Broken Angel

By Sigmund Brouwer

Book Overview

In this engrossing, lightning-paced story with a post-apocalyptic edge, best-selling author Sigmund Brouwer weaves a heroic, harrowing journey through the path of a treacherous nation carved from the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1400070325
• ISBN13: 9781400070329
• Release Date: May 2008
• Publisher: Waterbrook Press
• Length: 243 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.4" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Inspirational--and scary

Caitlyn is not your normal girl. But it is not your normal world. A future America divides itself according to religion or lack thereof. Appalachia is inhabited by fundamentalists whose leader will do anything to keep the Outside out and his people in. The dangerous Outside teems with tolerant sinners. And scientists. Those like escapee Jordan Brown, Caitlyn's father. But he can't bear to tell Caitlyn all of his secrets. Not what happened before she was born, not why she is the way she is. He just wants to save her life, to give her a chance to be free. As free as she can be. There are others who search for Caitlyn, not to save her but to capture her. They will stop at nothing to achieve their goal. Can Jordan and Caitlyn make it safely back Outside before men bent on power capture them? This dystopian tale is part sci-fi part mystery part suspense. The characters are so rich, you forget the pace of the book and just let it carry you along to its stunning conclusion. Caitlyn endears herself to the reader through her innocence, trusting nature, and frail strength. She is indeed the backbone of the story and one can't help both applauding and pitying her. Themes of scientific research gone awry and severe extremes in religion can also be seen throughout the novel. It explores what may happen to people when these circumstances control their lives. It has been a few years since I've read any of Brouwer's work, and I've decided that's too long. Out of the Shadows and Crown of Thorns were excellent mystery novels filled with cultural secrets and history. I'm glad Brouwer delves into the sci-fi realm here--and this isn't the end. Book two is coming. I will definitely be picking up that one as well.

A dark quality, but inspiring

A very good read. It has a generally dark overall quality, but I would guess it would be enjoyable to most Christian fiction readers. Good pacing, not too long, interesting characters. There are a number of subplots but they are not difficult to keep track of.

Original and Fast Paced

Broken Angel is a truly original book that ought to make a huge splash in the Christian book industry. Set in the future after the true meaning of Christianity has turned into a political movement, the interesting characters of this book are trapped in more than an extremist cult. They are trapped in a pseudo-country within the U.S. that imposes outrageous religious rules, including the revival of stoning, on its less than citizens. This book will keep readers turning the page to see how it ends. With a strong message that seems to say what is meant for evil can still be turned to God's glory, Broken Angel will scare you, but also leave you pondering the future and trusting in God's power.

Chilling Suspense

Caitlin's deformity has made her an outcast, feared and reviled by the majority of the people she meets. For years she and her father have moved around a lot because of reactions to the way she looks. Now they are literally running for their lives, and her father sacrifices himself to save her. After his death, Caitlin is trapped in a restrictive, abusive, government controlled area called Appalachia with a notorious bounty hunder searching for her. It looks as if she has no chance for survival, until she joins forces with a young boy and an outcast deputy. The three of them struggle to reach a mysterious group who may or may not help them. Sigmund Brewer is a master of suspense, and each book seems more chilling than than the one before. Broken Angel is a spellbinder. Recommended

superb Christian suspense thriller

Fundamentalists run Appalachia with a strict interpretation of the Words. Reading is prohibited and anyone caught breaking this deadly sin is sent to hard labor at the factories or if blessed stoned to death. To those in charge, truth does not matter; confession whether by torture or drugs count. Few dare try to flee to "Outside", as being caught is worse than surviving. Caitlyn has an unacceptable growth on her back that marks her. When she was six, Jordon her Papa had it secretly removed by an Outsider surgeon who happened to be working at the clinic; however, as that doctor warned Papa, it grew back. Now a young adult, Caitlyn is afraid as the Elders are coming for her and her beloved Papa because she is different and somehow they have found out about her. Papa orders Caitlyn to flee for the Outside; she weeps, but obeys knowing she will never see him in this life again. The Elders and others chase after the disfigured female; some want her dead while some see her as something else. With help from two traveling companions she met and an underground railroad, Caitlyn continues to elude her adversaries, but the enemies are growing in number and strength leaving her to wonder if Outside is safe. The cast makes this a superb Christian suspense thriller as Caitlyn is a terrific lead player and the secondary and tertiary characters are fully drawn with many containing secret agendas. Fans will root for Caitlyn's run to freedom to be successful as Sigmund Brouwer makes a strong case that extremism especially religious is dangerous and anti-Christian; there is plenty of room for all people inside God's tent. Genre readers will place BROKEN ANGEL on their short list for best Christian suspense thriller of the year. Harriet Klausner