This book is a sequel to Volume 1: Prologue, The Brothers.

Clearly the target audience for this series of books is LDS since it talks about our pre-mortal life and the Plan of Salvation but I can't imagine what Deseret Book is thinking by not only publishing these books but by having them on their Book Club list.

This is a book about terrorism and how Lucifer has control over the lives of those who defied him in the pre-mortal world. The story is dark and at times very gruesome. It describes acts of horrible violence including slaying of villagers in Iran and child abuse.

At the end of Chapter 30 the author describes the burning torture of Rassa, father of Azadeh, a young Iranian girl. After his death the soldiers slay thirty-nine children. In another part of the book, Chapter 18, Sam is severely beaten by his abusive father to the point that he is unconscious. I know that these things happen but I can read about it in the news or watch it in the movies. I don't want to read about it in a book that is on the Deseret Book recommended reading list.

If Mr. Stewart's aim is to terrify us then he does a good job. I predict that there will be a trend toward writing more Armageddon type stories. It is definitely an LDS story line because it deals with the principles of the gospel such as repentance, faith, testimony and baptism. I don't believe that we should turn a blind eye toward the subject of the last days but I just don't feel that this book is very uplifting or that it has a place on the Deseret Book reading list.

The whole story leaves me with a feeling of "If Satan has that much control and power over the entire world then why bother?" I realize that Mr. Stewart is merely voicing his own opinion but I have found it a very difficult book to get into. I don't wear rose colored glasses and I have enough life experience to know that it isn't a bowl of cherries but when I read a book I like to gain something good from it and this book leaves me with a sour taste in my mouth.

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M. McQuarrie
January 24, 2006