book and watched several of movie adaptations. After coming across a beautiful children's book version, The Little Pilgrim's Progress, I had always wondered if there was ever an adaptation/retelling of The Pilgrim's Progress in book form... for teens and adults.

Then I discovered this book at a library. Like every other book, I opened the page and became... captivated. I followed Kaiden, a young man just entering adulthood who, upon an encounter with a "wizard", finds his life turned upside down in more ways than one. In fact, the life he knew was nothing more than a life under a curse... and the only way to be truly free is to journey to the City of Celestial, home of the One True King. Armed with a mysterious Book of Blood, he embarks on a journey of a lifetime, joined by a young woman name Leira with a painful past whose become a cherished companion.

There journey is never easy. It's fraught with many dangers and pain, both external and internal that will test their faith. But...as they discover... there is always goodness. TRUE GOODNESS that points THE TRUTH.

This was so beautifully written with his imagination and the clear inspiration from both Pilgrim's Progress and the God who gifted him. What I also loved is the "hidden elements" that doesn't feel forced. They're so woven in the story that allows the reader to discover the clues themselves... and yet all the while touched by an Eternal King... and a Prince who loves them.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quest for Celestia is a fascinating and highly motivating book. The book is a reimagining of The Pilgrims’ Progress by John Bunyan, and thus an allegory of the Christian life.

The story is a compelling one taking place in a unique setting with plenty of surprises along the way. It’s a journey filled with high stakes action, humor, healthy romance, and lessons for all ages.

Though the story stands on its own, it’s a million times deeper with the allegory.

The first time I read the book, I will admit that I made the mistake of focusing too much on the allegory. I was so focused on trying to find the meaning of every scene, that I actually missed who the the allegorical representation of Christ was. I see how other readers could make the same mistake I made, and that’s why I included my experience in the review.

My advice on how to read this book is the advice of Leland Ryken. To quote him; “We will fare just fine with Bunyan’s allegorical story if we read it as a travel story and adventure story first, and then allow the theological and moral level to emerge as an extra source of enjoyment and edification.”

Despite my mix-up, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book my first time through, and much more on my second time. It was deeper and more clear the second time for me.

This is a book I will continue to read in the years to come. There are truths and principles in this book to review and come back to.

I would definitely recommend this book to fans of young adult fiction, fantasy, and to Christians of any age.

[Katrina Kehn · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a great retelling of the Pilgrims Progress. It was narrated very well and was a quick and exciting read.

[Cheryl Okimoto · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good read, but I think it was a little light for young adult fare. Also, while it's been many years since I read the original Pilgrim's Progress, I think it lost some of the power of Bunyan's tale. In making it relevant for today's readers, he set up a lot of problems.
The first thing that is problematic, at least in the version I read, is the cover. The dragon is the prime feature of the cover, and he's repeated throughout the book on every page. Yet, he's a minor character that appears in one chapter. Very misleading for fantasy lovers who are rightfully expecting a dragon tale - even if the dragon is the bad guy, he should be the primary bad guy when he's the face of the story.
In the course of the tale, Kadin does some real head-scratchers. To avoid giving spoilers, I'll just say that he fundamentally changes the Quest for Celestia for all future vagabonds; which makes me go "huh?" There is no way the Pilgrim's Progress should have been re-imagined as the vagabond being what a thousand years (or more) previous questers could not be.
Another issue I see is that the spiritual aspect of it was too often heavily veiled; how many contemporary readers can make the leap to the biblical truths James is illustrating? And speaking of biblical truths, he played fast and loose with some of those truths. The King has a physical form, but the Prince is just a vague character occasionally talked about. (Too avoid spoilers, I'll leave it at that.)
I recommend this book, but more as an adventure story for preteens than as a spiritual tale for young adults.

[Brittani (Book_Byrd) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't read the original classic, Pilgrims Progress, that this book is reimagined after, so I don't have any comments about comparison. I found the allegory in this book really creative and interesting. I would say this book would be a good read to your kids around ages 10-15. Though the main protagonist, Kadin, is supposed to be 17 I feel like he was written in a way that he sounds younger. The writing isn't difficult to read and is easy to follow. It keeps a good pace of action and intrigue.
As an adult reader it was enjoyable, just seemed a little simplistic, besides the theology behind the allegory. I think it'd be a great Christian Book Club book.
It's a fun, fantasy adventure read that also makes you think about it's connections to the bible.

