Customer Reviews

Dark Star: Confessions of a Rock Idol (Rock Star Chronicles)

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I borrowed this book from a friend. She told me it was one of the best books she'd ever read. I read the back cover and it sounded interesting. So I was anxious to read it. I wasn't disappointed. This book has something for everyone.

In a powerful way, this book reminded me that absolutely no one is beyond the redemptive power of the Gospel. This book faced the reality of sin and the rock and roll lifestyle head on. But it didn't glamorize or condone sin either. This book also has a great message about the power of prayer. It can be easy to forget that. It is not always easy to believe that prayer changes things and that it works. One of the best things we can do for someone is persistantly pray for them. This book will make you think. This is a book that will keep you up to 2am reading, because there isn't a good place to stop. I highly recommend this book. I definitely plan on reading future books by this author.

If you like this style of writing, I also recommend the books of Randall Arthur. Arthur writes in a very hard hitting style and his books are excellent. You can read my reviews of Arthur's books on this site.

I remember curling up in the backseat of our old Matador when I was ten years old, reading scenes from Nicky Cruz's "Run, Baby, Run." The story centered around his days of anger and gang violence, then culminated with his conversion. I was hooked.

In similar fashion, Creston Mapes pulled me into his fictional confessions of former rock idol, Everett Lester, who is now on trial for the murder of a psychic. The difference here is that Mapes moves quickly from the seedy side of Lester's background--drugs, sex, rock n' roll--to the powerful influence of God's love and forgiveness. Although the story is sometimes tame in its telling and wraps things up neatly in conclusion, it never shies from the ugly consequences of Lester's actions. We are well aware of Lester's abusive lifestyle and the blackness that surrounded him. The scenes of supernatural confrontation are handled confidently.

Perhaps the book's greatest strength is it format, weaving scenes from the murder trial into the unfolding account of Lester's life. It makes for a fast-paced read that is convincing in its transformation of a former bad-boy turned born-again Christian. In the hands of a lesser author, this would've lacked excitement or cohesion. Mapes turns it into a beautifully crafted tale. With the exception of missing profanity and sexual details, this feels as though it could be a true-life account. Everett Lester is fully fleshed character.

The next book, "Full Tilt," continues Lester's story, including the results of his budding romance, the snare of his brother's problems, and the devastation of methamphetamine. This is one rock solid series.

Interesting, telling, behind the scenes in the life of a big, baaad rock and roller.

In his glamorous world of music and drugs, he is torn between the influences of two women, one who is of God, the other who follows the devil. The evil one's power and his own choices lead to destruction and pain for innocent people, pain that haunts his heart and makes him question his ways.

Finally, one of these women prevails and wins his heart.

Rock and roll fans will love it when the pretty praying fan from afar finally meets the big rock star.

Well-rounded, likeable characters make the point that those who follow the Lord have authority over a very real and powerful enemy. And that if you love someone in show business, pray for them--with patience!

Creston Mapes' background in rock and roll journalism brings believability to a sometimes scary and very satisfying story.

This is a wonderful book! It offers romance, suspense, courtroom drama and characters that come to life. Be prepared - it's a beautiful story that will work it's way into your heart. It's hard to believe this is Mr. Mapes first novel, can't wait for the sequel!

DeathStroke is a band much like KISS and other hard rock bands of the '70s and '80s. They climbed to fame and fortune with kids screaming their names while parents felt the influence in their children's lives. DeathStroke is the bad of the BAD: they did what they felt like doing and were untouchable. Then things changed for one member of the band when the consequences of his actions were before his eyes - in a hospital bed with tubes and machines attached to a young girl's body while she struggled for life.

This book is filled with Christian quotes, beliefs, symbolism, and hope. If God can find the bad boy, Everett Lester, worth saving, what does He have in store for you...and me?

Creston Mapes wrote this book from the heart. The darkness of being famous and constantly in the limelight is tangible in his writings. The pressure felt by the band members was felt by me as the reader. The beacon that was Karen Bayliss shone out of her letters. The story was engaging and drew me in. I couldn't seem to stop reading as the court trial unfolded as well as the back history. Mr. Mapes did a great job alternating between the past and the present to create an enticing timeline that left me breathless to the last page. There are many quotes from the Bible and the Christian beliefs are those of a Born-Again Christian. These may seem a bit heavy in the text to some, but I felt they are crucial to the story.

The conversion of Everett Lester to Christianity rocked the world and has left me anticipating what his influence will be in the next book, Full Tilt. You will see my review here soon.

When I first received Dark Star, I had a difficult time starting the book. Once I picked the book up to read on our vacation over the Christmas holiday, I found I could not put the book down. I read an e-book, via my computer and phone. I read in the car on our two day trip to Phoenix, I read at night when I did not have any television to watch. I found I read via my phone every chance I got.

