Water Walker by Ted Dekker

Author: Ted Dekker
Publisher:
Date of publication:

My name is Alice Ringwald, but the man who kidnapped me says that's a lie.

Thirteen-year old orphan Alice Ringwald has no memory beyond six months ago. The only life she knows is the new one she's creating one day at a time with the loving couple that recently adopted her and gave her new hope.

That hope, however, is shattered one night when she is abducted by a strange man. In a frantic FBI manhunt, he vanishes.

So begins Water Walker, a modern day parable that examines the staggering power of forgiveness, and reminds us that it's possible to live free of the hurt that keeps our souls in chains.

Water Walker is the second in the Outlaw series by Ted Dekker.  I reviewed the first book, Eyes Wide Open, back in January.  I enjoyed that book and was looking forward to this one.  As with the first one, Water Walker was released in four parts.  I really wanted to like this book.  Unfortunately for me, I had a hard time getting into it.  I lasted about half way through.  

I found the book slow and kind of confusing. I'm not sure where the book was going. I was looking forward to the FBI chase and maybe finding out more about the years that Alice couldn't remember. Sadly, the book skipped 5 years ahead and a hidden trust fund and weird cult leader came into play. That left me disappointed. I found the religious cult aspect over the top.  Also, Alice/Eden is supposed to be off the charts smart, but she didn't ever think to escape with her little brother?  She also took it on the kidnappers' word that this woman was her birth mother.  I found that hard to believe. The book has gotten a lot of good reviews. I just think it wasn't for me.  

Eyes Wide Open by Ted Dekker

Author: Ted Dekker
Publisher: Worthy Publishing
Date of publcation: January 2014

Who am I?

My name is Christy Snow. I’m seventeen and I’m about to die. I’m buried in a coffin under tons of concrete. No one knows where I am. My heart sounds like a monster with clobber feet, running straight toward me. I’m lying on my back, soaked with sweat from the hair on my head to the soles of my feet. My hands and feet won’t stop shaking.

Some will say that I’m not really here. Some will say I’m delusional. Some will say that I don’t even exist. But who are they? I’m the one buried in a grave.

My name is Christy Snow. I’m seventeen. I’m about to die. So who are you?

This book was originally released in 4 parts.  The version I read had all 4 parts together in one volume. It's a pretty quick read and was enjoyable.   I will have to say that I spent a lot of the middle of the book confused as to what was going on.   Christy and her friend Austin somehow end up being mistaken for mental patients with different names.  What follows is a pretty wild trip where they both begin to question what is real and what is delusion.  Neither youth knows where they came from or remember anything about their lives before the age of 13.  I was happy that for the most part, the story all came together in the end.

I liked the overall message of the book.  Accepting and loving ourselves is the only way to truly love and accept others.  It takes most of us a long time to understand that.  One of the thing that I didn't like was that I felt like the message was too cryptic.  I think younger people reading this book might not really get the message.  I also wish there was more information about where Christy and Austin came from. I felt like that was not fleshed out enough.  This was quite a different book than I have read from this author in the past.  I look forward to the next book by him!

Kari's most anticipated of 2012

Most of mine are sequels.Are you looking forward to any of these as well?

Happy New Year!!!!!!!

Kari's Top 10 of 2011

Here are mine in no particular order.  Honestly, I had more than 10 but these are the ones that stood out for me.
  (OK I cheated like Autumn and added an extra to make 11.) Enjoy!



The Last Blind Date By Linda Yellin
Forbidden by Ted Dekker
Darkness Dawns by Dianne Duvall
Cloaked by Alex Finn
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
The Heart of a Killer by Jaci Burton
Die for Me by Amy Plum
Hereafter by Tara Hudson
The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown
Lover Unleashed by J.R. Ward
Treachery in Death by J.D. Robb

Forbidden by Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee

Authors: Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee
Narrator: Henry Levya
Publisher: Hachette Book Group (September 2011)
Audio version by Hachette Audio

1200 years ago, during the Age of Chaos, life as people knew it was nearly annihilated by hatred, ambition, zealotry and war. From the aftermath of near destruction rose a message of hope through the establishment of a new order-one which elevated knowledge and control above the volatility of emotion and expression. No more would the world suffer the effects of malice, greed or passion. Strong, mitigating emotion exists only in historical memory...

After happening upon an ancient journal through strange circumstance, Rom's world is shattered. He learns that humanity long ago ceased to feel any emotion besides pain, that it exists today in a living death. In a terrible risk, Rom exposes himself to the vial of blood folded into the old leather of the journal. His change is fearful and fraught with mind-bending emotion. A once-pious observer of the Order's passionless statues, he is filled with uncontrollable impulses. He is filled with love.

