Welcome to Paradise.
Epic battles of good and evil are happening all around us.
Today that battle comes to town with the sound of lone footsteps clacking down the blacktop on a hot, lazy summer afternoon. The black-cloaked man arrives in the sleepy town of Paradise and manages to become the talk of the town within the hour. Bearing the power to grant any unfulfilled dream, he is irresistible.
Seems like bliss . . . but is it?
Or is hell about to break loose in Paradise?
***This review has a few minor spoilers.
I decided to take a break from my normal reading material to read this Ted Dekker book that’s been sitting on my shelf for awhile. I purchased it from the discount rack at Booksamillion awhile ago.
Paradise is a small, sleepy, boring town…until the new preacher, Marsuvees Black, arrives. Once Black enscounces himself within the town, he puts the entire Paradise population under his spell, with the exception of a young boy named Johnny. Johnny has witnessed Black murdering another citizen, and he can see the true colors of Black’s haunted personality. Johnny is scared, and he wants to save Paradise from Black, whom he considers a devil-like creature.
Wait a second. Do you like inspiring books? You must read Southern Comfort. It’s a haunting faith-filled tale. Tell your friends and church buddies by sharing this link. Download today! On Kindle & KU! Now, back to Showdown.
Meanwhile, up in the hills, a monastery is performing an experiment: Project Showdown. If the monks and teachers can keep a group of orphans separated from society and evil, will those children only be destined for goodness once they are released into the world, therefore becoming citizens of strong faith which could be an advantage to the rest of mankind? These orphans are not supposed to go into the dungeons, but Billy, one of the orphans, decides to break that rule after he comes under Black’s influence. As other orphans follow Billy’s footsteps, you’re drawn into a story where child writers are mesmerized by worms, worm sludge, and fictional characters. Samuel, another orphan, finds himself in the unique position of trying to sway his peers to go against evil to attempt to find their way back to the way of goodness and light.
This story did draw me in, and I thought it had a phenomenal Christian message. It shows how easily one can be swayed into evil, and while in the Devil’s evil clutches, you’re brainwashed, no longer thinking that things like murder and violence against innocent people are wrong in God’s eyes.
However, some parts of the book were utterly gross. When the kids are in the dungeon, and their flesh is destroyed by an evil rash with sores, they use worm sludge to treat their afflicted skin. Huge worms haunt the dungeon, multiplying while providing sludge treatments for the children. When the children eat the sludge…just gross is all.
Great violence and harm comes to one of the monastery’s children. It was hard for me to read about this…it just was. Although the story comes together at the end, this part will probably be hard to get through if you’re a sensitive reader.
If you like a good read with lots of supernatural elements, then this book is for you.
I love Ted Dekker books.
He is a super author.
I don’t have this book yet, but have read it.
Thanks for the interview,
Trinity Rose
wandaelaine at gmail dot com
This does sound like a good read. i just don’t know if i like the supernatural effects added to the storyline that depicts a christian message. i’m going to place it on my book list.
@Trinity – which TD book is your favorite?
@Sidne – yes, most of TD’s books have supernatural effects in them. That’s one reason why I don’t read his books often. The supernatural thriller/fantasy books are not my favorite books to read. However, I do read them a few times a year – the supernatural things don’t bother me when I read books like this sparingly. If you read it, let me know what you thought.
Hi,
It’s hard to choose just one. My favorite Ted Dekker books would be the Martyr’s Song Series and Thr3e.
Have a blessed Palm Sunday.
Trinity Rose
wandaelaine at gmail dot com
I have issues with Ted Dekker or his editors. I’m not sure which is to blame, maybe both, but the quality of TD’s writing has fallen. I can’t read his stuff anymore. After I found what I think were author’s notes about formating a sentence as ‘internal dialogue’. It was not an advance reader copy where mistakes will be found and removed. It was a published version and the character was apparently telling himself that he was…well…thinking. His early stuff was great, but then he became the flavor of the month. He needs to slow down and work on his craft again instead of pushing out so many titles. IMO.
I recently read a Ted Dekker book for the first time…liked it, wasn’t crazy about it. Your review does make this book sound intriguing, though. Dekker reminds me just a bit of Dean Koontz, who I also like “selectively,” if you know what I mean! 🙂
@Michael – I believe I read a review on Amazon about Boneman’s Daughter’s and the reviewer made a comment similiar to yours. I haven’t read all of Ted’s earlier stuff, and I haven’t read much of his later stuff, so, it’s hard for me to compare. However, I can imagine that the quality of writing would go down if you’re suddenly cranking out books so often.
@Cindy – yes, this is a genre that I read selectively and rarely. So, I know what you mean.
I like Ted Dekker, for the most part. I found SHOWDOWN complex and interesting. It got a little touchy at times, but then it is supposed to be a thriller. I also liked The Boneman’s Daughters, although I just couldn’t get into Burn. So I guess I fit in the crowd that has found TD a hit and miss author, especially of late.
Meanwhile, for those interested, Terri Blackstock has gotten so much better. Her suspense nears thriller at times, but the way she handles things is always amazing.
@David – I have BURN (at least I think I do) on my to-read shelf. I believe Ted co-wrote that book with Erin Healy?
Terri Blackstock is one of my favorite suspense authors. I have her book, Predator, on my to-be-read pile, too.