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Forbidden (The Books of Mortals)

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The world is dead and yet they walk about ignorant of their death, unaware that what makes them human has been stripped from them, that real life has been Forbidden and emotion deemed too powerful to possess. Rom Sebastian has lived contentedly in this existence - content only because he can feel no differently. Rom's world changes when a wild man entrusts him with a vial of blood and a cryptic message on vellum. Rom ingests the Blood that brings new life - real life - and sets off on the journey prescribed by the message.

But with the indescribable power of Love rises the potential for hate, for greed, for ruthless ambition: so far as emotion can take man to soaring heights so too can it drag man to his deepest depths. Forbidden is a tale of discovery in a utopian future where man's capacity to truly feel nearly brought about ultimate destruction and was thus removed. Rom now holds the key to the resurrection of the world, a key that will place him in ultimate danger as those in power will do anything to prevent the breaking of Order. Sacrifices will be made; heroes will be created; friends will forge true friendships. And in the end, it will truly have begun.

Forbidden tugs at the heart and rends the soul, eliciting emotions of joy and sorrow, hope and despair, and even takes the reader to the brink of the greatest emotion of all: Love. It is a reminder that unlike the walking dead, stripped of all humanity, we must still retain some part of Life within us. Or perhaps it a warning that we too have been deceived, that our perception has brought our deception, and that the emotions we believe we feel, we experience bereft of their true power, intensity, and vibrancy. Perhaps we too should long for the Blood that sets us free.

Master Storytellers Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee have combined forces to weave a tale more breath-taking and mind-blowing than any you've ever read. Fans of Dekker will assuredly see his hand in pacing, plotting, and structure. Fans of Lee will definitely see her work in crafting the eloquence, lending it the literary and medieval mystique that solemnly sets the tone. Forbidden is a unique blend that results in a true collaboration - the molding and meshing of mind and Story to create a tale that is hauntingly beautiful and extravagantly intense.

The Books of Mortals begin the launch of a trilogy, an epic new saga. Dekker fans will undoubtedly hearken back to his infamous Books of History and the Circle Trilogy that began it all. Forbidden is the second coming of the Circle, a new mythos sure to enrapture, entertain, and engage on a whole new level. With rich layers of meaning wrapped around the core of an explosive plot penned with eloquence and precision, Forbidden is how Story is meant to be written.

Three thrillers. Two authors. One last chance for humanity. The Books of Mortals are the brainchild of two of this generation's master Storytellers. Dive deep, peel back the layers of your heart, and allow yourself to be moved by the raw power of Story. Prove that Life still lives within you, and live out that Story as you unleash the narrative of your soul.

Ever wondered if Dekker would write something to equal his Circle Trilogy? Fear not. Ever wondered if he could collaborate with another author and come up with something even better than his individual novels? Fear not. Ted Dekker gives us high-concept storytelling, while Tosca Lee provides her seamless prose to deliver the first book in a new trilogy--"Forbidden," "Mortal," and "Sovereign."

"Forbidden" tells the story of Rom Sebastian, an artisan in the distant future who becomes the recipient of a mysterious vial of blood. This blood holds emotions in it, love, anger, jealousy, and sorrow. But in the future painted by Dekker and Lee, humanity is barely human, having had all other emotions genetically weeded out except for fear. Fear keeps everyone in line, obeying the Order, and safe. It's a brilliant concept, exploring what it means to be human, to be alive. It also explores the seductive dangers of remaining stale but safe. Even as Rom discovers new emotions exploding within and tries to use them for good, his counterpart, the son of the reigning Sovereign, has manufactured his own way to experience emotions and uses them for selfishness and evil. Soon, these two men are on a collision course for the rule of the nations and the choice between fear (Order) or freedom (Chaos).

The story starts with a somewhat drab feel, intentionally displaying the results of this "safe" world. It soon picks up speed as Rom and his companions set out on a mission to find a prophesied boy who will lead the way toward something new. Yes, there are quite a few recurring motifs from Dekker's earlier books, particularly the Circle Trilogy--everything from horses, alleyways, blood, and wastelands--but it is given a whole new direction here, which I loved. I would've liked more world-building, though, since the story is set nearly 500 years in the future. While we see references to electricity and underground trains, they seem to be forgotten as horses and a more mythic feel take over. Security systems seem nonexistent, for example, which could've been easily explained by the fact this is a "safe" society where such things are unnecessary.