He is undone, terrified, and alone in the dead world.

The problem with reading the first book in a series right when it comes out, instead of waiting for the entire series, is that you have to wait so long for the next book.  I have no patience when it come to this! I can't wait until the next book come out.  I want to know what happens next!  I really, really enjoyed this book.  Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee make a great team!  Forbidden takes you into a future where people are ruled by fear and no other emotion. Peace has been found through the Order, but at what price? Rom stumbles upon a secret that will change everything for him and the rest of the world.

Forbidden was a nice change of pace for me. Having read a few YA dystopian books in the past couple of weeks, I was growing a bit tired of the "teen saves the world" story line. It was nice to read about some adults for a change.  The characters in this book are very well fleshed out.  I felt like I got to know them fairly well.  I loved Rom and Avra.  That moment when they realize they have been in love for a very long time, yet just couldn't feel...it was priceless.

There was enough science mixed with mythology and fantasy to keep me interested throughout the book.  I don't want to say too much about the plot, because I think it would ruin it for you. I will tell you that there is a mix of some humor as well as a few heart wrenching scenes.  Heart wrenching enough to make me tear up as I listened to the audio at work.  I credit the excellent writring as well as the excellent narration by Henry Leyva for this.  I recognized Mr. Leyva's from another Ted Dekker book, The Priests' Graveyard, which I reviewed  a while back.

Forbidden is a wild ride, but so worth the trip!

-Kari

The Priest's Graveyard

Author: Ted Dekker

Publisher: Center Street

The last thing Renee Gilmore remembers is being rescued by a pair of unknown arms after her drug-dealer boyfriend attempts to murder her. She wakes up in a beautiful glass house surrounded by doctors and the man that saved her life, Lamont Myers. Lamont offers her protection, if she abides by his rules. Among these; she must not leave the house, making her the bird in his gilded cage.
Danny Hansen is a Bosnian immigrant who came to America to escape the bloodshed of his country and the memories of his own involvement. Danny is a priest who lives by a strict moral code, one which values the loving of others above all else. It is those that pretend to abide by religious and legal law but intentionally harm others that insence Danny. And he believes it is duty to show them the error of their ways. Those few that admit and renounce their behavior are forgiven and set free, but never without a severe reminder of their wrongdoings. Those that refuse to admit to their behavior are killed.

A year after Renee is rescued by Lamont he is murdered and she vows to seek revenge. At the same time, Danny has continued to carve a swath of judgement and punishment. In their individual pursuits, Danny and Renee's paths become entangled and before long it is clear that neither of them may make it out of this hunt alive.

The Priest's Graveyard is a dark and disturbing book that explores the question of judgement and justice. The book is well written and well thought out. The story is told through both Danny's and Renee's point of view. It was really interesting to see how each of them interpreted the events of the story. Danny is a vigilante priest and Renee is an ex-junky. I spent a lot of the book wondering who was crazier. I don't want to give too much of the plot away, because it would really ruin the book. Let's just say, I didn't expect some of the events that occurred in the book. I do love an author that can surprise me!

While it kept me on the edge of my seat, I had to sit on it for a few days and think about whether or not I really liked it. I did, but I'm not sure I liked the ending. It left me a little unsettled. I think that is why I had to sit on it for a few days. Read it and you will see what I mean. I listened to the audiobook and the two narrators did a great job, which really added to my enjoyment of the book.

I definitely recommend this latest by Ted Dekker. It is the first I have read by the author. If his other books are like this, then I'll definitely try him again.

--Kari

Review: Three by Ted Dekker

by:  Ted Dekker

published by:  Mass Market Paperback

Enter a world where nothing is what it seems. Where your closest friend could be your greatest enemy.

Kevin Parson is driving his car late one summer day when, suddenly, his cell phone rings. A man who identifies himself as Slater speaks in a breathy voice: You have exactly three minutes to confess your sin to the world. Refuse, and the car you're driving will blow sky high.

Kevin panics. Who would make such a call? What sin? Kevin ditches the car. Precisely three minutes later, a massive explosion sets his world on a collision course with madness.

I own a few Ted Dekker books, but this is the first one that I've read.  It certainly won't be the last.  I really liked it!

If you want a great thriller suspense type book, this is definitely one you need.  The ending was very interesting and surprising.  It made me want to reread the book and see if I could poke holes in the story.  Very clever! 

His writing style reminded me of Tami Hoag.  I think if you're a fan of her you would like his books as well.  It seemed like the same level of suspense and violence...maybe a little less than Hoag.  Just a good solid thriller mystery that keeps you hanging until the very end.

Thanks to Hachette for sending me a copy of this book to review.