Book Review: Resistance

Summary:  “Don’t you know? Animals like you have no soul.”

Could God ever love a half-blood all of society looks upon with such fear and disdain? Jace once believed so, but when a tragic loss shatters the only peace he’s ever known, his faith crumbles as the nagging doubts he’s tried to put behind him descend on his grieving heart. With them come the haunting memories of the bloodstained past he longs to forget, but can never escape.

Taken from home at a young age and raised to serve the emperor, Kyrin Altair lives every day under a dangerous pretense of loyalty. After her unique observation skills and perfect memory place her into direct service to the emperor, Kyrin finds herself in further jeopardy as it becomes increasingly difficult to hide her belief in Elôm, the one true God.

Following the emperor’s declaration to enforce the worship of false gods under the penalty of death, many lives are endangered. But there are those willing to risk everything to take a stand and offer aid to the persecuted. With their lives traveling paths they never could have imagined, Jace and Kyrin must fight to overcome their own fears and conflicts with society as they become part of the resistance.

Review: Resistance is a Christian fantasy set in an Ancient Romanesque type setting and focuses heavily on the persecution of Christians. Although this is most definitely fantasy; complete with dragons, black wolves and several other fantastical beings, there is no magic. Jace and Kyrin (our main characters) were easy to relate to, Kyrin is not your typical heroine, she is strong but not stereotypically so, she draws her strength from God (even in the midst of the persecution of her faith) and her twin brother (Kaden) who protects her as any good brother should. He has my respect, as does Kyrin. Jace is...troubled, he has problems. Believing he is a monster and that he lacks a soul, he was was usually sitting in a corner brooding and I am not sure it helped that the majority of the people he met shared his belief. Jace believes in God but he is confused as to whether or not God will actually save his soul (if he possesses one) and thus spends most of the story pondering this subject. All in all I really enjoyed the story and loved the characters. The Christian aspect was refreshing and even the villains felt real and occasionally relatable. My one issue with this story is Meredith, I have read one hundred reviews for Resistance and not once has anybody mentioned this little cutie. Meredith, Kyrin's little sister figure whom Kaden comforted and carried upon occasion, Meredith who was not a large part of the story but was the only child in the entire book!!! anyways...I shall leave it at that but if you happen to pick up Resistance, please do not forget this little cherub.

Content: Jace's past is largely violence but not much is seen. There are other instances of violence: beheading, beatings and death but none of it is graphic. A woman flirts heavily with a man but it lasts only a few moments and she gives up quickly. Abortion is mentioned, but not dug into deeply.