This sequel attempts to raise the stakes, in story and character. There are a few moments that hint at a deeper sense of adventure and mystery. But the meandering plot didn't feel nearly as tight this go round.
At the end of Soul's Gate, three heroes of this series achieved a major spiritual victory over the demon Zennon and in the life of their mentor. But the battle left this person blind and unsure of himself. His withdraw forces the trio to take on more leadership, and thus become higher targets for the enemy. Dr. Marcus Amber's very reality becomes confused as he drifts between potential dimensions and faces the repercussions of familial and personal trauma. Ultimately everything this group does is centered on discovering and defeating their main opponent: the Wolf, a major demonic force to be reckoned with.
The prose and style of the book itself were comparable to the last novel, though there was a general lack of mystery this time that left some of the passages less transcendent, more rote. Also, I noticed a trend towards dictating the mood rather than letting the story grow it, more "telling" than "showing." This tendency weakened the plot considerably. I was told that the main characters were preparing to face the Wolf on many occasions. But the story didn't drive the point home in a truly organic way.
Indeed, while I the soul battles theologically troubling last time, they provided a lot of action and suspense. This time the whole idea of jumping into souls is barely mentioned, replaced instead with Marcus appearing to faze between alternate realities. At first I was excited, really enjoying the conundrum of which world was true, even as it came at the expense of the other characters' development. If the book had been solely about Marcus I might have loved it. Instead, his story wandered so far from the main plot that eventually the book veered into two separate climaxes, related by the slimmest of threads.
I found the demon characterization far weaker in the sequel. At the end of last novel's climax the chief antagonist stepped out of the shadows, took off his gloves, and threatened the heroes with payback. This time around he was far more visible but way too easily cowed. He never felt like a true threat, more a henchmen than a villain. When the inevitable showdown occurred I could barely work up the adrenaline to worry about the outcome.
If you were able to enjoy the previous book's premise you'll probably like this one just as much. If you, like me, had issues with the occasional cultist vibe it gave off, you'll continue to be as disturbed as I by certain ideas expressed. I'm also unsure how the author can continue to up the ante after this book's ending, since it appears to resolve most of the original conflict. I would not recommend this book for any but the diehard spiritual warfare fans.
This review is also posted on Goodreads, Amazon, and Speculative Faith. I received a Paperback copy courtesy of the publisher as part of the INSPY book contest. The cover was designed by M80 Design. The book is currently available from Thomas Nelson as a Paperback ($15.99) or eBook ($9.99 on Amazon).
