Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Review: Dragon Seed by Marty Machowski

About:


An angry teen, a desperate mother, a missing father, and a shadow lurking in the background.

Things were going from bad to worse for Nick and his family. Tempted to run away after yet another argument with his mom, Nick receives a handwritten, leather-bound copy of an old book-a family legend passed down to him from his great grandfather. The book, called Dragon Seed, leads Nick deep into his family's history and introduces him to another angry young man who lived in the shadows (the shadows of the tombs). Like Nick, you'll be shocked to discover where he fits in this story of epic proportions!

This page-turning, young adult fiction story invites older children and teens into the real-life struggles of Nick. But it also ushers them into an imaginative exploration of the life of the young man Jesus saved as he wandered through the tombs. Best-selling author Marty Machowski uses both stories to introduce the reality of spiritual warfare and how its shadows affect and change us.

Machowski, a trusted teacher for children of all ages, presents a thoroughly biblical view of spiritual warfare that emphasizes the importance of humility and dangers of pride. Teens will be drawn to the story of Nick and his struggles and will learn, as they read, to also identify the shadows in their own life and turn from them. While the biblical teaching is evident throughout the narrative of Dragon Seed, Machowski also includes a twelve-lesson Bible study at the end of the book to help teens ground their understanding of spiritual warfare on biblical principles.

Youth pastors, leaders, and parents will also want to explore with teens the small group study at the end of the book with its unique take on spiritual warfare that emphasizes the biblical theme of humility. This is a perfect book to read with a group and discuss together the implications of Nick's struggles for their lives.



My Thoughts:

Dragon Seed by Marty Machowski is an expertly written novel telling the story of the origin and spread of pride through the life and eyes of an ordinary modern family. Nick Freeman, a rebellious and spirited teenager, is emotionally unstable and devastated by the loss of his father. Unsure of how to channel his emotion and insecurities he constantly argues and deliberately disobeys his tired mother who desperately tries to keep her son in line.

As the story progresses Nick’s soul becomes an intense battlefield of light versus dark, but as he reads his family’s history and discovers hidden truths will he be able to win out against his personal demons or are the roots of the dragon seed polluting Nick’s heart already too far gone to be removed?

This captivating novel of the battle of good versus evil in real life will leave you wondering what’s next and will open your mind to the battles of the spiritual realm.  I enjoyed the ensuing conflicts in the lives of the characters in both the Freemans’ history and current timeline struggles.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Litfuse Publicity. I was not required to post a positive review and the views and opinions expressed are my own.

Reviewed by JackBo

Marty Machowski is the Family Life Pastor at Covenant Fellowship Church in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, where he has served on the pastoral staff for over 25 years. Marty leads Promise Kingdom, the children's ministry of Covenant Fellowship. He is the author of a systematic theology for children entitled "The Ology," "Long Story Short," "Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God," "The Gospel Story Sunday School Curriculum" and the companion "Gospel Story Children's Bible." He and his wife, Lois, and their six children reside in West Chester, Pennsylvania area.

Find out more about Marty at martymachowski.com. 

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