Despite the tiny quibbles, "Forbidden" is a great start to a new trilogy, at times reminding me of the repression in "Fahrenheit 451," and at others, of the political infighting in "Gladiator." The narrative sparkles, while the action scenes get increasingly intense. A beating heart pulses between these pages. And the conclusion leaves us thirsty for more.

Imagine a world, our world, where every person on the planet is dead and doesn't know it. Not zombies according to the current literary fad but rather a planet populated by people who are but shells of what they were created to be. Forbidden by Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee paints a picture of what might happen to a world so bent on eradicating its inner demons that it strips itself of all emotion. All that is, except fear.

Nearly five centuries have passed since a select group of scientists worked to tinker with humanity's genetic code. Their discovery of a way to eliminate all emotions save fear gave way to a unified world ensured peace by the Order. But then, on one seemingly uneventful day, 24 year old Rom, finds his life altered forever thus beginning the first installment of what will ultimately be a trilogy called The Book of Mortals.

Ironically, Rom is a funeral singer. A funeral in which, like with most of his world, there is no body and no real sorrow. When Rom leaves the funeral he witnesses the unthinkable, a murder. As the old man who has been attacked is dying he gives Rom an ancient vial of blood that can grant something Rom did not even know he was lacking - life. The kind with real emotions: love, hate, jealousy, betrayal, passion, joy, ecstasy and despair. Real life. A life the world does not even know it is missing. To tell more would be to rob the reader of embarking on this journey with Rom and seeing it unvarnished through his eyes.

As with any fantasy or epic there is a fairly large cast of characters. Central to Book One is Rom, the ultimate unlikely hero. With no frame of reference to understand the emotions he now feels all he knows to do is to employ aid from the few friends he has. And he will need them because someone else has discovered the secret of emotions as well. Saric has to be one of the most unsympathetic villains ever created. His discovery of emotion only proves what man's heart is capable of when all boundaries are removed. Other characters of note include Feyn the soon-to-be Sovereign of the world and sister of Saric, Avra, Rom's best friend since childbirth, and though only introduced late in the story, the boy Jonathan.

Many collaborations fail miserably but not this one. Dekker's imagination and sometimes almost maniacal focus on darkness and light coupled with Tosca Lee's eloquence of prose is magical. Generally I can pick out who wrote what part of a novel but 50 pages into Forbidden I simply did not care. I was no longer reading a story by Ted Dekker or Tosca Lee. I was riding along side Rom, suddenly awakened to his former deadness and unsure if he can stand this new life on the ragged edge. Unsure if it is worth it.

This hero's journey is summed up in an exchange between Rom and the man they call Book, a keeper of the truth of former times.

"Keep your words. This pain is no life."
"You only feel pain because you're alive, boy!" the keeper thundered. "This is the mystery of it. Life is lived on the ragged edge of the cliff. Fall off and you might die, but run from it and you are already dead!"

The setup at the end of Forbidden leaves one impatient for what follows. Even so it can stand alone with its powerful prose, intense action, compelling characters, and premise that leaves one wondering how many walking our world are really dead and don't know it. It's been seven years since Ted Dekker revolutionized a genre with Black, the first in his Circle series. I have no doubt a new revolution is about to begin.

I kept telling myself Ted Dekker's next book will be better than his last. I kept telling myself that he would not continue to pull the same shenanigans of old and thrust illogical interactions in unbelievable situations and yet again, use love as a gimmick. I kept telling myself that he is capable of writing a great story and that when I finished the book, I would be happy with what I just read. The truth of the matter was self-evident: Dekker's best days are well behind him.

So what exactly was wrong with the book? The book was not awful, but it was bad enough for me to be happy that I finished it so I could move on to something more meaningful and enjoyable, but those are not details, so let me begin. The entire premise is destined for problems and was evident from the opening chapter when Rom did the illogical thing and went against everything he ever knew and trusted a crazy old man he only met seconds earlier. The main characters felt like rehashes of previous Dekker novels. One distinctive scene read like it was ripped straight from Green and in typical Dekker fashion, one person confesses their love in record time. Cities, countries and continents are given names in a cheap effort of creating a new world unlike any we have ever seen. I can appreciate the effort in creating a unique setting, but this made no sense. Brahmin, who are royalty, felt like vampire knock offs without the fangs, and by the end of the book, you still do not know why there are people who have translucent skin (Brahmin) and regular folk like us. Once the symbolism of the world being "walking corpses" was introduced, the reader is overloaded with the concept to the point of annoyance because of the way certain characters kept treating it as a physical death, not an emotional one.