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been decades since I read John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, so I couldn't say what similarities this book has to the one it reimagines, but it is a good story just as an adventure/fantasy story, and there are clearly elements regarding faith/salvation that play an essential role in the story without overwhelming the story (as I think they tend to in Bunyan's original). It was less allegorical than I expected, considering the pattern set by Bunyan, but I think the lessons for faith are clear even if I could not identify in every chapter, "oh, this represents that." I think it would be an enjoyable book for children as well as adults.

[Jill K Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book I've read in awhile, and that's saying something because I read a ton. Great for teens and adults, this stand-alone fantasy novel is a reimagining of The Pilgrim's Progress. When 16-year-old Kadin's health deteriorates after an encounter with a strange man, he embarks on an epic journey to determine the cause of his frightening condition. The dangerous quest opens his eyes to the truth that could heal both his mind and his body. This is an amazing read with mind-blowing twists and turns. Steven James is a master storyteller.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite some initial skepticism, I wound up loving this book. There's enough Pilgrim's Progress "homage moments" to satisfy someone looking for the connections there, but enough twists and added elements to make it more than just an updated version of a classic; it's a new story and good in its own right.

[Luke Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a great book! Having read Pilgrim's Progress on my own and as course work, I was interested to see what the phenomenal Mr. James did with this concept. With slight apologies to John Bunyan, I'd advocate that no child ever be assigned to read Pilgrim's Progress again and instead read this great re-imagining for modern readers.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great read! This would be a wonderful book for a preteen through high school reader. There is adventure and suspense throughout. If you or your growing up too fast child loves to read and enjoys a page turner...check this one out!

[Warhog · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Absolutely Awesome book.

As a reader, I say that the creativity and utter skill in this book is fantastic, the way the author wrote this story as a creative spin off of the New Testiment. And as a Christian, I take my hat off for the writers of this story, this truth...

[Faye Walton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this back at the beginning of November in place of reading the edition I have of Pilgrim's Progress. Great retelling. If I'm saying this right, it's almost like an urban fantasy, especially at the beginning.

[A.D. Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great spin on a classic. So many nuggets of truth in this story. It was a huge blessing!

[Sadie Belphi (Princess Pessimism) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gonna be generous with my rating cause those last few chapters really picked up. This book had no right to make me that emotional.

[Lynn's · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my opinion, re-telling a classic can be hard. There are so many factors to take into account, mainly, how can you make something that is already beloved different and appealing to readers? (Readers are the worst for being like, “Um, excuse me, I liked the original…”) The first time I saw Steven James book, The Quest For Celestia, a re-imagined Pilgrims Progress, I wasn’t sold on it. The second time I saw it, I thought, “Okay, let’s be open minded here.” So, I bought it! Here’s my thoughts…

In the authors note, James said he tried to emphasize the character development more in his story compared to Bunyan’s. I definitely agree with this. Pilgrim's Progress was very theological. Lots of Scripture quoted throughout the book and many scenes were intense in emotion and doctrine. The characters Kadin and Leira in James' novel were very much centered around their personal stories and eventually, a romance between the two. Both Kadin and Leira were great characters I enjoyed. Kadin was likable because he was the narrator and honest. Leira was smart, tough and full of mystery. It was fun to watch both grow and develop page after page.

Another thing I really liked was how Kadin’s “infection” was removed. I felt like it was a really great way to illustrate the Gospel and what Jesus did on the cross, but, in a way that fit the fantasy genre. Also, I loved how the author made the “book” a living thing - with a heartbeat and breathing ability. Just like the Bible is a living word that speaks life into our stories, the “Book of Blood” was the same in this story. So, I’d say the author nailed the imagery! The only thing I can critique about the story was the battle with “Apollyon.” I felt like it was a little too easy and could have been better.

Conclusion: when I started The Quest For Celestia, I had just finished a great book and was worried that this one might not click because I was still processing the last novel. After the first chapter, my worries were gone and I was drawn in! Allegorys like Bunyan’s Pilgrim's Progress are not as popular in today’s market and most have to jump into the Fantasy genre to be accepted. I really enjoyed that Steven James took the time to bridge the gap with this novel by giving readers something in the middle - not totally allegorical, but, not totally fantasy. I would definitely recommend The Quest For Celestia to readers looking for allegorys that have been written recently!

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Steven James is a masterful storyteller, I particularly enjoyed his more recent work Rift and his command of narrative forms and rhetoric. I hesitate to be critical for this reason, but while Quest for Celestia had many of the hallmarks of a great James retelling, it left me wanting a bit more.

