Customer Reviews

Angel of Wrath: A Novel (The Voice of God series)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm not much of a suspense fan but I did have trouble putting this story down. It was nice and edgy and dealt with realistic topics relating to sinful behavior not often found in Christian fiction. Personally, I was amazed at how much abuse that one poor man could take. The special ops training helped, but still... And the forgiveness theme played a big role in this book, hence the reason I enjoyed it so much. I found it fascinating how twisted the theology of the villian was, and yet at the same time he was incredibly gifted when it came to killing people in freakish ways. This story also shows that messing around with evil is always risky and you are never safe "playing with fire." The power of prayer and worship is also highlighted in this book. Angel of Wrath shows how worship helps keep darkness at bay and reveals that no secret sin is truly "secret". This was a great story with great message.

I've whipped through every Bill Myers title I've ever read, from the Wally McDoogle series I read when I could snatch a book from my son, to the Fire of Heaven Trilogy. Whether Myers is going for humor or suspense, he cranks it out into a great read.

Angel of Wrath is not a departure from this MO or the expected Myers' skill with plot and character development. Though I didn't read book one in The Voice of God series, I'm intrigued enough to go back and pick it up because Myers, as he did with the Fire of Heaven Trilogy, introduces just enough speculation and scientific questioning into Biblical fact to make me stop and think a bit and want to read beyond the story I held in my hands.

Written in multiple POV Myers melds Satanism with a twisted "Christianity" and comes up with a horrifying religious blend from the pits. Honken Chicken Club members may find some creepiness just a little too creepy. Very conservative folks may find some of the slang language a bit trying or toe stomping. Overall, this is an entertaining and thought-provoking read. Parent warning...I'd rate it PG-13 because of some intense subject matter.

I am always pleased to find a good book that deals with an important often overlooked subject - in "Angel of Wrath" Bill Myers does an excellent job of delving into spiritual warfare. It is reminiscent of Frank Peretti's "This Present Darkness" and Shaunti Feldhahn's "The Veritas Project". This is book #2 but can stand alone (although I do plan on going back and reading the first one "The Voice") and it is based on those characters, with many returning. New characters are introduced and enrich the story. One of the things I loved most was when Jazmin describes how she feels when evil is near, and another lady describes how it feels to her - they feel it differently, but it accomplishes the same thing - makes them aware that something is wrong and they need to do something about it. The resolution in this book is fantastic, but the journey getting there is enough to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Loved this book, It was entertaining and thought provoking. If you like christian fiction then I recommmend this book. I like the characters and the message, you can't ask for more in a story!

This book is NOT for children! I'm glad I read this first, I have a teen who this was bought for but he will not be reading it. This book is a fair to good read for adults if you do not mind the sexual topics involving 13 to 16 year olds. True, a lot of children these days may think like the kids in this book do, but I did not buy a "Christian" book to encourage these thoughts and behaviors. There is a lot of sex in this book. There is the sexual abuse by a paster toward his own child, self-inflicted wrist cutting of teen girls, talk of multiple partner teen sex, third trimester abortion and much, much more. This is a very "dark" book and I would only recommend it to ADULTS that are either non-Christian or established Christians who have the strength to overlook and ignore some of the books negative...vibes? If not for the Biblical refrences and the battle of good and evil you wouldn't know it was anything Christian.

My kids love Bill Meyers,
I am a librarian in a small rural library in Mi. I try to have books
on the shelf for my teens that they will love and aren't X rated.
The teens and now several of the adults are reading him.

In this stand-alone sequel to THE VOICE, author Bill Myers continues telling the story of the three main characters in his newest release, ANGEL OF WRATH, kindly offering readers a brief background on these protagonists. Charlie Madison, former Special Ops agent who lost his wife and daughter to terrorists, has since become a burned-out recluse; Jazmin, the 13-year-old deaf daughter of Charlie's sister, now lives with him; and Lisa Harmon, a friend to both Charlie and Jazmin, is also a former FBI agent whose painful past has her fearful of commitment.

Myers opens his fast-paced, take-no-hostages story with a physician (who performs abortions) relishing time with his young daughter before bedtime when suddenly a laser beam hits and destroys her dolls. That, after receiving a cryptic church bulletin that had the words "THOU SHALT NOT KILL" highlighted, and the doctor is right to be afraid. Before the first chapter ends, the killer has dutifully carried out his own private revenge. The killings continue, and after each one, a commandment is placed close by the victim. Whoever is after the "sinners" isn't playing around, and no one is safe...especially those who claim to be Christians.

