Soul Defenders: The Black Orchids by Carol Van Atta

By: Anonymous on Monday, February 18, 2013

Title:  Soul Defenders:  The Black Orchids

Author:  Carol Van Atta

Series:  Soul Defenders #1

Published:  September 13th 2012 by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Page Count:  316

Genre:  Contemporary Christian Fiction

Shelf:  Review Copy

Rating:  ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Will their prayers move Heaven's Heart before it's too late? When Ted Lyons accepts the new pastorate at Cherry Creek's Community Church, he has no idea just how handy his former law enforcement skills will become. A murdered pastor, the pastor's kidnapped wife, and their runaway daughter are only the beginning in a series of problems he wishes were part of a bad dream. Ted soon realizes he's facing a battle better fought on his knees, in prayer, than with his gun. As ruthless demons, summoned by an international cult - The Black Orchids - take over the town of Cherry Creek, angelic warriors are dispatched to protect the weary residents and stop a diabolical plan of destruction. By surrendering their lives to God and forming an unlikely alliance, Ted and a rag-tag group of struggling believers work together to slay the shadows of evil that threaten their very existence. This fast-paced tale of supernatural suspense will thrill fans of Frank Peretti's This Present Darkness and Randy Alcorn's The Ishbane Conspiracy.

My Review:

Sometimes you come to expect a certain level of writing from an author. I always find it amazing when the author not only meets, but also exceeds your expectations. Van Atta does that with this novel. It was an epic journey that you can’t help but fall in love with.

This novel takes Christian fiction to a whole new level in an amazing way. Van Atta manages to tactfully bring the voice of God to the forefront of her story without it becoming “preachy”. You never feel that she is trying to convert her readers, but rather, to tell the story of a battle waging in a small town. Individual choice and freewill always plays into people’s actions. You can see the influence of angels and demons in the world, but they do not force individuals or their actions. They simply guide them on their journeys. She puts peer pressure in a much grander scheme of things with this.

Van Atta uses descriptions that bring absolutely everything to life in a very big way. Everything was so clear and approachable (well.... if it wasn’t evil, that is). The writing style in this novel suits the storyline perfectly. You can’t help but be drawn in through her way with words. Also, Van Atta regularly flips perspective and scene from character to character within chapters. Through this technique, she manages to increase the depth of the novel while maintaining a very clear flow to the story. Everyone remains separate while working together to form a complete story.

Even though a great deal of the characters aren’t human, they are all so well developed, both in physique and personality, that you can’t help but relate to them, or at the very least picture them in your mind’s eye. Every character evokes a reaction in you as a reader. Some you want to help, some you want to hold, and others you want to beat over the head with a pillow until they realise how ridiculous they are being. It is the perfect cast for this novel.

As a cohesive unit, this story was at times disturbing, but always brilliant. You cannot help but be drawn in, wanting to continue on with the characters as they battle the forces of the underworld. One thing that came out of this novel for me??? I definitely do not want to travel to this town. I don’t think that I’d have the willpower that the characters do, or the ability to resist

Buy your copy of this novel online here today!!!