Amanda's Reviews > Black: The Birth of Evil

This book was part of a survey class and as such, I was looking forward to it. I've liked reading books from different genres and discovering the different types of appeals they have for their selected audience and myself. This book was my least favorite of the entire class.

To begin with, the story's premise slowly introduced and never fully explained. Tom is waking up in two different worlds in two separate times; ours and an Eden-like place in the future which is, for all intents and purposes, perfect. No real reason behind this is given, though it's hinted that Elyon (God) has some kind of purpose for this. Changes are mirrored between the worlds and it falls to Tom to prevent the destruction of both by learning about and interacting with both worlds.

The books writing was a huge problem for me. The story and pacing of the book are EXTREMELY slow and this made it difficult for me to get caught up in the action when it does happen. All of the characters in this story felt really one-dimensional and I didn't really empathize with the lead, much less anyone else. The dialogue also feels horribly stilted/cheesy at times, making it hard for me to really sink into the story. This one-dimensionality holds true with other plot concepts like the "Great Romance"; I understand it's importance but there's no description of its appeal (and why I as a reader should desire it) and I don't really care about it. The premise is just really frustrating since NO ONE in either world believes Tom for the majority of the book until something horrible happens. Meanwhile, all Tom does is lament that one believes him despite his proof and he's forced to wait until ALL those around him see the error of their ways. Not a lot happens in this book in terms of larger plot development and combined with the lack of character development, the story falls flat.

The major flaw of the book, though, is its failure to successfully mix genres. Instead of sticking to one, Dekker attempts to mix his Christian allegory with romance, science-fiction, and bio-thriller. He succeeds with none and the story feels like one giant mess. The book also ends in a cliffhanger, without any of the major plot points or questioned resolved. While series books should have larger arcs, individual titles require that at least part of the stand-alone have some resolution; this didn't have enough for me.

I can understand why this book has such a strong appeal; it reflects a strong Christian worldview and allows the reader to engage in a story that possesses the same outlook and framework they do. Dekker does a good job of displaying the relationship between God and man and the love and communication that can exist between them when is man is open to it. Overall, the story attempts to explain the Fall to modern audience and how man has a chance to be redeemed if we can remember God and hold onto Him.