Skip to main content

Outcasts Book Review



By: Thomas F. Booher





Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Outcasts is the second book in Jill Williamson's Safe Lands series, and I have found the writing to be largely the same as the first book (for my remarks on that, go here, here, and here). The back cover (of this advanced copy at least) will tell you what you need to know for the story. A family/tribe from Glenrock has been taken by force to the Safe Lands, where everyone has a disease that is slowly killing them, called the thin plague. The children are being held, and the women through artificial means are forced to bear children in the hopes that they are healthy and can repopulate the land. 

The story revolves largely around three siblings, Levi, Mason, and Omar, who each have different personalities, strengths, and weaknesses that make it challenging for them to do what they must do. Levi is married, but the other two are dealing with romantic feelings which plays out quite well. Omar is a user, and I very much like how his character develops, but I think I like Mason even more, possibly because I relate to him the most. 

I would say that this story is as much about how the Safe Lands changes you due to its hedonistic culture as it is about the people of Glenrock being rescued from the Safe Lands. After all, if they are rescued, will it matter if they aren't who they used to be? If they have lost who they are, they won't go back to their family structure when they leave, in which case the Safe Lands still wins. In the Safe Lands, each child is everyone's child, there are no real mothers and fathers. This is the focal point of Williamson's story, and it is a much needed one considering the crossroads our culture is facing today. 

Actually, we have already lost our children haven't we? This is really a book that promotes homeschooling, that promotes spending time with your family and teaching them God's Word, something I highly value. Yet I think Williamson is also cautioning against the dangers of sheltering your children from what is actually just God honoring fun as well. We are called to engage this world, yet to be separate from it in our lifestyles. That's the hard line we are called to walk, and it is the one Christ walked perfectly. 

I'm not sure if this is a trilogy or not, but it seems to be setting up as one. If so, I am looking forward to the finale, mainly to see what happens with each character, how they turn out, more than if they get out of the Safe Lands (because we know of course they will). Here's to hoping that Jill Williamson doesn't wreck a good story with a too perfectly happy ending that takes shortcuts to resolve the inward spiritual strife of the main characters. That would be a shame, because right now there is an opportunity to really show the effects of sin and temptation, and that the end of these things is death.   


In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. 


Outcasts can be purchased here.


Comments

  1. The book is a trilogy and the third book is scheduled to be released, I think in December? This year, anyway. I can't wait because I really loved the book.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nice review. I agree, it sounds like the author is cautioning us about making sure of our priorities; especially with our children.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for the review! I enjoyed reading your thoughts on the book. Yes, this is a trilogy. Last time I checked it will come out this August. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I think in my humble opinion that "books" are taking the place of genuine faith as the bible proclaims.these books are to me a distraction from the real world. just like the left without a mind I mean left behind books. no substance..I wish my wife would read the word with me ...blessings to all of you.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Why Pastors Shouldn't Preach In Jeans (Especially Skinny Jeans)

By: Thomas F. Booher I can't think of a better way to get labeled a legalist than to title a post like this. Hopefully by the end you will not see this as legalism and will see this as what it is- my attempt at describing what I believe is proper ecclesiology as defined by God in Scripture. So then, what is church? What does Scripture say we should be doing and not doing on Sunday mornings? That's what I want to explore. The Bible says to gather together in Christ's name; to teach, encourage, and admonish one another; to sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in our hearts to God (Heb. 10:24-25; Mat. 18:20; Col. 3:16). There are to be deacons (Acts 6:1-6) and elders (Ti. 1:5) in the church who act as overseers, and in the case of elders, are the shepherds of the flock who teach the word and rebuke with authority (Ti. 1:9).  God must call one to be a pastor/elder (Eph. 4:11). As such those who are called by God to preach the word are held to a

WHY OUR REFORMED DENOMINATIONS ARE DYING (or are already dead):

  By: Thomas F. Booher The short answer is the faithful Elders, as a class, failed to heed Paul's words to the Ephesian Elders in Acts 20:28-29, "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears." False teachers rising from among the Eldership is not a surprise, it's a Scriptural promise. Hence Paul warns the Elders to keep watch, vigilantly, and take swift action. Nothing will poison churches, denominations, the Christian faith at large, worse than its leadership being run by savage wolves in sheep's clothing, by

Luke Chapters 1-8 Sermon Outlines

  Luke 1:1-4 – Luke’s Orderly Account of Jesus Christ -- Sermon Outline Intro: Christians need an inspired account of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.     Need: Luke gives such an account in his gospel, so that we may know Jesus and have faith in Him. Theme: Luke compiles an account of the ministry of Jesus:   I.      Accurately declaring what the apostles and other eyewitnesses had told him. A.      1:1 , Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order [put together/compose] a narrative [declaration/accounting/narration] of those things which have been fulfilled among us              1.       It is clear that what Christ had done did not go unnoticed, as “ many ” have undertaken the great task of composing in written form a historical “ narrative” concerning Christ’s earthly ministry.              2.       “ have been fulfilled ” means accomplished, and the perfect tense indicates the fulfilling of these OT prophecies concerning Christ, who He is and what