Review: Smart, inventive, and haunting!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 11, 2014
Not since Stephen King’s "The Stand" has such an enthralling apocalyptic thriller with a good versus evil theme graced the bookstores. J.E. Plemons introduces us to Arena Power, a fifteen year-old orphan who braves a harsh, new world in this first installment of what promises to be an addictive new series. Best of all, this is a full-length novel rather than the 40-page snippet that some authors try to pass of as a "book" in a series. Not only was I entertained with a rich and imaginative story that showcased top-notch writing, I did not feel cheated when I finished.The end of the world is at hand through the wrath of an angry God. Arena and her twin brother are involuntarily cast into the role of preparing humanity for its demise. The story delves into a character study that reveals an interesting and tragic family history that is skillfully woven together to give us a greater understanding and empathy for the characters as the story builds to a resounding crescendo.An undeniable Christian message is intertwined into the fabric of the story without seeming "preachy". This is, first and foremost, an adrenaline-laced thriller, but the theological elements add a compelling twist that makes it even more exciting, in my opinion. The introduction of religious elements merely sets the stage for the conflict between good and evil, which can be considered a universal part of the human condition.While the physical devastation of the United States has not, yet, reached the catastrophic proportions of King’s "The Stand" or Cormac McCarthy’s "The Road", an atmosphere of impending doom still looms like an ominous cloud. The U.S. is no longer the world superpower that it once was, and it now turns to its former rivals for assistance while poverty reigns in the streets. Like all good apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic literature, the end of the world is attached to an existential catastrophe…in this case, divine judgment.J.E. Plemons conveys a sense of danger through prose that is both haunting and surreal, and he conveys a sense of urgency through the serious and sometimes desperate dialogue of his characters. While this could be considered YA literature, it is certainly of a quality that promises to hold appeal for all ages, and I look forward to the second novel.