otakuflower's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Interesting concept, especially in the wake of Covid. The contrast between the modern world and the forest world was well done. This is pretty heavy on biblical themes and ends on a cliffhanger.
bigbear73's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't actually finish this one.
There was nothing wrong with it that I could put my finger on; seems well paced and well written. I just kept finding myself looking for something else I'd been looking forward to reading, and decided I don't have enough time to read all the books I really want to, why waste it on one I'm talking myself into?
There was nothing wrong with it that I could put my finger on; seems well paced and well written. I just kept finding myself looking for something else I'd been looking forward to reading, and decided I don't have enough time to read all the books I really want to, why waste it on one I'm talking myself into?
the_weirdling's review against another edition
4.0
Most Christian fiction starts with a bad sermon and throws some two dimensional characters around it. Ted Dekker typically comes up with a great (often trippy, weird or freaky) story and uses it to explore some theological and philosophical issues along the path to a strong finish- you know, like all the other good books you've ever read that deal with "great questions". Tolkien and Lewis also did this, writing Christian fiction that doesn't preach but instead dives deep into the mysteries of the faith if you have eyes to see but also just spins a really fun, great story if that's all you're in the mood for. This Dekker book is typically in the same league. He sets up a character trapped in two world, one "ours" and a perfect and heavenly realm that also claims to be "ours" and just as real. If you have eyes to see, it is a parable for The Fall in Eden, but it is great even if you don't see it or don't care. Dekker looks at one of his favorite themes (good and evil and how they relate) along with a bunch of Matrix-what's really real type themes. Good stuff. I - as usual - enjoyed reading Dekker's novel.
lddecker's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
annasmothers's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
christygsp's review against another edition
4.25
My brain is broken.
My heart is shattered and elated at once.
My mind is a pretzel.
And that’s just some of how I feel after reading Black.
Confusing grasps at what reality is and isn’t, at what is happening in two different worlds and how people are doomed to make the same mistakes over and over.
Such an interesting take on the fall, God and stopping a global virus (interesting foreshadowing for reading this in 2023…).
Content warnings: violence, some scenes might be scary for younger readers
My heart is shattered and elated at once.
My mind is a pretzel.
And that’s just some of how I feel after reading Black.
Confusing grasps at what reality is and isn’t, at what is happening in two different worlds and how people are doomed to make the same mistakes over and over.
Such an interesting take on the fall, God and stopping a global virus (interesting foreshadowing for reading this in 2023…).
Content warnings: violence, some scenes might be scary for younger readers
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Gore
mithrandir57's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jovanni's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
luv_tati_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0