Enter Lisa, who is called upon to help solve the murders by her estranged pastor/brother Tom. When these occurrences begin happening to people from his congregation, it's hitting a little too close to home. His home. Tom's son, Will, is also a struggling soul who's dabbling in drinking and whatnot...not knowing how a single poor choice will land him in the middle of a demonic ritual and in the clutches of the otherworldly monster himself.

Soon Charlie and Jazmin join forces with Lisa, and it is Jazmin who realizes that these murders definitely have a spiritual force behind them. Though deaf, Jazmin can feel pulsations and pieces together that when believers praise God in worship, whatever demonic power is at play is diminished. Too bad no one listens to the teen until lives are at the brink of disaster and many have been killed.

With little fact to go on, the team of Charlie, Lisa and Jazmin rely on gut instinct and their faith. Each one faces inner demons from the past that must be reckoned with and overcome. The question is, how do they fight against both the physical and spiritual forces coming against them? Is there one unifying factor that will lead the group to the killer? Before the final page, readers will be surprised how Myers manages to bring to a successful conclusion these divergent characters' individual faith struggles. In seamless fashion he combines real-life heroism, spine-tingling demonic warfare, back-to-back action scenes, and a healthy measure of comedic relief.

Fans of Myers's previous work will enjoy this latest novel of suspense and will be waiting for the next installment.

--- Reviewed by Michele Howe

It seems that Lisa Harmon's brother Thomas is the pastor of a thriving megachurch, and his members are being murdered in really freaky ways. The book opens with a doctor putting his daughter to bed. This doctor performs abortions, and earlier in the day he had received a cryptic note on a church bulletin: THOU SHALT NOT KILL. He appears to die from a heart attack brought on by fright, but the words THOU SHALT NOT KILL also appear on the daughter's wall. The next victim is a businessman whose car stereo suddenly plays the song "Money" on every station, and whose car stalls out on the railroad tracks. The doors lock and he can't get out. When the train comes rolling towards him, he can not escape. On the seat beside him is a note on church stationary: THOU SHALT NOT STEAL.

So Rev. Thomas Harmon calls on his sister, Ex FBI, and Charlie Madison Special Oops turnes to minstry, to help find whoever is killing his church members. Meanwhile, there is also a cult going on in the woods: teenagers in the town are gathering, sacrificing cats, and calling on some forces that they don't understand. The guy who is behind the cult teaches that Jesus and Satan are acting together to bring revenge. These rituals in the woods call up something no one expected.

The book is teaming with supernatural occurrences, and the hair on the back of my neck bristled more than once. It definitely held my interest all the way through. There are so many stories going on at the same time and lots of baggage that needs to be unloaded, lots of problems that only God can handle. I can't say I am in complete agreement with some of the theology, but it gives a reader plenty to think about. Hopefully it will not only entertain the readers, but bring them closer to God in the process. It certainly made me think a bit more about certain areas I need to pray about more. It also should make us think about the power of worship and praise, and the need to really mean it when we sing those powerful songs to the Lord. I feel like the power of prayer is downplayed a bit too much in order to emphasize what true praise and worship are, but, nevertheless, some good points are made.

With an emphasis on teenagers, this book certainly qualifies as Young Adult, but it is most assuredly a good one for adults, too.

Angel of Wrath is an amazing spiritual thriller, the best book I've read on the subject since "This Present Darkness". The characters Bill created in "The Voice" are back, fighting a spiritual battle against a terrifying Black Mist. The creature forces people that look into it's eyes to relive all their sin guilt. Bill brilliantly brings to light problems and situations in today's churches, as the sins of many of the church members are exposed. He then brings out the fact that all sin is equal in the eyes of God, and equal also is His forgiveness, no matter how "big" the sin. I would love to see a 3rd book in this series.

If I had to sum up this book into one word, that word would be "tension." Page after page had me holding my breath, reading as fast as I could to get to the end. To comprehend this unusual Christian fiction story, readers must be willing to suspend their disbelief. The unbelievable comes shudderingly alive as evil threatens to overtake all.

There is brief comic relief in one scene where alluring, dark Heather works her magic on teenage Will and turns him into a guy who is unable to swallow, let alone speak.

For those who like to watch action films, this book will more than satisfy. What a movie it would make! Goosebumps guaranteed.