Customer Reviews

True Light (Restoration Novel)

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

How a great author like Terri Blackstock can continue to get better and better is somewhat of a mystery to me, and yet that is exactly what I find. With her first book in the Restoration Series (LAST LIGHT) she didn't just kick it up a notch, but bumped it into a different stratosphere. The fact that she has been able to do so for 3 books is a testimony to the way she works. When you see her giving credit to the Lord, right up front, she's right. I really doubt that even she could do this without His help.

TRUE LIGHT continues the saga of a world plunged into darkness because of electrical pulses from a distant star. Nothing electrical works. Stop to think about how many things you depend on that require electricity, then remove it from your life and you'll have an idea of the world these people live in. It's been 8 months since the "lights went out", and it's winter, which I think makes it a great book to read on some of these hot summer days. There are 4 main things that each person needs, food, water, clothing and shelter. This is especially true in winter. Now take away the furnaces that heat homes, the ovens, the kerosene or quartz heaters. Take away a ready food supply. Take away available water. You are left with people hoping they can dress warm enough inside shells of homes that will keep out wind, but not cold, both hungering and thirsting. That's pretty bad. Now suppose someone comes in and shoots a hunter to steal his deer. That's how the book starts out. Now add Mark Green into the mix and the Oak Hollow complainers and you have the makings of a real suspenseful tale. Blackstock could have left it at that and she would have sold millions of copies, but she went on to focus on Mark. As a Christian he had to learn and re-learn to forgive. This leads him into some strange places, such as a clapboard village, like the "Hoover towns" of the past, jail, and more. We find him bringing home a deer, learn of his many inventions, yet at one point find him cleaning toilets.

Terri does what few other authors are capable of doing, get out a great moral teaching while entertaining you with a story. If you haven't read any of her works, the go back and get LAST LIGHT. After reading it I'm sure you'll want to own the whole series.

The Brannings are now into their eight month living in a world without the comforts of electricity, mass communication or technology. After watching how the family tries to adapt to their new way of life, the story now turns towards the ugly side of this new society. What happens to the criminals and prisoners? With the jails full of those who've committed petty crimes to mass murderers, it's getting harder and harder to find those who will watch over these lowlifes. What will happen when the police stop watching and the criminals are allowed to roam around freely with no one to stop them?

This was my favorite book out of the series so far. I think the characters have become more well developed. The Brannings aren't as shallow as they were in the beginning of the series. They finally act as if they want to get along well in this new society they are living in. The scenes in the jail were surprisingly realistic and difficult to read. You really felt for Mark as he chooses to turn the other cheek and ignore the hurtful remarks made by the prisoners. It's also scary to think about a world where criminals run free because we have no means of keeping them separated from society. Very suspenseful reading about the police chief's son wanting to get revenge. What I like best about this series is how much is really makes you think about how we take technology for granted. In the first book, the community is clueless about what to do without electricity. Even simple things like heating water or even using the bathroom are now almost impossible to do. If a situation like this would happen in our world today, I think it's a possibility our country could collapse. How would governments work without communication? It's interesting to think that all the top moneymaking jobs in this country like engineerings or informations technology would be useless. That's when all the jobs like history, geography, and geology would be high demand again. I'm really looking forward to the last book in the series because I want to know if, when and how society will be able to truly function again.

This was the best in this series that I read. I returned book #4 Dawn's Light, unread to my library when I saw that it was going to be about that detestable Deni flip-flopping again between her creepy ex-fiance and Mark.I had too much of that to stomach in book 2!

Still too much of Deni's character for my taste in this book,but this was the most interesting of the three.

Again, Terri has held me enthralled with another masterpiece.
Normally, it takes me a week of better to finish a book. With Terri's books, I am usually done in 2 days. Can't put them down. Fast paced, great action, heart-warming Christian literature. This book just whets your appetite for #4--the biggest problem is waiting for the next one to come out. Keep it up, Terri. Your books are always GREAT!!!!!!!!!

