Rise of the Mystics: Beyond the Circle Two

Dekker completes the saga begun in The 49th Mystic in this fast-moving spiritual adventure. Rachelle Matthews is on a mission to find five seals of truth in two different dimensions (present and future Earth) before Vlad Smith, aka Shadow Man, can destroy the world. The battle between Rachelle and Vlad continues, with Vlad doing all in his power to prevent Rachelle from finding the final two seals. After Vlad kills Rachelle’s father, frames her for a church bombing, and has her mind erased, he is confident his victory is assured. But Rachelle has forces working on her behalf: in the present, scientist Steve Collinsworth helps her escape, reclaim her memories, and utilize her exceptional psychic and physical powers. In the future, mystic Talya guides Rachelle on her journey. Thomas Hunter (from Dekker’s Circle series) also travels between dimensions to assist Rachelle in her quest. Despite Vlad’s efforts, light will conquer darkness and the Shadow Man will vanish. Though the allegorical story is powerful and thought-provoking, the portrayal of God as love without judgment and an afterlife in which all believers reach heaven regardless of past evil deeds may not sit well with all readers. (Nov.)