Unlike the original Pilgrim's Progress which was intended for broad readership, this retelling is firmly in the children's literature category. The author advertises it as appropriate for ages 14 to 19, though if not for the depictions of violence I would have pegged it closer to ages 10 to 15 or thereabouts.

The allegories are heavy-handed and not at all subtle, but still an improvement over the source material. The work falls prey to some cliche tropes and gendered stereotypes, notably with the MMC being the moral touchstone and white-knight archetype, and the FMC overcoming trauma and body shame to learn that she is loved. The tropes are occasionally subverted, yet still occasionally present as undertones even in their subversion.

It is difficult to pinpoint the theological orientation of the work. I can detect hints of crucicentrism, bibliocentrism, pietism, and individualism. I don't recall the Incarnation, the Holy Spirit, or any form of a social gospel featuring prominently in the allegorical retelling. I would wager it is intended for Anglosphere Evangelical audiences with a substitutionary model of atonement. This is not too surprising when considering the Puritanical origins of the source material.

As a Christian parent who is not particularly Evangelical, I have no immediate concerns with my child reading this book, although I might consider pairing it with a discussion afterwards. I would focus on identifying the work's distinct themes, and how we might retell the story to emphasize other themes.

[Esther · Rating 5 out of 5]

“‘In these lands, here and up into the mountains, good and evil aren’t just ideas.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘They’re real, son. Strong enough to take on flesh and form. Here, evil has a face and a heartbeat.’”

Steven James is known as the bestselling author of over thirty psychological thrillers, and though this is a re-imagining of “A Pilgrim’s Progress” written for teens, the eerie, chilling sensation that characterizes his writing is present all the same. Most definitely a young adult story, but most definitely a Steven James story.

Quest for Celestia captured my attention the first time I read it nearly 10 years ago, and has held me there ever since. Like the original well-loved book by John Bunyan, it’s a kind of allegory for the Christian life, but this time with some storyteller twists. These pages are jam-packed full of dragons, and evil lords, and the ever-cryptic Book of Blood. An invisible sickness. Face-to-face encounters with the essence of evil. Bounty hunters. Nightmares. Deliverance.

This book puts new language to the old tale, in a way I find electrifying and beautiful. Thank you for loosing your imagination into the streets of Abaddon and all the way to Celestia, Steven James.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
I’ve never read Pilgrims Progress, so the callbacks to the original were a bit lost on me, and at some times the story felt a bit “on the nose” for the themes and messages it was trying to tell. But I thought the second half of the book really picked up and carried it through to the end. One of the reviews mentioned it was a bit violent/gore in the descriptions of evil, a bit much for a teenage audience. But I would disagree. I think for portraying the reality of evil, and the weight and consequence of choosing to get caught up in it and the opposition to good that is present, I think it was an engaging portrayal even for being a bit over the top with the morals. The descriptions of evil existed for a purpose - to demonstrate the depravity of evil in order to contrast it with what is good. That kind of depiction of evil and violence we don’t get today. Instead of violence for the sake of shock or horror, I think this story was a unique piece and accomplished its purpose well.

[Michele Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, look. My son read this book, said it was the best book he'd ever read, and I HAD to read it for myself.

I read it. I was not as impressed as my son, but it was fairly good. I would perhaps give it four stars.

However, my son said it would be a crime to give this book fewer than five stars ("Give it more, if you can.") so I am honoring the one in my family who adores this book, at least until he can write his own reviews.

An enjoyable reimagining of Pilgrim's Progress!

[Analie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the concept of this book. A fantasy version of Pilgrim's Progress? I was intrigued and bought the book as a possible gift for a sibling. While I liked the characters, I found the book too gory to enjoy. The design looks like an older child's novel, but the content (references to rape, violent deaths, etc.) is much more suited for mature teens and up.

[Stephanie Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book in a day. I loved it! It left me wanting more, however. It’s a shorter book and I wish it would have been longer, filled with more. But I still loved it!
It was so nice to read a young adult fantasy that didn’t include smut, it was refreshing!

[Lisa Horne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book putting "Pilgrim's Progress" in an easier read. Enjoyed this book.

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well worth the time for such a fine work. Bravo!

[Liz Banks · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful allegory! It is a storyteller's Pilgrim's Progress and delightful in every wayscarey, funny, thought provoking, not too long.

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young adult version of Pilgrim's Progress with more left to the imagination but also much left out.

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was telling my wife about this book that we should get our kids to read it. That’s when she told me it was a rewrite of a classic! It was so good!