A cryptic message written in Latin is decoded, giving some insight into the blood Rom is given in the book's opening chapter. Here's an excerpt:

I have a sample of purest blood of unknown origin marked only "TH," which proved resistant to the strain.

Readers of The Circle Series should immediately note the TH being Thomas Hunter, savior of humanity in the year 2010. Based on the timeline of when Chaos occurred in Dekker's Paradise Series, Forbidden probably takes place in the year 2550, possibly closer to the year 2600. Would the man that saved humanity really be that unknown roughly 40 to 90 years after saving every person from certain death? Seems unlikely, but this is hardly a primary point of emphasizing the book's problems.

Murder is illegal and security is overly lax (if not non-existent), yet there are well trained killers working for the Order who strike with deadly precision and leave a mess of evidence without making the slightest effort in covering their tracks. If this is the case, surely there would be rumors of such atrocities (since they exist to hunt down and destroy the Keepers) and would not be as unbelievable and unheard of as portrayed. The Order's alchemists are always conducting experiments (the details of which remain vague), one of which is the ability to restore some emotions. Rom is able to sneak into these lairs in a disguise, yet despite the Order being aware of this trespass, several main characters successfully repeat this two more times using the same method. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me thrice, shame on Dekker and Tosca. The icing on the cake was the book's terrible ending. I do not think the events leading up to the shocking moment could have been more monotonous and ill conceived. It is pretty clear not a lot of thought went into it because it truly plays out without much sense.

Ted Dekker has written some great novels. Unfortunately, I believe his last great novel was BoneMan's Daughters, which came out in 2008. Since then he has pumped out two books a year and each one progressively worse than the others, with an exception to Immanuel's Veins, which still remains tied as my most disliked Dekker book, along with Lunatic and Elyon. I do believe Forbidden (The Book of Mortals) is straw that broke the camel's back. I am a completionist at heart and there is only one book that I have stopped reading. I considered doing it again, but I can finish a book this long in two or three days, so I stuck with it, trying to enjoy the book but failing. Forbidden (The Book of Mortals) is the first book of a trilogy and while there are some decent parts, it suffers as a whole and I have no intention of reading the rest of the series. I can only suffer through so much whimsical, immediate love before I find myself clawing at my eyes to make it stop. If this is the first or one of the first Dekker books you have read, I strongly recommend sticking with his earlier works as they are, hands down, far better than anything he has put out recently.

Review by Kara Grant

I don't like giving bad reviews and I consider both Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee far above the standard of talented writers, but Forbidden did not satisfy me as a reader. I'm glad so many others have enjoyed this book and given stellar reviews, but I am not one of them.
I was excited about reading Dekker's newest achievement and seeing how his co-author Lee added to the story. Both are extremely gifted storytellers. However, this book didn't grab me until I got to chapter 19. I was disappointed with the first few pages because it was told more like a summary than a story at first. I could not picture a society without emotions, it still doesn't make sense to me how DNA can be stripped of the very quality given to us by God. I get living in fear, but who are we as humans if we don't feel emotions? It's like every human being has become logical and there is no care or concern for others. The very first thing the book describes is a funeral setting, but there is no love or loss mentioned. There is no heaven or hell, only an afterlife. And fear is the motivation for everything; if you obey every law of the Order and live accordingly then when you die your soul will spend eternity enjoying Bliss (the absence of fear). However, if you break any law, cause disorder or you're born with defects then you will end up in Hades because the world's Maker will refuse anyone else. I had a difficult time accepting that even in fiction. Who would want to die under that pressure?

I could understand wanting to live in a society that has no hatred or war, that's ideal, but I don't believe that the authors put the story together very well illustrating this. It's all summarized. I also didn't feel any connection with the characters in the story. Many important characters die in this story before the last page, but I didn't have any remorse for their deaths. I kept thinking about the Pod people from the body snatchers movie or the Eloi in The Time Machine who feel nothing when the Morlocks take them (no emotions, only survival matters). I kept asking myself throughout, what's the point?

