The Delusion by Laura Gallier

The Delusion

by

Laura Gallier

(Tyndale 2017)

"My stories are twisted and bizarre--and so terrifying that I'm sometimes told to shut up a few minutes into them--but I can't."

So by this prologue begins a strange and weird tale told by Owen Edmonds.

Owen starts off as an agnostic. We see that he is basically a good boy, someone who strives to do what is best, even though he comes from a broken home. He has friends that at times can be good, but for the most part are self-absorbed and vain.

Just one moment of curiosity, the want to know more information, the need to have his questions answered, Owen takes a risk and the consequences send him into a supernatural existence. Now he can see demons and angels. He can see the shackles and chains that bound people to sin. And he can see the light of those who have been freed of their chains by their belief in Jesus Christ.

The book is told in first person. The reader falls headlong into teenage thoughts and emotions, experiencing them. We see his illogical actions, his rash judgements, and ultimately his surrender and maturity.

It takes skill to pull off the true portrayal of a teenager on the cusp of adulthood. And Laura Gallier does this extremely well.

The novel is dark, but like any tunnel, there is light at the end. With each chapter the stage is set into more complex acts, each building upon the other, until the finale. The character, Owen, grows with each chapter, learning humility and love.

Fair warning to readers, there are instances of scenes describing the horrific descent into hell. In one scene, it had nothing to do with the girl's suicide, but everything to do with her lost soul. 

The story is sound in Scripture, which is surprising to find in Young Adult novels. There is no apology for beliefs. There is no sugar coating the horror. And this is what makes it a great Christian Thriller. It is a battle of light and dark. The power of what prayer can do. And all told through the eyes of a teenager who is just beginning to learn the truth about what he is seeing.

Even the title has a deeper meaning: the delusion is believing that you don't need Jesus Christ in your life.

Thoroughly thought-provoking, I could see this as a youth group read and discussion. An extremely well-written novel and one that I do not want to part with, other than handing it over to my teenage son.

***click on the title for the option to purchase the book***

***I received this novel from Tyndale in exchange of an honest review***