Customer Reviews

The Gathering Storm (Zion Diaries)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After reading "The Lord of the Rings" author C.S. Lewis wrote that, "...here are beauties which pierce like swords or burn like cold iron; here is a book that will break your heart." I cannot think of a more apt phrase to describe this book. The Thoenes' have continued the legacy started with their "Zion Covenant," "Zion Chronicles," and "A.D. Chronicles" of masterfully crafting stories of a world engulfed in darkness as evil forces marshal. In these dark times, pinpricks of brilliant light shine through the hearts of the followers of Jesus. This book is part of a new series called "Zion Diaries." It bridges the gap between the "Zion Covenant" and the "Zion Chronicles" through the horror of the Second World War. This book is different from all the others they have written. This is not a story of brave men and women standing on the front lines, or as statesmen and newspapermen sounding the alarm to a deaf world. This is a story of an ordinary, righteous young woman named Loralei as she struggles to be a beacon of light to those surrounding her who have been absolutely devastated by evil, and how she bravely faces the loss of her family...and falls in love again. The Thoenes have perfectly captured the bleakness and absolute horror surrounding those fleeing Hitler's advancing army and the Londoners living through the Blitz. For the reader, evil becomes palpable and smothering-there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel. It is here that the stunning beauty of Loralei's life and her faith shine through. Her example stands in stark contrast to her surroundings, and the reader begins to see the value of even the smallest of good deeds-and their eternal impact. Through this experience (and believe me, reading this book is an experience) the reader begins to get a glimpse of how Jesus views acts of kindness and mercy. I absolutely recommend this book.

Back in 1990 I first discovered a genre called Christian fiction. The very first Christian novel I'd ever read was Vienna Prelude by Brock and Bodie Thoene. The story was excellent. From that point on I was hooked, and it was then that I discovered an affection for historical fiction, especially set during the devastation of WWII Europe. The characters in their books faced uncertain peril, but trusted in a powerful and loving God to save them. Since that time I have read at least 30 of their books up through 2005, but then stopped when the number of available Christian novels exploded to the point I had too many choices and couldn't keep up. It wasn't until this year that I started reading again stories they've written together.


On an emotional level, this story blew me away. At first I'd thought it would be good like some of the others. Engaging and interesting; maybe even a bit heart-rending. This book was so much more. It had passion in it that I don't recall from earlier books. My heart was hurting and I even cried a few times. I read those intense scenes over again...and cried a second time. My heart was totally engaged in the story and invested in this characters' lives. I didn't want it to end.


Yet while the ending was painful--agonizing even--it resolved in an awesome way. But then it changed again. While the second ending was obviously improbable, I still found it more than satisfying. I was willing to suspend disbelief because I wanted to believe the resolution even though it was impossible. I wanted to believe that if you gave up the one thing your heart loved most in this world, that God would restore that to you eventually if you were obedient and followed through with releasing your most beloved person to Him. I wanted to believe that such a passionate and sacrificing love could live forever.


I highly recommend this story for WWII buffs. If you like the supernatural, that's even better. This story is full of action and terror, war and misery, but more than that, it is chocked full of love demonstrated between neighbors, self-sacrifice, and a pure devotion to helping the helpless. I felt so inspired by the character's lives and their faith it left me breathless. I often forgot they weren't real people. I found Eben's revelation about his past incredible and even wondered if it were possible. With God, anything is possible. While the story behind his life is too incredible to be real, it still felt real to me. That is an example of fantastic storytelling. As a result, this book is making my favorites list of 2010 and is staying on my keeper shelf. I absolutely loved it!

I am a huge fan of the Thoene's and this book does not disappoint. The characters are compelling and honorable. The story is beautifully written. I couldn't put it down!

The Gathering Storm by Bodie & Brock Thoene is the first book in the Zion Diaries series. Loralei grew up in Europe after World War I while her father prophesied that Germany would rise again. As Hitler's Germany begins to crush the Jews, her family pulls together to help out however they can, aiding the escape of Jewish children to America, getting false Catholic identities for some, and Loralei even marries a Jewish man ,Varrick, partly to save him and his family, but also because she allows herself to fall in love with him. But they family is soon expelled from Germany back to their home in Belgium where Varrick is sent to the front lines. When the family is forced to flee their home in anticipation of the Nazi invasion, she helps her niece, two Jewish girls, and her pregnant sister get to England. Lora's story is enthralling and exciting making it nearly impossible to put the book down. With lots of action, a hint of romance, and a ton of faith this is a terrific story, and I can't wait for the sequel! The Thoenes have included so much detail readers will almost hear the bombs falling around them, but always making the story deeply personal.