The story follows two characters who get access to a vial of blood and ingest it immediately, Rom and Saric. There are also several minor characters, but it's mostly from Rom/Saric's perspectives and the people around them. Rom is the good guy, Saric is a sovereign in the story who becomes corrupted after drinking the blood. The story is mostly about their inner transformations and reactions to having the blood in their system. One cares about finding out the truth and restoring peace to a system that is hypocritical and corrupted (perfect peace being impossible to achieve when the Order is hiding a secret) while the other wants to rule the world and doesn't care what must be done to get there. They both have to come to grips with their mortality and both must face conflicts and doubts along the way.

There is graphic violence in this book, but just as the characters have no emotions I wasn't moved by the killing/fighting. The best thing I can say about this book is that it's not creepy or scary at all. Dekker is very good at making stories symbolic so I tried to see that symbolism in Forbidden. The vial of blood is the blood of Jesus in my mind, once you've accepted it you're forever changed. The only god mentioned in this story is the Maker so there's no message about the trinity or the cross. The blood makes a person die to self so that they can have their minds opened up, there is no preaching or emphasis placed on relationship with the Maker in this book. There is law and everyone must follow the Order or face brutal consequences. The characters come to life with the blood, they have emotions, their perspectives change, they have something to live for other than fear, and they are amazed by the difference. The blood is pure and there is a dramatic reaction once the person takes it. The next book in this series will be Mortals, but I've had enough with Forbidden. It's a good story, but it's not for me.

I am having a hard time reconciling with the fact that most of the reviews about this book are good!. I am giving it 2 starts because of the last 40% of the book. The first 60% are worth just about 0 star. Overall I am extremely disappointed. What's wrong with the book?. Here are a few blatant examples (warning some spoilers).
1) A few hours after being handed a package containing a vial full of blood he decides to drink it. There are no instructions as to how muych to drink but he drinks only the correct amount. 3 other people also dring the blood and they also have no idea how much to drink but they also drink just the right amount. But this is beside the point. There is not a single human being (especially one who only knows fear) who would drink that blood for almost no reason as is the case in the book. That part is utterly unbelievable and as avid readers you know as well as I do that believability is one of the fundamental rules of good writing. If you don't have believability then your writing is in deep trouble. This is only one examples. The main characters in this book do many other things that people would simply not do (normal or not).

2) Another fundamental rules of good writing is to make sure that what you write has at least a secondary purpose. So if you describe a street lamp, for instance, then there must a reason that goes beyond just providing you with a mental image of the surroundings. When you describe the lamp you should, for instance, indicate the dim light emanating from the lamp is illuminating only some of ROM's face leaving his eyes in shadows, enhancing his determined look (something like that). This book does some of that but it also fails to do that a lot more often.

3) I am no psychologist but if people were only able to know fear then they would not quite behave the way people do in the book. I don't remember clear examples where that was obvious but believe me you will have those thoughts yourself when you come across some of the situations.

It felt like the book was written by a 12 year old and then was revised by an adult writter. I really had to force myself to get past the first 60% of the book and the only reason I did was because the other reviews had mentionned the fact that it was better after the first half (and it was!). I only hope, if you decide to buy the book that your experience with it is not as disappointing as mine.

After Chaos came Order, but is this order truly living or is it a living death? To maintain order, all feelings but fear have been eliminated. There is no more passion, no more hope, and no more love, only fear carefully nurtured and guided by strict laws. However, there are a few, known as the keepers, who for 480 years have guarded a secret knowledge and though feeling no hope, believe in a future where all humanity can once again experience the joy of emotions.

Rom suddenly found himself thrust into this secret group when one of the keepers hands him a box containing a small vial of blood wrapped in a piece of vellum containing a cryptic message. As he works to piece together the puzzle given to him, he discovers a plot that threatens not only the Order, but also the soon to be Sovereign of the world. With high hopes I dove into Forbidden looking forward to what promised to be a fantastic new series, only to discover it wasn't new at all.

The review I'm going to write is quite different than the one I envisioned writing when I first picked up this book. Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee are both very talented authors and they should have complimented each other beautifully. I thought this book was going to be amazing, but much to my disappointment, it's not. It's not terrible, but it is lacking and has way too many overlaps with the Circle Series for me to be enthused about the events that transpired.

