ICON by Georgia Briggs Christian Book Review

ICON by George Briggs

ICON
Georgia Briggs, author
Chesterton IN: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2017
205 pages

ISBN: 978-1-944967-19-2
List price: 14.95
Formats: Paperback, E-book, Kindle, Nook and i-book.
LINK to Buy: Store.AncientFaith.com

A review by Mary Katherine May of QualityMusicandBooks.com.

Summary from the Book Cover
In a post-Christian America, where going to church, praying, or owning holy things means death, a twelve-year-old girl searches for the truth.  Finding it may cost her everything.

The Story
The End Times have begun and the year is 0000 ET.  Euphrosyne and her family live their lives in the Orthodox Christian tradition.  One horrible night everything changes for Euphrosyne when the Matthews' house is broken into and all but her are shot to death.  Even the family dog is killed. 

Christians are being murdered in the United States of America for their intolerance by enforcers of the new tolerant secular society.  When Euphrosyne is found, after being miraculously being saved from death by an icon of St. Nicholas while running for her life in the woods, her name is changed to Hillary and she is sent to live with her grandparents.  

In the End Times people are watched for any sign of not complying with tolerant rules.  There is a children's wing in the Department of Religious Tolerance where non-compliant juveniles are brought to be starved, tortured

ICON by Georgia Briggs
Store.AncientFaith.com

and brainwashed into right thought.  Euphrosyne prays the Jesus Prayer when like other children there she is left in complete darkness in a little glass-enclosed cell with a hole in the floor for a toilet.  Hillary, however, remains firm in her faith.

Thoughts of the Reviewer
This is a violent, scary book.  Written for young adults, I recommend to parents and leaders to exercise real caution when recommending and having young people read it.  

ICON has the potential putting fear in the minds and hearts of readers who do not believe that ultimately good will triumph. 

In a good sense, it may encourage readers to stand firm in their faith as Euphrosyne did, believe their relationship with Jesus Christ is worth the cost.

Lastly, there is a plausible correlation between this story and the attitudes and behaviors of many who are being are driven by evil forces to hate Christianity and do whatever it takes to turn the God of Love into a tyrant to be destroyed and removed from American society.

Orthodox Christians do not teach or promote what is called the Rapture.  Here is an End Times book from the Eastern Orthodox perspective.  Icon is a fast read.  Unless the reader intends to share the book and/or doesn't mind reading from the computer I recommend buying the e-book. 

The Shepherds Path David Gray Christian Novel Future Now Coming True

The Shepherd's Path: A Novel
David F. Gray, author

The Shepherd's Path
David F. Gray, author
New Leaf Press, Green Forest AR, 1993
Retail Price: 9.95

299 pages
ISBN 0-89221-227-6

This edition is currently out of print.
This blogpost offered by Mary Katherine May of QualityMusicandBooks.com.

I am not reviewing or commenting on the content of The Shepherd's Path as a novel.  My remarks are based upon the back cover summary in relation to the current state of affairs in the United States of America, recognizing that the premise of this story may not be so far into the future.

From the back cover of The Shepherd's Path:
   On a deserted street in a dying, decaying inner city, a battered red car pulls up to the curb.  All is quiet as the engine shuts off.  Then, both doors open and a frightened young couple steps out.  Trying to watch in all directions at once, they make their way along the sidewalk to a dilapidated furniture store.  Once inside they are led to a cellar where, along with twelve other men and women, they fall to their knees in silent, forbidden prayer.  Is this the Soviet Union of the eighties, or the China of today?  No! This is middle America, in the year 2002.

   Thus, you enter The Shepherd's Path.  This action-packed, full-length novel transports you into the future, where the average Christian is struggling to survive in a nation where worshipping the Saviour is now an act of treason.  It is a story of love and commitment...anger and betrayal...of darkest defeat and brightest victory.