Description
by Sara Davison
When your beliefs are at war, does love stand a chance?
Bookstore owner Meryn O’Reilly and Army Captain Jesse Christensen are on opposite sides of a battle. After a series of terrorist attacks in 2053, martial law has been declared in Canada and the military has taken over. When a radical Christian group claims responsibility, Jesse and his platoon are sent to Meryn’s city to keep an eye on the Christians and ensure they are not stepping outside the confines of the law.
Fiery and quick-tempered, Meryn chafes under the curfew and other restrictions to her freedom. Jesse is equally amused, intrigued, and terrified by her spirit. She could find herself in prison if she shows defiance to the wrong soldier, namely Lieutenant Gallagher.
Jesse watches out for Meryn when possible, although she wants nothing to do with him. His worst fears are realized when she commits a crime he cannot protect her from. Now they both face an uncertain future and the very real threat of losing everything, including their lives. With time running out, Jesse works feverishly to convince the authorities to show leniency to Meryn. And to convince her that love can overcome any barrier that lies between them.
nashpredsfan –
4.5 Stars
As a Christian in North America, it’s difficult for me to comprehend the persecution other believers face around the world, or the courage and faith it takes to take a stand for Jesus. In the first book of her The Seven Trilogy, Sara Davison sets up a scenario in which Christians are no longer allowed to own a Bible.
That one law issued by the Canadian government leads to more revoking of Christians’ rights, even to the point of some actions viewed as terrorism.
Meryn O’Reilly must choose whether to follow the law or follow God’s prompting in her life. Captain Jesse Christensen, who has been captivated by Meryn since their first meeting, wants to keep her safe, but with people keeping their eyes on the Christians, ready to reveal any unlawful activity, both Meryn and Jesse are brought through the fire of trial.
Davison does an excellent job of laying the foundation in The End Begins, developing her characters while throwing some action as well as twists into the story that keep the reader engaged.
Life isn’t easy for Meryn and her Christian community, and this book made me take a look at my own faith. Would I have the same courage and strength Meryn shows in the midst of her sentence?
This book falls into the speculative category a bit, but the way the world looks in Davison’s 2053 could very well be what a future for Christians looks like. Since this is the first book in the series, there are some things left unanswered that definitely have me adding the next book to my must-read list!
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
adventurousbookworm1 –
Set in the near future of 2053 Canada, this dystopian novel immediately caught my attention and the cliffhanger ending left me wanting more.
I really admired how dedicated Meryn was to God. She always followed His call even if she knew that it would be difficult and painful. Her dedication to her beliefs really brought her character to life and I enjoyed reading about her.
I really liked the friendship between Jesse and Caleb because they encouraged each other so much while looking out for the other one as well.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a great Christian dystopian novel. Add in the few plot twists and this book will keep you entertained for hours.
Personal Rating: 4 Stars
Content Rating: 3 Stars
*I received this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
beccakae –
I’ve been thinking about this book and what to say about it. I found it to be interesting and kept my interest. It was not all action and adventure but had enough drama to keep me interested.
I thought the characters were fairly believable. A couple times, i felt like Meryn & Jesse’s character developed and changed quickly early on in the story. It made the characters a little less realistic to real life. I do think that the reader can relate to Meryn and Jesse and discover & learn things as well. l like how Meryn stood firm in her belief. She did not waver and risked her life.
Jesse was an interesting character. I liked how he wanted to protect Meryn even though he was on the opposite side.
The scariest part of this book is that its not completely fiction but based on future events that will happen. Its knowing that in our future, we will be faced with decisions that will test our faith to its core. It might not be just like the story but Christians who represent the Truth of Jesus will be persecuted. Being a Christian in a fallen world is tough and this book clearly shows that. I think that throughout this series, you will find hope in the midst of chaos.
I’m a firm believer that you can learn something whether it be a fun fact or a life lesson while reading fiction.
This is a series and I look forward to reading more.
calamity_manda –
This series is incredible! It starts off with plenty of action from the get go, with Meryn attending church only to find out that the Christians have been blamed with recent terrorist attacks. I hadn’t read Sara’s books before, so I didn’t realize what an excellent author she is, nor how hard these books would be to put down. This series is dystopian fiction at it’s finest. Sara draws on history to create a chillingly realistic series. I will caution that there is some violence, which is pertinent to the story, but makes this book more geared towards older teen and adult readers. That said, I highly recommend this series!
I received this series through Just Read Tours. This is my honest review and is in no way influenced by receiving complimentary copies.