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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

3 Powerful Reasons I Can’t Love or Hate This Book

by Chautona Havig · 5 Comments

I didn't know what to expect when I started reading The Seer, but what I found inside left me unsure what to think. So many thoughts and emotions... via @chautonahavig

Somewhere in 1992 or early 1993 she gave me the book.  “Read it,” she said.  I feel like Ridgecrest is Ashton–the town in this book. Reading it changed how I see spiritual warfare.”  As if that wasn’t enough to convince someone who never needed convincing to read anything, she repeated herself.  “Read it.”

I did. This Present Darkness.  The next morning, I called her, asking for the sequel.  While it wasn’t as good, I still did what I always did when confronted with a story that made me think about spiritual issues.

I went to the Word. Studied it in conjunction with what the fictional words had said.

While I can’t say I would have come to the same conclusions, it did do one crucial thing for me. It made me aware of spiritual warfare in a way I’d never seen it before.  Until I read that book, I saw the “sword of the Spirit” as something used in an intellectual battle–truth versus lies rather than God’s people versus Satan’s minions.

A while back, I had the opportunity to read and review a new YA book dealing with spiritual warfare. I don’t read many of these, but it had been quite a long time since I’d read one I liked so I thought I’d give The Seer a read.  Maybe it would be better than recent offerings.

And it was.  Still… As much as I wanted to just love this book, I don’t. On the other hand, I don’t hate it, either.  Instead, I have things I liked and some that left me in a weird state of… “Hmmm…”

The Seer Review

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3 Powerful Reasons I Can’t Love or Hate This Book

Characters:

As much as I wanted to, I never connected with Thea as a character.  For example, I just finished reading the book and had to go look up her name.  I could name every other character, but not the protagonist who happens to have a name I love.  That feels… significant, somehow.  I can’t say what is wrong with her (for me, anyway), but she feels… meh.  There.  What I did like is that she wasn’t automatically amazing at what she needed to do or totally incapable, either.  She did just take off with an angel and a demon after a terrible experience awfully easily.  That didn’t ring true.

But while the other characters all drew me in, what bothered me most (and is possibly the most brilliant thing the author did) is that I liked the character of the demon, Viktor, most. I liked both of his pasts warring within himself.  That, like the apostle Paul, he had trouble with the part of himself that wanted to do what he knew he must fought against the part of him that just wanted to do what he wanted.   This is a serious issue, though.  And I’ll get to that in a minute.

Writing:

While the author is a good writer, this book needed a good editing.  I’m not talking about typos (there were a few but nothing horrific.  “Too” instead of “to” once–piddly stuff.  No, I’m talking about her tendency to use repetitive words and phrases.  It got old reading, “We’re going to head down the hall” and the next sentence informing us, “They headed down the hall.”  Um… okay.  No variance.  And if it was just now and then, I might not have noticed, but it felt like it was on every page.

Add to that and the “explaining” style of “telling” instead of showing us, and it got draggy.  We’d be told of some thought or emotion, have it shown to us, and then be told again as if an introductory community college class where essays tell you what they’re going to tell you, then tell you, then tell you what they told you.  That happened… a LOT. I found myself having to work not to skip stuff.  I can’t always say I succeeded.

The Theology:

Because this is speculative fiction, I’m uncomfortable addressing the theological issues I see in the book.  However, when spec fic includes things happening in our world, I have trouble ignoring where the world of the book clashes with the world of the Bible. In The Seer, the demon, Viktor, wants a new chance in a “sanctuary city” where apparently demons can be rescued from their deserved fate.  I don’t claim to be a Bible scholar, but I’ve never found anything in Scripture that hints that demons can be redeemed or saved from their eternal punishment.

And yet, on the allegorical side, I can see that demon being the part of ourselves who needs the sanctuary of Jesus to free us from our rebellion.  I can even see the angel Matthias being a picture of Christ, helping the castaway to the city…

But then it breaks down, because the demon strikes a deal with the angel. They have to work together to save the girl, and only by working to his own end is this demon able to be rescued himself.  And… well… that is the opposite of what Scripture teaches.

Add to that, the “neutral” grounds and societies that are brought into the mix and…

The result is a book that waters down the pure truth of the Gospel.