The story of Everett Lester was a unthinkable life, his life had so many twists and turns it was hard to keep up. The story flipped back and forth from his current trial, to his rock and roll days, the story would change mid paragraph. I found much to my amazement that this was an effective way to tell the story of Everett's life. The story was in Everett's voice as he was writing his own story.

The story had drugs, alcohol, violence and Jesus all wrapped into one story. It was a crazy idea that worked well. I had a difficult time wanting to read of such hatred towards Christ, but in the end the good versus evil proved to be the kind of a story one would picture a wealthy rock start life to include. I was taken in by this story and highly recommend this book.
This book is a trilogy; I am starting the second book tomorrow and looking forward to the new book.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is willing to push through the dark in this book to find the light.

Talk about a wild ride. Everett Lester is the epitome of the bad boy rocker to the extreme. Not the bad boys of today, but I think back to the Ozzy Ozbournes and the other extreme bands of the 70s and 80s that my generation was warned against (and I am sure there are still some of those today, they just aren't the mainstream, just like they weren't back then). Drugs, sex, drinking, a psychic on tour with him, Everett had all of that. He was hardly likable, yet there was one fan that wrote to him of God's love and she continued to write to him over a ten year period. Everett kept her letters for some reason and always read her letters. That was his turning point, this one girl who kept praying for him and kept the faith that he could change.

I really like how the book goes back and forth in the story between the current court case and Everett's previous life. It slowly fills in the blanks of what happened that leads up to the court case and it's a thrill ride for sure. I liked getting to know Everett and seeing what happened. I also liked meeting Karen, her parents, Everett's sister Mary and her friend Jerry and the others along the way as well. The story that Mr. Mapes weaves is really intriguing and it kept me reading into the wee hours of morning to see what would happen next.

I enjoyed the plot thoroughly. It felt plausible. Bad boy rocker one day realizes his life is empty and finds his way to God, but of course, it's really not that simple, you have to read the book because I don't want to give anything away. Just know that it moves quickly alternating back and forth, but it's easy to tell which is in the past and which is in the present. I was never confused so that was great.

The characters were also well done. From the seemingly perfect like Karen (who had her flaws as well) to the down right evil and all of the ones in between, which is where most everyone else fell, the characters are down-to-earth and real. Sometimes really scary, but still real to me. I liked Everett even though he is deeply flawed to begin with, he is still redeemable, as well all are. I think he reminded me not to judge because we all sin and no sin is worse than another in God's eyes because it is all sin. I like how the Christian characters preach love, but they still preach trying to live a life for God, so it's not skewed in either direction where it's too much law or too much love. It's seems the perfect mix. The book is not preachy at all, the Christian parts just seem to flow. Karen never screams at Everett, she just gently writes to him over the years and prays.

This book is just amazing to me and I can't wait to start reading Full Tilt, which I have, but have a bunch of review books to finish before I can start. But I will get to it soon and can't wait to get back to see what happens in Everett's life next. Try it out, this book is one of those that can wow you.

Dark Star: Confessions of a Rock Idol by Cresten Mapes is the story of Everett Lester who is the lead singer of a the wildly popular band, DeathStroke. Everett's rough childhood and disbelief in God take him down a dark path. Despite having everything money can buy, he's still not happy. He looks to many different things to fill the void, but cannot seem to find what he's looking for. When his music and words start to lead many fans away from God, one Christian girl begins to pray that God will change Everett Lester's life and the battle for his soul commences.

Within the first chapter, I was completely hooked. The plotline was riveting and the intensity was well-paced. The character development was so well done that I can't wait to read the next two novels in this series. The spiritual warfare that occurs throughout the story is mind-blowing and yet totally believable. As the truth behind events are revealed, the reader can't help wondering how it will all turn out. I was on the edge of my seat until the very end. If you like thriller books, then this is a must read.

Thanks to MediaGuests for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write an honest opinion.

Creston Mapes had me falling in love with the redeeming Everett Lester right from the beginning. For a soul so lost, Everett was on the path to Hell, but because of the faithful Karen Bayliss, he is a soul with a chance. I love stories that have you pulling for the underdog and Creston Mapes had me doing just that. Though I am a Catholic Christian, I don't usually read Christian fiction, but this book changed my mind about that. It was thought-provoking, yet not preachy. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. I know Everett will make me proud.

I found this book in a $5 dollar rack in Lifeway and bought it. I love music and thought it might be a decent book...and was I wrong! It was a fantastic book! The story and characters are believable. In fact, when they meet for the first time and she finds out he has become a Christian, I actually shed a few tears. It was a very emotional moment. I've never cried reading another book before. I've let friends borrow this book and bought a copy for another friend and the reviews all come back the same - excellent.