“Believing wasn’t the issue, nor was knowing the truth. It was following and obeying and getting with the program and not having this awful uncertainty ...”
Travis Thrasher brings a shockingly realistic future look into the United States in “American Omens,” a foreshadowing novel that reveals what could happen to our society if we allow it.
Set in 2038, political and corporate America has made Christianity a crime. As more and more vocal Christians mysteriously disappear, never to be heard from again, a man calling himself the Reckoner steps forward to warn the world that judgement is coming.
The perspective in “American Omens” switches between three main characters and the people the come in contact with — Cheyenne Burne, a top algorithm specialist at the company founded by trillionaire Jackson Heyford that oversees the digital identity system everyone is tied into, and whose father has mysteriously disappeared; Will Stewart, a former bookstore owner and believer struggling to survive, and who may have a surprising connection to Heyford; and Jon Dowland, an FBI agent sourced to find and eliminate the Reckoner.
As Cheyenne and Will’s paths cross with intriguing characters like a saved-by-grace rapper and a man who warns of God’s impending plan, they each must decide if they have the faith to follow God or man.
“American Omens” is an eerily telling tale of the road America could easily take if we aren’t careful. Thrasher also does an incredible job of building his characters — he gives them a depth and reality that most can relate to. His characters always face very real decisions, battling very real flaws and crises. And I wonder if he may have inserted a bit of himself into the character of Will.
While reminding us that the “day of the Lord” is near (see Zephaniah 1:14), it reminds us of the dangers of having a world where everything is so inclusive and intrusive. A society where everything is tucked away in the clouds isn’t necessarily a safe society.
Thrasher takes on several themes throughout his latest novel, including worry, manipulation, doubt, and thinking for oneself. But the two major themes, which go hand-in-hand, are faith and belief. This story makes us question how far are we willing to go for our faith, especially when the world is battling against us? And just what ... or who ... do we believe?
As Cheyenne and her rapper friend Jazz discuss:
“ ‘You make it sound so easy,’ she said.
‘What?’
‘Believing in something you can’t see.’
‘Nah,’ he said to her. ‘That’s not the hard part. It’s having to live in this world with faith while you see everybody else around you living without it.’ ”
This novel will definitely convict you ... to decide where you stand in your faith, and what you’re willing to do to defend it.
I believe Thrasher wrote this story with the hope that it will continue in a series, but that it could also be a standalone if needed. I seriously HOPE we will see a second novel! (Hint, hint Multnomah).
Five stars out of five.
Multnomah provided this complimentary copy for my honest, unbiased review.