Some say the great mystery of how one can live in two worlds at once died with Thomas Hunter many years ago. Still others that the gateway to that greater reality was and is only the stuff of dreams.
They are wrong. In the small town of Eden, Utah, a blind girl named Rachelle Matthews is about to find out just how wrong.
When a procedure meant to restore Rachelle’s sight goes awry, she begins to dream of another world so real that she wonders if Earth might only be a dream experienced when she falls asleep in that reality. Who is a simple blind girl to have such strange and fantastic dreams?
She’s the prophesied one who must find and recover five ancient seals–in both worlds–before powerful enemies destroy her. If Rachelle succeeds in her quest, peace will reign. If she fails, both worlds will forever be locked in darkness.
So begins a two-volume saga of high stakes and a mind-bending quest to find an ancient path that will save humanity. The clock is ticking; the end rushes forward.
Ready? Set?
Dream.
-
Sexual Content - 2/5
2/5
-
Violence - 4/5
4/5
-
Language - 1/5
1/5
-
Drugs and Alcohol - 1/5
1/5
Summary
From: Isaac Scego
Book Title: The 49th Mystic
Book Author: Ted Dekker
What do you like about this book:
Summery::
Over the many years of his career, we've seen many sides of Ted Dekker's stories. Epics and adventures. Thrillers and mysteries. Horror and fantasy. And, in his earlier years, there was no better writer in Christian fiction. But as time passed, Dekker's theology and morals slowly grew more twisted and psychotic, and his stories focused and preached on them more, almost like a Sunday morning sermon by Joel Osteen. And they only grew worse. They're like a child who shoves a moldy sock shoved into another person's face, they'd gawk and pull away in disgust and frustration. And after his miraculous failure in 2015 with A.D. 33, it seemed as though the sermons had come to an end. But now, three years later, Dekker's back with a sequel to his best-selling Circle Series.
I was hesitant to open this book, afraid for the same ol' thing he always did. And, at first, I was pleasantly surprised. This book has a truly creative story and began as a sleek, high-adventure tale full of suspense and mystery. And it could have been. But, predictable Dekker, decided to take a different path. The excitement runs out and the story slowly fades into the background while Dekker's "Christian teachings" take the foreground. The 49th Mystic goes from a wonderful, thrilling read to a dark lump of twisted theology and disturbing content. Suffice to say--that is, without even touching the many flaws in his unintelligent writing methods--that even my lowest expectations were not exceeded. Not even close.
Spiritual Content::
Vlad Smith is a Satanic representation, and he fills his role well. He claims to be God's messenger and to come to "give the blind sight and set the captives free." With seemingly supernatural power, he completely shuts out the lights of Eden. In Other Earth, there are direct parallels between God and Elyon, and Jesus and Justin, who also sacrificed himself for the world. Simon teaches New-Agey theology to his people and they, including Rachelle's father, believe that reality is as perceived by the mind, this includes God. The Mystics are people who believe that God is infinite in everything and is all powerful. Vlad came to disprove this, and he speaks harshly of God as a whole. The Shaikati are bat-like representations of fear and invisibly haunt those who are afraid. Smith manipulates the minds of everyone in Eden in a seemingly demonic way, and he makes them see things and believe things that aren't true.
Sexual Content::
Rachelle has a crush on a boy named Peter in Eden and Samuel, in Other Earth, also has love-interests in her. Rachelle shares romantic moments with Peter, flirting creepily. And Samuel uses an opportunity to teach her how to use a sword to put his arms around her in a suggestive fashion. A man is caught having an affair. Couples kiss. Jacob says he wants to return to his "women", which is followed by a few quips from his men. It is true, Jacob is an object of desire to women among his people, and his mother encourages him to take a wife.
Violent Content::
Multiple battle and fight scenes describe bloodshed and death. The Shaikati swarm their victims and one slips its tongue into a man's ear. Multiple women are shot in cold blood, and one shoots her husband in cold blood. Two men fight with bats and batter one another severely. Mentions of terrorists attacks across America.
Language:: A use of b--tard, whore, and slut. God's name is misused once.
Drug/Alcohol Content:: Although drinking and smoking are banned from Eden, a few of its superiors do it anyway. Citizen, instead of smoking cigerettes, will use these contraptions call E-cigs, which are basically vapor. Men drink.
Recommendation:: 2/5
| PG-13 | Sequences of intense violence and action, mature thematic material including disturbing content and some scary descriptions
Your ratings of the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use on a scale of 1-5.
Sex:2
Violence:4
Language:1
Drug/Alcohol use:1