Loralei and her family are caught up in the Nazi storm, as are the rest of Europe. Despite a US Citizenship, her and her family are forced to flee their home and much of The Gathering Storm chronicles that journey in a no-holds barred kinda of way (i.e. not witholding the harsh, cold facts of war and Nazi brutality).


For Thoene fans, much loved and familiar characters from previous series appear here and there throughout the story line, as do major historical figures like Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Some new characters appear that also make the reader wonder, "Fact of fiction". The Tin Noses Brigade with the heroic Judah Blood so stirred me, I had to look online for them! But it seems the Thoene's spun a realistic tale that isn't historical fact. (A tribute to their style of writing!)


It is a book written like every other Thoene book. Full of vivid details that stirs the emotions and evokes powerful images across the screen of ones imagination. I have been a Thoene reader since high school and I find their writing as rich now as I did then. The only difference with this particular book is that it ended with a complete air or mystery that had me wondering in the days after I finished it. . . a spin that I've never seen before, done in such a way as to make it one of the most intriguing books I've ever read!

In years, Lorelei is a youngster, but with Hitler's rise to power, she is forced to grow up fast. She is an American citizen living in Berlin; born to a Texas mother and Austrian Protestant missionary. Her mom died a few years ago, but she and her dad reside in Germany when they are forced to see by the mysterious Ebon Golah that a shadow will soon lay across the world. She marries German Jew Varrick Kepler so can he can obtain papers to escape Germany.

Having lived through Kristallnacht, Lora and her family move to Brussels where she is reunited with her husband. Hitler doesn't give them very much time together as his troops blitzkrieg across Belgium. Varrick dies on the front line forcing Lora, her father and her sister to flee to England. They stop at Tyne Cott where they meet Captain Judah Blood who along with other soldiers tries to get them across the Channel. Judith helps them get to England where she works with Jewish and other refugees from the continent and reunites with Eben who obviously conceals a secret that the war widow plans to uncover.

The first book in the new B&B Thoene Zion Diaries series brings readers deep into the heart of Nazi Germany as Hitler fashions the expanding nation in his image. Readers will admire the courageous heroine who grows up rather fast as she does her best to help others escape the Hitler's insane wrath. With homage to Anne Frank and a touch of metaphysics and romance enhancing the war epic, The Gathering Storm is a terrific opening act as the Thoene tandem transports fans back to a period of horrific crimes against humanity with brave souls trying to rescue the unfortunate.

Harriet Klausner

I love all of the Theone's books, and I especially like that characters from other books are mentioned, and revisited. That our hearts are allowed once more to remember and love those characters. The book end's very well and I hope there will be more to come, with more indepth information on the main characters.
My son's name was used as a character in this book and even though I know his name will probaly not be used again in other books, his character was a GREAT, and honorable one.

I own every book the Thoenes have written and usually adore their books. This one, however, was so different that I really didn't like it. I almost had to force myself to finish it, and I am so disappointed and sorry to say that. The story was weird, and the characters were no endearing.

If anyone wants to read the Thoenes, start with the Zion Covenants.

I am not good at expressing myself in writing, but I LOVE to read again because of the Thoenes. I am captivated once I start a book. Now that I am a widow, I can curl up with one of these books and stay there for hours! I also appreciate the fact that they do so much research on the historical background. I am learning history in a real sense for the first time it seems. I love these books so much, I will not even sell them. I am comforted by their very presense on the bookshelf.

This was my first Thoene book and I enjoyed it until about 2/3 of the way in. I like historical fiction but I was relieved to read other reviewers who found it weird. I kept thinking "is it me or is it the book?" I started to wonder where the authors were coming from...was this reincarnation or an angel? Or if Eben was a "type of Jesus" or an angel then his physical passion for Lora seemed very out of place. It ceased being believable when they tried to insinuate that Eben was somehow also Judah Blood...I was like "WHAT??" Too weird. And when she recovers from the bomb, she doesn't ask for Eben? Where is he? Why isn't he beside my bed? She just goes on with life with Varrick? And what? These are people who don't age? OK, now it's science fiction.
I also always read books with the thought of passing them onto my daughters (ages 12 and 15) and I don't know about their other books but I found the sensuality rather PG13 or more and it reminded me of a mild/Christian version of those romance novels (what I think of as the womans version of Playboy)...do we really need to read that he "probed her mouth with his tongue"? I don't need my mind going there, nor my daughters'.
I might try another of their books...but this one is just too strange for my taste.