Still, this is book one of three (or more?).  And it’s well enough done that I want to read the next book.  I’m not sorry I requested the review copy of The Seer (and thanks to the publisher for sending it), but I can’t say I loved it… can’t say I hated it.  I… don’t know. What I do know is that I will be buying the next in the series, hoping it’ll settle some things for me.  If I change my mind about this one as a result, I’ll amend my review.

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Comments

  1. James Robert says

    July 27, 2020 at 12:07 am

    I appreciate getting to hear about a new book. Thanks so much for taking time to share.

    Reply
  2. Joy @ Real World Bible Study says

    July 26, 2020 at 8:26 pm

    Chautona, you bring up some good points. There is a lot we know about the spiritual realm, and a lot we don’t know. I can see God offering forgiveness to a demon who submits to Him. To my knowledge, Scripture isn’t explicit about whether eternity is already “locked in” for demons and angels, or if, like us, they have second and third chances. Forgiveness for those who return to him is definitely in line with God’s character. I don’t know that I can see an angel collaborating with a demon for any reason, though, and the sanctuary city idea applied the way you described gets a little messy.

    Fiction about the spiritual realm is so important. For many of us, it may be the tool God uses to make us aware of what is going on around us, what is already described in Scripture. In order to do that well, we have to use our God-given imaginations. But we also have to make sure that our stories are “true” in the sense that they line up with Scripture and point to THE story.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      July 27, 2020 at 12:14 am

      Exactly. My biggest problem was the “make a deal” to get there and a girl’s life hangs in the balance if the demon doesn’t help so the angel is kind of at the demon’s mercy and… how is that any sort of repentance? I don’t know. I think it is supposed to be allegorical but the truths start breaking down. And I don’t see anything in scripture about second chances for demons. I’ve always assumed that we don’t see that because these were angels who knew perfection, worshipped in the world of God most high. And they rebelled. Kind of like man in the garden, and yet I don’t see anywhere that is says God loved the angels so much that he was crucified for them. We are the bride of Christ, but scripture says nothing about the angels being so.

      Still, that part I could leave to creative license if the rest wasn’t there. The longer i think about it, the more bothered I am.

      Reply
      • Joy @ Real World Bible Study says

        July 27, 2020 at 7:32 am

        Right? The idea of repentence for a demon is in the category of “Scripture isn’t explicit, so it could be true or not,” which is fair game for fiction. The idea of having to make a deal with a demon to accomplish something good? Not so much.

        Reply
  3. Debbie P says

    July 26, 2020 at 12:29 pm

    I think this sounds like a great read.

    Reply

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Episode 42: A Chat with J'nell Ciesielski
by Chautona Havig

The cover got me first.  It was “my” Madeline, but of course, no one could tell if they didn’t know the photographer’s work. So, combine WWI, poppies, and “my” Madeline… well, I had to read it, right?  Yeah. Among the Poppies (review here) by J’nell Ciesielski was the best debut novel I’ve ever read.  Bar none.  I became an instant fan of J’nell Ciesielski that day, and I’ve read everything she’s written ever since.

So, when I heard about her newest release, of course, I wanted to read it.  I wanted to talk to her about it–all the things. So, let’s talk about this book.

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

My First “Top Book” of 2021 Begins HERE!

I had a wonderful discussion with J’nell about her newest release (as in releases TODAY!), Beauty Among Ruins, about her vision for writing Christian fiction, and the goals Thomas Nelson/Harper Collins has for some of their Christian fiction titles/authors!

Let’s start with this book: Beauty Among Ruins.  Guys… this book. Lily and Alec just hit the top tier of favorite characters ever. Not only that, but J’nell Ciesielski adds depth and richness to her cast by having supporting characters that I’m dying to know more about.  Sequel perchance?  I’d love that. Just sayin’…

We learned the history of the book, how it got its title… hint, the original was hilarious but um… yeah.  Not one that I’d grab off the shelf unless I saw J’nell’s name on it!), and some of the research she had to do to keep her from using the hackneyed old solutions to familiar problems in early 20th century England… well!  WHEW!

Oh, and speaking of those problems… One of J’nell’s most brilliant skills is taking the spine of a story you think you’ve read before and turning it into something fresh and new. For example, in Beauty Among Ruins, you have an American heiress, an aristocratic family who are floundering to keep up the family estate, a crumbling manor house turned into a hospital, and wounded soldiers.  Sound familiar?

It’s not. And that’s the brilliance of J’nell.

