Reviews & Testimonials
A classy Christian thriller with a dark mystery at its heart.
One misty night, Dr. Jonathan Marshall Keats encounters a mortally wounded nun who thrusts a baby into his arms as a mysterious blond stranger looks on. After 15 years, that child, Serenity D’Evele, arrives with her nun grandmother at an elite Catholic boarding school in California. But when tragedy strikes, heralded by Serenity’s prophetic dreams and spiritual proclivity, the teenager learns that her bloodline stretches back to Joan of Arc and the prophet Enoch. Furthermore, she may just be a key player in the end of the world. She sets out to discover the truth and protect her friends and family, all the while being tempted by a love that could bring about the Judgment. From its somewhat standard mystery setup, Burnham’s story explodes into a globe-trotting adventure featuring vast conspiracies, secret religious societies, biblical prophesies, angels, demons and other beasts drawn straight from the pages of Catholic and Gnostic religious mythologies. The book is theologically complicated, but Burnham does an excellent job of keeping it from going over the reader’s head. Themes of faith, trust and inner strength make this story more than just an action-adventure tale, though the author sometimes presents those themes more heavy-handedly than best suits them. The lush prose matches the setting and subject matter, and each character, even the minor ones, crackles with conflict and complex motivations. Burnham keeps the reader on the edge of her seat, with each plentiful twist deepening the far-reaching plot. While the dialogue is occasionally stiff and characters’ inner lives, though complex, are often told rather than shown, overall the book is gripping and brimming with life.
Religious mystery fans, people suspicious of the Catholic Church and anyone who enjoys supernatural thrillers will welcome this book.
Reviewed on 06/17/2010 by Kirkus Discoveries
“Absolutely Brilliant!”- The Fruit of the Fallen is some of the best storytelling I have read in years. From the beginning right through to the very end you will be captivated as this terrific story unfolds.
Filled with intrigue, mystery and suspense you will find yourself anxiously awaiting as you turn the pages of this masterpiece. This book takes the reader on a journey into the unknown as you face fallen angels, hellhounds and more. You become one with Serenity as she discovers the prophecy that has been tied to her very existence and you feel her fears and terror as she discovers her faith in this capturing tale.
A real page turner and one with spiritual intonations this truly is a must read. Even those with no spiritual or religious intentions will find this book exciting and captivating.
The story unfolds in a series of events and it captures the reader right from the very first page. There is no knowing what the outcome of this book will be and you will find yourself longing to uncover the secrets contained in the pages. Right to the very last word my attention was grabbed and I found myself transported into the world of Serenity D’Evele and the prophecy that surrounded her life. I became one with her as she fought with the evil that surrounded her and I can only say that I was truly honored to review such a fantastic book.
This book could well and truly be the next Twilight Saga and I can’t wait to read the next installment.
Amanda J Evans
Writer/Author
Http://www.ghostwritinguncovered.com
Dr. Jonathan Keats is caught off guard when, while walking down the street one day, an infant is thrust into his hands by a nun. Her last breath to him was that he must protect Serenity. Thus Keats is pulled into the middle of a prophecy dating back to the dawn of Man. As the child grows up, it becomes clear that she is no ordinary person. In fact, it is believed that she herself is the key to preventing a dire prophecy from coming true. Serenity is thought to be part of a family line dating back to before the Great Flood spoken of in the Bible. As such, she may be the key to setting free the very Angels that were, according to Christian tradition, cast out of Heaven by God. If these Angels were set free, it could have catastrophic results for Humanity. It will be up to those who guard Serenity to prevent the powers of evil from kidnapping Serenity and using her to fulfill the prophecy.
The Fruit of the Fallen by J.C. Burnham is a well-written, Da Vinci Code-style novel. Burnham has written a novel which is engaging and offers an intriguing mix of theology and adventure in the same package. In the last seven years, numerous authors have seized on the popularity of Dan Brown’s work in order to write similar novels, drawing on the Bible with its nearly endless supply of mysteries. In this case, Burnham focuses on a central facet of Christianity that God cast out a group of Angels from Heaven, condemning them to exile for eternity. The idea that there could be someone walking around today that is part of an ancient bloodline sold millions of copies of The DaVinci Code and I believe it will do the same for The Fruit of the Fallen. I give this book a 5 of 5 stars.
Reviewed on 06/17/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Jud Hanson
Serenity D'Evele has no idea that she isn’t like other sixteen year old girls. She doesn't know that her grandmother, Sophia, isn't actually her grandmother. She doesn't know why she's moved from school to school her whole life, never bothering to stay in one place. She doesn't know how sixteen years ago, a nun thrust her into the arms of a man called Dr. Johnathan Keats, and that he risked everything to protect her. Why? Because she is of prophecy, almost as if she's a modern day Joan of Arc.
Or is she?
What Serenity does know is that strange things are happening at her boarding school. Sophia leaves for weeks without a word. Strange creatures, voices, and dreams come to Serenity in the night. Even the people seem to be changing. Soon she finds herself sucked into the middle of a story laced with secret societies, supposedly mythical encounters, and corruption of what she thought to be good.
"The Fruit of the Fallen" by J. C. Burnham is a wild ride that straddles the fine line between complicated and convoluted. The plot, though slow for the first half of the book, is very much the driving force in this novel. We as readers find ourselves continually faced with yet another plot twist—another layer in the already tightly-woven fabric of the story itself. From chapter to chapter, we bounce back and forth between Serenity's almost clichéd existence as a sixteen year old orphan, and Dr. Keats's gripping struggle in Europe.
