Customer Reviews

The Regime: Evil Advances (Before They Were Left Behind, Book 2)

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

As part of the Left Behind series, this is one of the two prequels. This one picks up where The Rising left off and ends before the events in Left Behind. We basically have five stories interwoven together.

First, we read of Rayford Steele's climb at Pan-Continental Airlines. Hattie Durham appears in the background. This story blends with Irene Steele's desire to join the New Hope church with her family. Here, the writers show us the mounting tension between Irene and Rayford as well as between Irene and Chloe. The arguments we read are arguments we hear (or use) every day. This helps connect us with the book's message.

Rayford's professional life will blend into the sotry of Jordanian fighter pilot Abdullah "Smitty" Ababneh and his black market business. We learn that he and Rayford have a history, the extent of which isn't quite pointed out in later books.

The fourth story is about the continuing climb of Nicolae Carpathia. His rise to power is the other main story, and it parallels Rayford's professional rise. Aunt Viv's character seems already to be on Nicolae's nerves, which is odd given her position in later books. Also, Leon Fortunato enters the scene, but he seems more powerful, trusted, and intelligent than depicted in later books.

Nicolae's story blends slightly with the last story: Cameron "Buck" Williams' rise as a journalist. We also see his getting the nickname. A discussion with Buck's brother shows a problem with the narration in that all the characters have the same "flow" to their speech as well as the same basic vocabulary. I would like to see more variation in character voices to help differentiate between them.

Although the prequels don't follow a biblical timeline like the other Left Behind books, I would recommend this book if you have already read the others. This book does not stand on its own.

The first prequal book dealt mostly with Carpathia's frumpy mother and while it was fun to read the conspiracy thoery behind the whole plot surrounding her and her son Nicolae, you have to admit there wasn't much to connect with the original series. This prequal deals with Carpathia and you can see his true nature before he masquerades as a good guy to the world, in the original series. We get to see Rayford and Irene's married life and how stressful it really was. We get to see how good Buck really is at writting, so much so, a girl won't date him because she feels he is too in love with his carrerr. Buck's mom dies and Buck does not make it until her funeral which upsets his family, esp. his brother. Someone said this book didn't have enough action, but I am not sure what they were expecting. this book takes place before billions of people dissapear, before God pours out supernatural judgments, before the Antichrist is possesed by Satan and wants all the Christians slaughtered. All of these events are very supernatural and exciting and cause for a very gripping story. Still, I don't see how you could expect to see the same type of action in the prequals, at all. It doesn't make sense. This story is about the personal lives of the main characters before the end times events occur, and while intriuging, they aren't full of too much action and suspense. It is unrealistic to expect anything more then that and for what we got from Jenkins is very well written and realistic story. I say good job, Jenkins. I really wouldn't care if he wrote a new book every year, you can get them for $12 at Sam's Club. After all this time, call me crazy, but I feel I know the characters. That doesn't happen when you read just any book, that is a sign that the author is an excellent author and can make you connect with the characters. Again, A+ for Jenkins.

Now that the Left Behind series has finished, Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins have gone back to the time prior to the first book. The Regime: Evil Advances picks up from the first prequel and continues the story to a point close to the original Left Behind installment. While much better (in my opinion) than the first prequel, this one still didn't do a lot for me. If you're a fan of the Left Behind series, then you'll probably want to read it to understand the characters and their motivations more completely. If you haven't read the series and have no intention to, then this isn't a book you'd care for. It starts off with an assumption that you read the first prequel, and it leaves you hanging in a strange place at the end. The only way this book makes any sense is if you keep reading into the next installment.

Ultimately, I still think the series should have stayed finished without the additions to the prequels...

I have never sat down and read 14 books back to back before this series of books. I was enthralled from chapter to chapter and book to book - all the way to the end...I never got bored and I spent many nights staying up too late reading these books....they are wonderful!

As with all books in this series, this book was excellent! I used to have the entire set (with the exception of the 3 prequels and the 1 sequel) but had given them away after I had read them all about 6 times. Then I got a craving to read them again, so I purchased a complete set including the prequels and the sequel. I also bought an entire set for my sister. These books are the type that you want to keep reading over and over. My sister just started on the first book and says she doesn't want to put it down! We both absolutely love the writing and the content. These books have blessed my life and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE ENTIRE SET TO ANYONE AND EVERYONE...ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE WAVERING ABOUT THEIR BELIEF IN GOD AND THE MESSIAH, JESUS CHRIST. IF THESE BOOKS DON'T WAKE THEM UP TO THE TRUTH, THEN THEY MAY HAVE ALREADY HARDENED THEIR HEARTS AGAINST CHRIST OUR SAVIOR AND GOD. God bless Mr. LaHaye and Mr. Jenkins as they have blessed countless people with these books.

I only recently started this book but I have the whole set (all 16 books) and the first one was great- I'm sure I will not be disappointed.

Have studied the Bible off and on for 23 yrs. These books are extremely accurate in Biblical prophecy. And very exciting, with many different personalities, individual plots, twist, intrigue, betrayal, and romance. It is my hope, and prayer, that everyone would devote the time to read these books. The reward is unlimited, and something to be greatly desired. Service, delivery, and timeliness was great! Would recommend to anyone. Thank you, Wayne

This may be listed as a fiction, but it is a must read for anyone who reads and believes the Bible!

Jerry Jenkins seems to be invigorated by the ability to tell good stories and develop characters in this second prequel novel to the "Left Behind" series. Unburdened in large part by the need to attempt to explain complex theology, Jenkins puts his energy into character and story, to good avail. I'm looking forward to "The Rapture" because of the quality of this book.

Ok I'll admit that I'm a huge Left Behind fan. I buy the books the day they come out and read them in the same day but this book just wasn't up to par. First of all its getting more and more obvious that they are strechign these books out as far as they can go for money but this book I actually found offensive. For this book being a Christian book it sure painted the Christians in bad light. Now I'll admit that I'm Christian and anyone that knows me for more the 10 min will find this out about me but I've never once been as pushy or as nagging as the Christians in this book were about their faith. In some way this book paints us a little cult that thinks we are better then everyone else which is not true for me. I know I'm a sinner and that i have my faults and i would never pertend otherwise but the Christna in this book come off as holier then thou people. Irene pushes her dauther so hard that Chloe is convinced that she dosn't love her becasue Chole doesn't believe like her. Rayford is costintly getting the guilt trip from her for not going to church which is not what a Christian wife is suppose to do to their non-Christian husbands in the first place.
Ok I'll stop venting about how the Christians are protrayed in this book and just that probably only the msot die hard left behind fans will like this book.