Storm Rising (Book of the Wars #1)

Title: Storm Rising (Book of the Wars #1)

Author: Ronie Kendig

Genre: Christian Suspense

Publishing Date: July 2, 2019

Length: 386 pages

About the Book:

Mentioned in the pages of the Septuagint but lost to history, the Book of the Wars has resurfaced, and its pages hold secrets–and dangers–never before seen on earth.

Tasked with capturing the ancient text, former Navy SEAL Leif Metcalfe is finally given command of his own team. But their best efforts are ruined when a notorious Bulgarian operative known as “Viorica” snatches the volume right out from under them.

Iskra “Viorica” Todorova is determined to use the book to secure the thing that matters most–freedom. But a series of strange storms erupts around the globe and the coming dangers foretold in the text threaten crops, lives–entire nations.

Though both are haunted by secrets of their past and neither trusts the other, Leif and Iskra must form an uneasy alliance to thwart impending disaster. However, the truth hidden in two-thousand-year-old words could unleash the storm of their own destruction.

My Review:

Have you ever gone out on a limb to try a book outside of your typical genre preferences simply based on the recommendation of others? That was me for Storm Rising, and I wasn’t disappointed! I’ll admit I had a bit of a hard time initially keeping some of the characters straight, but once I got deeper into the story I didn’t have as much of an issue. I started not knowing what I was getting into, and finished impatient for the next book to release so I could continue.

Hands down my favorite character in this novel is Iskra (aka Viorica). There was so much complexity to her character and the internal conflict she dealt with was clearly palpable. I don’t want to give away any spoilers here so I won’t say too much, but I will share that it became evident that the life she’d been dealt led her to build a wall around her heart in hopes of protecting it. Who she’d become was out of necessity and survival instinct. Yet around all of that hardness she’d created, was a woman terrified to admit that she wanted to be loved. I won’t share more because I think you really need to read for yourself to grasp all that her character contained and what that ultimately led to for her. I will share as a content warning however, that her past involves being sold by her father as a girl and becoming a sex slave. I know that it can be a triggering topic.

On one of the reading groups I’m a part of on Facebook, I’ve seen women posting about looking for books that they could listen to on car trips that their husbands would be interested in as well. I actually told my husband several times while I was reading this one that I thought it would be one he’d like as well. It has the war, the espionage, the battle, the heroes, the villains, the mind games, the emotional hurdles, the action, the suspense, and more. There are pieces that I believe would appeal to both genders in this one.

I really didn’t know what I was getting into when I opened the cover of this one, but I’m glad I did. Suspense fans are sure to love it. I’m now waiting impatiently for the next in the series to arrive so I can find out what happens next!

*I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.

Rating:

Content Warnings: Human trafficking, rape, violence