Add to that a storyline that keeps you guessing and full of rich history that never weighs you down with preachiness (seriously, preachy fiction isn’t just for Bible. It also happens with science, politics… and history!

Speaking of preachy fiction…

As much as I loved talking about her book, one of the highlights of the interview is getting an insider’s understanding of where Thomas Nelson is taking some of their fiction.

I’ve been an outspoken critic of the lack of spiritual content in the Christian Fiction coming out of Thomas Nelson in recent years. When you buy “Christian fiction,” you expect to find something other than just “clean fiction.”

In my discussion with J’nell, she described the publisher’s goal of using fiction with a Christian worldview and subtle elements to bridge the gap between Christian fiction and the general market. Knowing this is the plan rather than just a watering down of faith or something. Knowing that those elements are woven into subtext to be a gentle reach to readers who otherwise might not pick up Christian fiction makes that lack of overtness much more palatable.

Additionally, J’nell didn’t just write a “clean” book. The spiritual elements are in there. They’re just layered into that subtext. I found myself going to the Bible to see what it said about several things.  This is what I want from my Christian fiction.  I don’t’ need a token prayer or Bible verse.  Those do nothing for me. But give me something to chew on for a while, and I’m thrilled.

J’nell Ciesielski does that beautifully and has from the very first book of hers I read.

She also told me about a book coming out this summer… The Ice Swan.  Isn’t that cover GORGEOUS?

I’m so excited about Beauty Among Ruins  that I’m also giving away a copy of J’nell Ciesielski ‘s book to one commenter.

Go to https://chautona.com/because-fiction-42 and tell me if you’ve ever read anything by J’nell and what your favorite was if you have. I’ll try to draw next week when I do episode 43.

Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

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Episode 42: A Chat with J'nell Ciesielski
Episode 42: A Chat with J'nell Ciesielski
January 13, 2021
Chautona Havig
Episode 41: A Chat with Jennifer Pierce
January 5, 2021
Chautona Havig
Episode 40: My Favorite Book of 2020
December 8, 2020
Chautona Havig
Episode 39: A Chat with L.K. Simonds
December 1, 2020
Chautona Havig
Episode 38: Dan Smith & Saving Ebenezer
November 24, 2020
Chautona Havig
Episode 37: A Chat with Sara Beth Williams
November 17, 2020
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Episode 36: A Chat with Jennifer Beckstrand
November 10, 2020
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Episode 35: What Is This NaNoWriMo Thing All About?
November 3, 2020
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Episode 34: 5 Cheap & Easy Ways to Feed a Book Habit
October 27, 2020
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Episode 33: 2020 Christmas Collections
October 20, 2020
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I can scribble!!! Justified Means: book one in the I can scribble!!!
Justified Means: book one in the Agency Files, is on tour with Celebrate lit. Visit celebratelit.com to find a link to follow the blog tours and check out the reviews. 
#christiansuspense
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Reposted from @karitrumbo Repost from @tabithaboul Reposted from @karitrumbo Repost from @tabithabouldin
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Who wouldn't want it?  Justified Means: book one Who wouldn't want it? 
Justified Means: book one in the Agency Files, is on tour with Celebrate lit. Visit celebratelit.com to find a link to follow the blog tours and check out the reviews. 
#christiansuspense
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Reposted from @becausefictionpodcast Episode 42: A Reposted from @becausefictionpodcast Episode 42: A Chat with J'nell Ciesielski

I had a wonderful discussion with J'nell about her newest release (as in TODAY!), Beauty Among Ruins, about her vision for writing Christian fiction, and the goals Thomas Nelson/Harper Collins has for some of their Christian fiction titles/authors!

Stay tuned for more in depth show notes in just a bit!

© © Chautona Havig 2020
@jnellciesielski
#becausefiction
#podcasts
#Christfic
#christianfiction
Kind of depressing but true... Justified Means: bo Kind of depressing but true...
Justified Means: book one in the Agency Files, is on tour with Celebrate lit. Visit celebratelit.com to find a link to follow the blog tours and check out the reviews. 
#christiansuspense
#christianfiction
#Christfic
#KindleUnlimited
Justified Means: book one in the Agency Files, is Justified Means: book one in the Agency Files, is on tour with Celebrate lit. Visit celebratelit.com to find a link to follow the blog tours and check out the reviews. 
#christiansuspense
#christianfiction
#Christfic
#KindleUnlimited
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