Forbidden has an odd beginning in that it starts out somewhat dry. It's possible that this is by design in an effort to set the tone of a world without feelings, but it makes it hard to connect with the characters. Character issues plague this book. Why were Lee's talents for creating dynamic, vibrant characters not utilized? With possibly one exception, the characters are flat, lacking any true personality, and at times annoying in their trite dialog and predictable behavior.

The drama between Rom and Avar combined with their repeated professed love caused me to cringe every time they were together or thinking about each other. Their love felt cheap and shallow, filled with teenage desire more than true depth. I cannot recall a single instance when they acted like they loved each other.

Telling but not showing was a problem throughout this novel. I was told Saric was evil, but I didn't feel his evil. The people lived in fear, but they didn't seem to be motivated by that fear. The world lived in order, but I didn't feel the structure of their surroundings. To make this story work, it needed to capture these emotions, but it didn't.

Since this world was not adequately constructed, it made the whole book feel unimaginative and impersonal. In fact, that is my biggest issue with Forbidden. It never felt like Dekker or Lee took ownership of this story and made it their own. There was nothing special or unique about it. They are the creators of this tale, but it didn't feel as though they used their brilliant imaginations to make it personally theirs so that it came alive and felt unique. I don't have to like the condition of the future earth or be blown away by the beauty of a setting or depth of characters, but I do expect an author to take ownership of their story and make it their own. Lack of imagination and ingenuity is not something I'm willing to let pass--especially in a fantasy novel.

There are some nice dialog exchanges/philosophical discussions incorporated within Forbidden and I agree with what was said. Love is the greatest emotion of all and to live without passion and hope is death. To love at times can be painful and to only know fear and fear of death is a terrible existence. But while the dialog reached me on an intellectual level, it went no further.

The premise of life without emotion is an excellent theme to explore, but the presentation is lacking. The theme briefly ignited my imagination, but after the initial introduction, it fizzled and soon ceased to intrigue me. Things never progress beyond the surface of the notion of a life that knows only fear. The theme is repeated multiple times and the reader is told how wonderful emotion is, but I wasn't pulled into this world. Instead I watched it as a dispassionate observer and never felt a part of their lives.

The lack of originality (not to mention plausibility) in this book is very disappointing. I do not want to spoil the Circle Series for those that have not read it, so I will not list the numerous similarities (15 just off the top of my head) between them. However, from the moment that Rom drinks the blood and starts exhibiting Thomas' personality, it is painfully obvious how this story is going to unfold and I easily predicted outcomes based solely on my knowledge of the Circle.

For those that have not read the Circle Series or for those that can't get enough of that series, their opinion might be vastly different than mine. I don't think I would have thought this was a great book regardless, simply because of the characters, the melodrama, lack of attachment to the story, and disinterest in this new environment. However, at least the plot would have been fresh rather than feeling recycled.

So yeah, I'm disappointed. Dekker and Lee should have been a fantastic combination and this book should have been outstanding. I should be writing a review praising the beauty of this story because the premise is great. Instead I'm extremely disappointed because I want to love it, but I don't.

Review title provided courtesy of Center Street.

Okay, so my first review offended one reveiwer on here so I decided "okay, let me try one last time..." This time I finished the book. But to the dissapointment of some I can't move beyond this two... I was not impressed with the prose and the characters were flat and too similar to those in another series... I love fantasy, and understand that certain series needs to have that time of World Building that can seem dull and slow... But I just didn't find myself wrapped up in the story... I wasn't moved... Does that mean I've given up on Dekker. NO!!!! Three, Boneman's Daughter,Obsessed, and Adam are amoung some of my favorites... This one fell flat much like Immanuals Veins did for me as well. Sorry folks... Maybe it's for you... Just not for me... I think Dekker has amazing concepts, but at times and with certain works I feel he just doesn't deliver the blow I'm looking for.

I received this e-book for review from the publisher, Hachette Book Group, through NetGalley. I did not receive any compensation for my review, and the views expressed herein are my own.

I thought this book was very interesting!

The book takes place at some point in the future. Geneticists isolate the gene that causes fear, and they unleash a contagion on the world that destroys every person's emotion except for fear. By taking away someone's ability to love or hate or covet or a myriad of other emotions, you can ultimately predict how they will act. In this case, because fear is the only emotion that individuals are permitted to have, you create a society that will bend and yield to power out of fear, thereby controlling them. As a result, you have a peaceful society that is oppressed...only they don't realize it!