Nearly every chapter we are greeted with a new group of characters—some more vivid than others. And, while I've always said, "the more the merrier", I think some of the characters in "Fruit of the Fallen" could have used a little more fleshing out. Serenity is one such character. I felt like I never really knew her, except through the archetype friends she made, and the few words she spoke, until the end of the book. There, we suddenly see an entirely new character who, at times, tries to leap off the page to proclaim, "look at me! I'm here! I'm the protagonist!"
Conversely, Dr. Keats—who I wish I could've seen more of—was wonderfully developed. His atmosphere was more vivid than any other setting in the book; his character more defined. Not to mention, he seemed to grow and change throughout the course of the novel at a steady pace. Some of the other characters also adjusted themselves, but not consistently. They're personalities seemed jerkier, as did their pieces of the story.
One thing I did love about "The Fruit of the Fallen," was its myriad of supernatural beings. Fallen angels, hellhounds, demons, spirits… each one had its own, distinct flavor and characteristics, largely avoiding clichés and predictability. These creatures and Dr. Keats's character are what lead me to finish this book.
I wish I could read the final version of this manuscript (the one I read hadn't seen the final edits) so that I might properly judge the writing. For now, I'll just say that I'm glad there were other edits, because I did notice some common writer's pitfalls like passive voice, and "show vs. tell".
Although not without its flaws, "The Fruit of the Fallen" is an interesting book from a writer with a big imagination. If J. C. Burnham continues to layer his writing as he has in this book, every sequel will be brimming with promise.
Reviewed on 06/03/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Jessica Goodard
The Fruit of the Fallen by J.C. Burnham is an intense story that leaves you breathless from the first word. The story starts off by introducing Dr. Jonathan Keats, a seemingly average man. It is when he is ambushed by a dying nun, and an infant thrust into his arms that his life takes a turn toward the extraordinary. From that moment he becomes a fugitive, accused of murder and kidnapping.
However it is the infant, a girl named Serenity, that is the story’s main focus. Fast forwarding fifteen years later, we meet Serenity again and learn she is being transported, along with her grandmother, to her newest boarding school. We are told that to her knowledge Serenity has no other family and that she was constantly moved around as she was growing to follow her grandmother- a Catholic nun- on various church duties.
During her stay at Mount Sterling she reluctantly makes friends, and also meets a mysterious young man by the name of Tal who she is instantly attracted to. It is only when things start to take a dangerous turn that she learns that she is in the midst of an ancient angelic prophecy and may hold the key to the end of days.
Fruit of the Fallen was a pleasure to read from start to finish. Burnham’s description and attention to detail left this amateur theologian satisfied, but I did wonder if someone without my background in Christian Mysticism would be able to keep up. The chosen subject matter is not for the novice, but his writing style more than makes up for a layman’s lack of knowledge on the subject. All in all Fruit of the Fallen, the first in Burnham’s series was outstanding and I am anxiously awaiting the sequel. A definite must read.
Reviewed on 05/28/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Andrea Asay
Move over Dan Brown, there’s a new kid on the block and he knows how to deliver a blockbuster thriller that’s right up your genre. Okay, the novel doesn’t deal with Da Vinci, but The Fruit of the Fallen is one painstakingly researched theological thriller complete with a secret religious society. Without giving away too much of the plot, I’ll just mention fallen angels, hellhounds, and even Joan of Arc—all tossed into a contemporary timetable which revolves around a fifteen-year-old girl’s destiny. There are unexpected twists, everyone is suspect, and you will even find yourself questioning the protagonist before the author neatly ties up all the loose ends.
At age fifteen, Serenity D’ Evele finds herself alone, farmed out to a Catholic all-girl boarding school. She makes a few friends but clashes with some of her schoolmates, one in particular. As she tries to fit in, mysterious and terrifying things start happening; along with disturbing dreams, she finds she’s stalked by a horrific entity. But it’s not all bad; her talents as a classical musician are appreciated and she finds herself enchanted by what she hopes will become a budding romance in her life. Meanwhile, her benefactor, Dr. Jonathan Keats, sets out on an odyssey to discover the truth about Serenity and also clear himself of murder charges. His quest will be shadowed by clandestine, sinister figures as fate propels him into a mad dash across Europe. It all culminates at the boarding school, with everyone embroiled in headlong rush to a thrilling climax.
A valuable writer’s axiom beseeches writers to “show, not tell”. Another terrific rule: use as few words as necessary. I believe this author understands these concepts completely; for example, his phrase: “words flew and veins throbbed”. A lazier writer would have “told” us that someone was angry and they argued, rather than “showing” via such a remarkably brief descriptive phrase. Now, this type of writing makes for excellent reading, sure, but I believe the best part about this well-written novel is the author’s skillful use of foreshadowing; that, and his ability to leave you salivating for more at the end of each chapter. Not only that, but he delivers put-you-right-there descriptive phrases and the dialogue comes off remarkably natural. That said I have to admit I had a little problem with a few point-of-view shifts within scenes, making it a bit difficult to tell who was narrating. However, the effect was minimal and didn’t affect the quality of this fine novel.
I already said this book was painstakingly researched and the author bio on the back tells us why. As a kid, Dr. James C. Burnham, the author, attended a boarding school where he developed his talent for music and writing. He later graduated with a degree in music, only to continue on to earn a doctorate in education with an emphasis on learning psychology. Happily, because of Dr. Burnham’s writing skills, the music and theology facts—which could easily have come off as overbearing, boring or preachy—were none of those.
Jan Evan Whitford
Allbooks Reviews
