Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Review and Trailer: American Omens by Travis Thrasher

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ABOUT THE BOOK

In this taut thriller that imagines a near-future America following the decline of the Religious Right, where the Christ-followers who have anticipated a rising intolerance for their beliefs for decades find out they're right after all.

In the US in 2038, a secret society is imposing its agenda on outspoken Christian leaders, killing when necessary. Corporate regulations restrict religious expressions and policies. A recent convert, Hutchence, uses creative and guerilla-like techniques to spread the Gospel of Jesus. This enigmatic man enlists a rag-tag group of individuals to help him proclaim a warning to the rest of the country: God is sending his judgment on our nation, and his first act will be to destroy Chicago. 

One recruit is a young and talented computer analyst who specializes in mastering algorithms for corporate and political use, and who is on the run from the company she works for, while trying to discover the truth about her father's mysterious disappearance. Another is a conspiracy-theory-junkie & survivalist who has discovered proof of assault on people of the Christian faith. And a widower with three girls is recruited by this mysterious Hutchence to help lead a return to God in America. 

My Thoughts:

This was a very realistic-feeling view of what may very well be the future (if I don't have anything to say about it, that is). We see this strangely familiar world through the eyes of three characters. One is a woman who works for the tech company that has led to everyone getting special computer type things in their heads (creepy, I know) and whose father has disappeared- and that pulls her unwillingly into this world. I liked Cheyenne, except for one stupid decision she made that really threw me off- because trusting random men to drive you to meet strangers in the dead of night is never a good idea.

The second character is sweet old Will, the book seller who has his shop closed down by the powers-that-be as he stumbles through life. Until he comes into contact with the Reckoner. And the Reckoner is the man that FBI agent Dowland is ruthlessly on the hunt for. Dowland is obviously one of the bad guys, but I couldn't help but feel bad and kind of like him. Plus, his middle name and a certain kind of weapon that was alluded to makes me wonder if he's going to have a certain Biblical story arc in the sequel (there had better be a sequel!)...

This tale was more than just a bunch of characters in a realistic almost-dystopian world, though. It's a warning. And, we can only pray, not as prophetic as it feels...

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

Reviewed by Jes

Trailer:


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