*SPOILER WARNING!

Rom, the protagonist, is a 24-year old young man whose father died when he was a child. On his way home one evening, he is approached by a strange elderly man who hands him a package and claims that Rom's father was killed for the secrets contained in the package and that all the other "Keepers" were killed as well. Rom is confused because he thought his father died from fever, but this man tells him that what he has always been led to believe is untrue. He instructs Rom to find a man called "The Book" and to give the parcel to him. Just as he pushes the parcel into Rom's hands, the Citadel Guards (aka the people who keep the peace in their society, what we would call the police) find the old man, who tells Rom to run and to protect the contents of the package. As Rom turns to leave, he witnesses the old man slaughtered before him and then he realizes that he is now no longer safe, as the Citadel Guards turn to come after him.

It turns out that the package contains a vial of blood, which has five marks on the side showing five doses. The blood is pure, and any person who drinks of it will have his full range of emotions restored. There is also an ancient vellum that contains a message. Whether it was out of curiosity or doubt or a bit of both, Rom drinks a dose of the blood. Once his senses are awakened, his life is never the same and he knows that it is his destiny to protect the vial with his own life and find the man called "The Book."

This is very much a story of "good versus evil," and there is some religious symbolism throughout the book if you are type that likes to analyze that sort of thing. I thought Rom was a fantastic character, and I loved watching his development in the novel. Other characters that I really enjoyed include Avra (Rom's beloved), Triphon (Rom's friend), and Feyn (the Sovereign).

This is the first book in a planned trilogy, so the ending sets you up on a bit of a cliff-hanger for the next installment. I enjoyed the book very much, and Forbidden has hooked me into seeing where the story goes next!

I have only read one other Dekker novel (Boneman's Daughters), which I also enjoyed. Lee is a new-to-me-author, and I plan to look into her other works.

MY RATING: 4 stars! I really enjoyed the book, and I look forward to the next in the series! Thank you, Hachette Book Group, and NetGalley!

Warning: Graphic scenes

Forbidden by Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee will take you on a fantasy ride like no other! I've read many of Ted Dekker's books, but none by Tosca Lee, so I'm not familiar with whose style is presented the most, or if the two mesh together so well one cannot tell.

It's the story of a civilization where the living are walking dead- while undisclosed secrets held for years leave the people unaware of their loss. It started with The War of the Chaos, when Legion spread and stripped the genetic code of the limbic region of the brain of every thing but fear. It seems like a Utopia without the threat of war, hatred, lofty ambitions, greed, etc., but they must proclaim their loyalty to and live under fear of The Order.

This alleged Utopian life will be challenged for a few individuals, starting with Rom Sebastian. A box is tossed to him one evil night for safe-keeping, containing a vial of blood wrapped with vellum that includes a cryptic poem and an indiscernible message. Fleeing the Citadel Guard, he shares his finding with current and former friends, putting their lives in danger. Once they consume the contents, they will have to abandon everything they once knew as they encounter real humanity and its sensations.

However, once the message is decoded, a journey of delight, death, and danger throws multiple groups into conflict. Set in what appears to be a medieval era, the action is swift and sometimes brutal. The graphic scenes show the difference of The Order's view on murder and the reality of what takes place-the proverbial `Do what I say, not what I do.' Your own senses are put on high alert as they encounter the pages of this book, and your own emotions are stretched during the difficult and delightful circumstances.

Would a life with love that includes pain and loss be better than a dead life with fear? This question must be answered individually by each of the alive characters. The authors create circumstances that will tear them apart. What will they decide? Their decisions will be crucial as the authors reveal their stories. It's a question the authors tweak your own emotions with as well. Are you alive or just stagnating? Living in Love or fear?

I do have a problem with the drinking of blood, as Scripture is adamant about not drinking blood. Knowing Ted and Tosca, it will most likely be brought around full circle.

I found a double meaning to the story that I believe the authors are acutely aware of, and wondering if we catch on.

You will find that this is not a light-reading book and that it doesn't end with Forbidden. But I can say I'm already hooked for the next book in the trilogy.

Special thanks to Sarah Reck, Web Publicist FaithWords & Center Street Hachette Book Group, for sending me a review copy. No monetary compensation was exchanged.