"True Light" continues to follow a small community of people after a solar event knocks out all modern technology that uses computer chips. The first two books were excellent, and this book follows in that same line. By this time some technology is coming back and there are limited uses of electricity. Here I have a minor nick picky point. One character gets shot and is taken to the hospital, which now has shielded generators to give limited electric power. The shooting victim is hooked up to a ventilator. Now if all the computer chips have been fried by the electromagnetic pulses, and modern cars and whatnot can not work, how does the ventilator work? That struck me as inconsistent, but it is only a minor point in an otherwise good story. Another minor glitch that I found while reading was the notion of people spending gold coins. Sure there would be some trading, but since all the banks are closed, few could make much change for a very expensive gold eagle coin. Again, perhaps I am being too picky, but that struck me as kind of odd as well.
I recommend this series, but feel that book three would not stand alone really very well, but is great if read after the first two are read.

I'm only half way through this book but have so enjoyed all three books in this series. I love the way Terri writes and the way you can get into her characters so quickly and feel what they feel. In my own life, I felt the Lord led me to read these books to prepare me for actual experiences that could take place in our country during hurricane outages or nuclear attacks. Terri has really captured the human spirit and how people become true Christians concerned for their fellow man or serve their
unredeemed nature and live for their own selfish concerns. All three books in this series give you lots to think about in your own walk with the Lord and also about preparing yourself should you find yourself in similar situations.

"TRUE LIGHT," Terri Blackstock's third installment in her current "RESTORATION" series, continues this unique "what if" premise, which I've reviewed in my previous postings on the first two novels (summarized below). Ms. Blackstock's special talents of combining mystery and suspense, faith and inspiration, and a cast of characters to whom readers are drawn, flow seamlessly into "TRUE LIGHT," and create a longing for the series finale.
"NIGHT LIGHT" was the second book in the series--a truly great sequel to her compelling "LAST LIGHT," which launched this gripping saga of what might happen in the event that this earth were to suddenly, and inexplicably, lose its sources of power and communications...no electricity, no telephones, few operational motor vehicles...all of our 'taken-for-granted' conveniences stripped from our lives--with no idea as to when, or if, they will ever be reinstated. Will today's generation cope as well, having lost these 'entitlements,' as the generations before us functioned without ever having, nor expected, marvels such as those to which we've grown accustomed? And how is God perceived during such a time of crisis? Is He indifferent to our problems, or might this be a way for Him to capture our attention, when some have been oblivious to the ruler of our universe, having been lulled into a state of complacency as we've relied more and more upon technology as our source of power and problem-solving?
As I wrote when reviewing "LAST LIGHT," those who have read any of Terri Blackstock's more than two-dozen books can attest to the undeniable fact that she is truly an extraordinary writer. Her suspenseful novels meet or exceed the best of this genre, while remaining true to her deeply held Christian faith (her books are always '...lovingly dedicated to the Nazarene'). We eagerly look forward to the fourth "RESTORATION" novel...and all of Ms. Blackstock's future books!
--Ron Howe / Erskine, Minnesota

This book really makes you think about how grateful we should be for all the modern conveniences we enjoy today. If you enjoy reading Terri's books, you will enjoy this one as well.

The pulses are now in their 8th month. Even in Alabama, the residents are feeling the pains of winter as they are facing a rare snow storm. The Branning family is still surviving without modern technology, although they are all growing tired of the evil surrounding them.

Unfortunately, things are about to get worse. Jeff Branning's friend Zach is shot over a deer he has just killed. As he lies in the hospital barely hanging on, the sheriff looks for the shooter. Unfortunately, the evidence seems to be pointing to Deni's boyfriend Mark Green. And, because of Mark's father, the people in the community are quick to convict him. Did Mark really do it? If not, how can he clear his name?

Once again, Terri Blackstock has written a gripping novel set in a fascinating world. This book really opens up the action, allowing us to see how hospitals and law enforcement are dealing or not dealing with the changes. The characters are still rich and pull you into the action. This book focuses more on Mark than the Brannings, which made for an interesting change. And the mystery is actually well developed here as well. I did put things together a little before the characters did, but not by much. The climax was exiting and I raced through it.

You could jump in here, but it really is best to read these books in order. I've found all three interesting and hard to put down. I can hardly wait to get to the final book in this series.

So far I've read the first 3 in the series, and this was my favorite. I have really enjoyed the thought provoking "how would I respond to this" aspect of the series, but I especially appreciated how Blackstock didn't let Mark settle for the mess his father (and brothers) left of his life. He didn't say, "Oh well, if I'd had a better Dad, things would be different." I hear so many people whining about things in their past...focusing on what they haven't had instead of the potential they do have. I'd recommend the book purely for that reason even if it wasn't a great continuation of the series. Can't wait to read #4!