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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic!, May 15, 2008
This review is from: Chaos (The Lost Books, Book 4) (The Books of History Chronicles) (Hardcover)
I've followed Dekkers new series "The Lost Books" more out of an obligation and desire to learn more details about the world he created in the original Circle trilogy then out of a desire to be entertained. Chosen, Infidel, Renegade, although they were somewhat enjoyable for the most part the series has been one giant disappointment after another, showing off Dekkers more childish side of writing instead of his serious, deep, and thoughtful style. Although I loved his new novel, Adam, my expectations for Chaos were low. I was not expecting the incredible thrill ride that awaited me within the pages of this book. Where did this come from? Why couldn't the whole series be as amazing as this one entry? It's so mind boggling how Dekker turns a series which was destined to remain a low point in his carrier and make it into something worth remembering.
We pick up immediately where we left off after Renegade. Silvie and Johnis have crossed from their reality in which good and evil exist physically in the form of furry bats, white for the good guys black for the bad guys (duh). They are thrown into an environment they are unfamiliar with, sin city itself, Las Vegas in the year 2033. But where are Karas, Darsal? Did they make it through to this reality? And what about Alucard? Where did that stinking old bat get off to?
Renegade is by far the hardest book in the series to write a review for. Where the other three books were pretty standard and had few, if any, real shockers, Chaos is nothing BUT one shock after another. Revelation after revelation page after page after page, so many it will make your head spin. One hundred pages into the book I was already pulling my hair out in shock! No, none of these shockers are as good as the ending for Thr3e, but they are on par with any other in a Ted Dekker book. Chaos most resembles Showdown, with an ending which hearkens back to the days of Obsessed. Yes, this isn't a brake from the norm, it's a lot of the same old, but I love the same old and this book was no disappointment.
Chaos is a wonderful book which fits perfectly with the Circle Trilogy which made Dekker great in the first place. The wonder and allegory of that brilliant series in brought back in full force, and the tie ins to all the other Paradise books is great. How did I not realize sooner that the villains from Showdown, House, and Skin, are named Black, Red, and White, the names of his original series? WOW! How long has Dekker been planning this? And this might not be the end. The series continues with Sinner in September, and later, if my sources are correct (I read it on Dekkers web sight so I'm pretty sure), Green, another chapter to go along with the original Circle series (but we'll have to wait on that one). Until then enjoy Sinner and Kiss, coming out n September and January of next year.
Re read value; High.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
a phenomenal ending...?, May 4, 2008
This review is from: Chaos (The Lost Books, Book 4) (The Books of History Chronicles) (Hardcover)
Chaos is a fun, thrilling and emotionally challenging end to a great 4 story set.
The book is filled with much of Ted's humor as you see characters from the history trying to quickly adapt and master many things we take for granted in our own world.
It seems that the heroes keep going back and forth from being ahead, to falling behind and so you are left wondering often how in the world will everything resolve.
This book in my opinion was filled with the most surprises and as other reviews stated, the most answers, but Im thankful you are left with still more questions which will beg more stories to answer them.
In the end, the greatest thing about this book are the many truths explored about the true nature of darkness and sin in our lives, the love of elyon(Christ) which can overcome it, and the choice that we are left free but forced to eventually make.
I still won't give Ted 5-stars because I think a little more detail and development could add a new level of depth and enjoyment to all of his works, but nonetheless, I love everything he has written so far and always find myself racing to the end, right alongside the heroes. Keep them coming!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderfully Chaotic, April 27, 2008
This review is from: Chaos (The Lost Books, Book 4) (The Books of History Chronicles) (Hardcover)
Faced with certain death in Alucarde's lair, the only escape for the young recruits is to open a book and touch it with blood. So one by one, they each touch a book and with the exception of one are transported to outside Las Vegas, Nevada. Oddly, though, when they cross over, there is a definitive time change. They left within moments of each other, but arrived years apart. Once in the histories, they're faced with many challenges, one of which is locating each other. However, Alucarde crossed over as well and he's diligently trying to unite the books as well. Will the chosen ones be able to unite the books before the Dark One can?
Chaos starts out a bit chaotic. It's quite funny to watch Johnis and Silvie attempt to adjust to `modern' society. It reminded me quite a bit of the humorous side Ted showed in Obsessed and was very effective in setting up the story before the serious part hit. It also kept the first part of the book from being slow and full of redundant arguing. In my opinion, the best start of all the YA books.
In Chaos, many questions are answered, but there are still more lingering. While we finally learn the answers to questions like, what happens when the seven books are united? What are the worms? Who is the Dark One? At the end, we know more, but we still don't know all.
The heart of Chaos is in the revelation of the Dark One, which I'll leave for you to discover. As usual, Ted hits us with a dose of pure truth. The chaos inside of each person. God's choosing of us and his overwhelming love for us. The heart of the Great Romance. Powerful truth that hopefully sets into the heart of every reader. Another great book and a nice 'fix' until the next installment.
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