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A review by thatgirlinblack
Beyond the Valley of Thorns by Patrick Carman
4.0
Perused this in a few hours and came away impressed by a strong Christian message in a children's fantasy book by Scholastic. The heroine Alexa must make a journey with John her protector, Yipes a small energetic man, her pet Murphy, and good giant Amnon, against evil Grindall, his master Abbadon, and his evil giant ogres. Elyon, the Creator God of the world, the angelic Seraphs, Abbadon the Lucifer, good against evil, being on Elyon's side and doing what He says, are all beautiful parts of this allegory. I'll close with some of my favorite quotes from the book.
"It is a bit daunting. But you must never forget that Elyon, in his own mysterious way, a way which we cannot understand, is on our side. The creator of both human and Seraph has chosen us, and I can only hope than in his vast wisdom he will show us how we might prevail against all odds."
"We have been in the midst of an immense evil for a very long time, and no one has come to help us. But, in its way, the evil has been a comfort, as if by its very presence we know the stories that have been passed on are true. Elyon is among us, close by, waiting in the shadows, until the cruelty runs its course and he returns to claim us."
"On Abaddon's side are Grindall and the ogres; these are the things of evil, things like rage, malice, and deceit. But we cast our lot on a different side, a side controlled by Elyon, who is just, wise, and kind."
""Elyon is near." ... It was the most unusual feeling, both comforting and frightening at the same time. I felt as though some new presence had moved suddenly closer, a wonderful presence, but a dangerous one as well."
"/It is you who must go, you have I chosen. There is no other./ I heard the words as clear as a bell. They were firm, and they were not a request - they were an order."
"It is a bit daunting. But you must never forget that Elyon, in his own mysterious way, a way which we cannot understand, is on our side. The creator of both human and Seraph has chosen us, and I can only hope than in his vast wisdom he will show us how we might prevail against all odds."
"We have been in the midst of an immense evil for a very long time, and no one has come to help us. But, in its way, the evil has been a comfort, as if by its very presence we know the stories that have been passed on are true. Elyon is among us, close by, waiting in the shadows, until the cruelty runs its course and he returns to claim us."
"On Abaddon's side are Grindall and the ogres; these are the things of evil, things like rage, malice, and deceit. But we cast our lot on a different side, a side controlled by Elyon, who is just, wise, and kind."
""Elyon is near." ... It was the most unusual feeling, both comforting and frightening at the same time. I felt as though some new presence had moved suddenly closer, a wonderful presence, but a dangerous one as well."
"/It is you who must go, you have I chosen. There is no other./ I heard the words as clear as a bell. They were firm, and they were not a request - they were an order."